First Contact- New Owner

[lmmegt]

[quicksilverdon]

Welcome.
With 37,000 miles, you shouldn't have to worry about belts until at earliest twice that mileage.
At your mileage, if the front pads haven't been done, it's time - get ceramic pads - I like Raybestos - the disks should be fine until next pad change, then don't buy cheap disks.
Change the plugs and wires - and buy good wires - not stock - (stck Champion plugs are OK) and have plugs gapped at 0.040.
I'd change oil to synthetic - it costs more but is soooo much better.
Also keep an eye on the tires - they're probably due - if they haven't been replaced already - the Good-for-a-Years don't last. I like Michelin for long life and they handle much better, but tires are almost like politics or religion...

[Teeter]

Lol, I know, thanks for the laugh.

~bad monkey, bad monkey!~

[Teeter]

I like michelins too, but not their price (eek) However, there is a michelin seconds store here- perfectly good tires, just didn't pass "pretty" inspection.
Does anyone use Slick50 anymore?
I've used Castrol for eons, but that's another religious political thing.
Yes, Raybestos
Plugs, wires, fluid check- good idea!
I was just asking about the belts to know what to expect.

[twress]

My timing belt was replace at 95000 miles about the average time I was told it would go bad, also did the water pump too

[lmmegt]

Originally Posted by Teeter

I like michelins too....

Does anyone use Slick50 anymore?

.......

Michelins are one of the best tires for MPG......


No manufacturer recommends adding teflon to your engine oil!

Google Slick 50 lawsuit......

[Teeter]

JCWhitney has the hood lock kit. (yea)
Several places have the locking fuel cap (was wondering about the seal, still, though)
K&N (?) has a beefier air filter system.
The photo show elsewhere here for the Cloudcroft run shows one PT with the mega brake kit I saw, but I'd still like opinions on that. (it's the big huge red caliper set)
Haven't seen anything about reinforcing the suspension.
I need to call the tire store and ask them (again) what trade name the Michelin seconds go by. I've used them before. Was nice spending $62 per tire instead of $150 and tire cleaner goes a long way toward making an ugly tire pretty.
Need to ask dealership detailers how to keep an off- white car pretty. I washed it and it snowed within 12 hours! It doesn't snow here, what's up with that? Now it needs a bath again.
Wow, Slick 50 has been having problems!

Y'all are great, Thanks for all the info.

[cruserdad1976]

not sure what a locking hood kit would add you have to be in the car to open it?? but hey that's just a ole country boy i never ever take the key out of the ignition and yes i know that a good way to loose a car but i guess that's just me
The breaks are pretty good i drive on some back roads and even at a pretty good clip the ceramic pads i put on do a great job of stopping you

A good K&n air filter is good for the engine it will not increase your mPG's or make it a race car but it helps

I never had a locking fuel cap I fill up every day so it would just be a hassle
(im just no into locks)

Tires are like religion and politics no one will ever agree I really don't think 1 brand is the best it is more like what tire is best for your type of driving

The PT is a blast to drive it has its issues like all cars--- not great mpg's I get a average od 23. turning takes a big area , that stupid timing belt issue is the biggest pain for me--- but hey its coool looking, smooth riding ,and its just a cool car.

I have ran castrol GTX in my Pt since i got it at 18000 and it now has over 80,000 4 quarts of GTX 1 quart of Lucusa and a Wix filter ever month it works for me( i used to use slick 50 in all my cars and still use it in my truck

Candyman on here has a super way to keep it clean it will take some time but it will shine it is some place on here

good luck

[Teeter]

I'm not normally a paranoid person, but the last 3 cars I've had all suffered from exactly the same problems, and they're not common ones. I've installed 6 power steering units, 4 water pumps, 4 transmissions, 26 tires, 10 full brake sets, 16 alternators (that one's special, though because Ford had a production problem with one series- 10 of those went on one car before we used up the inentory), and 4 CV axle sets on a Ford Cougar, a 1989 Dodge Daytona that had been rebuilt by a racer, and a 2002 Hyundai Sonata.

The only thing all these cars had in common was I kept working at the same place, which leads me to believe that someone is messing with my cars- that and the fact that I came out one day to find someone had sprayed one of my cars with paint balls. That's all in the last 3 years. Hood locks and a locking gas cap might not be necessary, but they're not going to hurt, either, and if someone is messing with my cars, it's make it harder for them.

The rest is just basic maintenance stuff or preventative care.

[lmmegt]

Originally Posted by Teeter

.... the last 3 cars I've had all suffered ......6 power steering units, 4 water pumps, 4 transmissions, 26 tires, 10 full brake sets, 16 alternators ..... and 4 CV axle sets .... .

Time to take the bus!

Just how hard do you drive your rigs anyway........

Or maybe your mechanic is selling you a bill of goods.