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Preparing for a Cross country drive...

First of all, you will love your wagon on the open road. They are the most fun to drive for long trips - confortable seats, low rpms, cruise control (I hope you have it), low wind noise with windows rolled down, etc.

The thing I always think about is the cooling system. Bring some duct tape in case you have to patch a hose quickly. When was your water pump replaced? If you have an extra or a used pump, bring it along. It is a relatively easy repair, but surely expensive at the Texaco in Nebraska.

Depending on when your belts were last changed, an extra set of belts might be smart to throw in the back. A timing belt is easy to replace, but again, Joe Bob at the Shell in the middle of nowhere is likely to make you wait a few days to order the part and charge you through the nose to put on there.

On longer trips, I always secure contents in the back of our wagon with a cargo net (Thule, etc), so that those items do not become deadly projectiles upon a sudden stop or accident. Fluids are smart - coolant, oil, ATF, steering. Check fluids after you clean the windshield at fill-ups. Other things might come up - but that will be part of the trip!

Otherwise, pull those side mirrors out so they are true side mirrors (not rear-view!), adjust your lumbar support, plug your iPod into the cassette deck, and get ready to cruise. It seems like this is what these cars were built for more than anything! A living room on wheels.

Have fun and let us know when you return.
-pu
--
((1993 245 Classic, 100K)) ((1992 244, 110K)) ((1987 245, 271K - RIP)) San Diego






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