I'm planning a long trip in my 1992 wagon w/182k--driving from Texas to NJ and back. Two things about the car concern me, and maybe someone out there has been through this before:

1. It still has the original plastic radiator. Summer heat is coming on. When the plastic rads fail, do they start off leaking a bit, or do they blow out all at once and leave you stuck on the Interstate and maybe with a ruined alternator from coolant? Right now it looks perfect, but if its time is about to come, should I replace it anyway?

2. Differential noise. When the car is barely moving, there is a noticeable noise--not a grinding, more of a swishing sound, almost a liquid sound. A (really good) Volvo mechanic drove the car, heard the noise, said he didn't know what it could be.

I bought this car last May. In Texas that is already AC season, and I didn't notice the noise for a while. But it may have been there all along.

Also, at 30-40 (mostly) there is a faint whirring/rustling/squeaking sound from the rear end that is a little louder when the engine is pulling or I am turning right. But none of it is as noticeable as the low-speed noise.

The rear end is tight-no clunks or slack (but I have an auto trans; this wouldn't be as obvious as with a stick).

Is there a serious chance that the rear end is going to go out on me in the next few thousand miles?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Doug Harvey