What "insurance" parts should I fill my trunk with?

[One Equals Two]

So, I was talking a small group of DSM'ers and a few mentioned that they had a bunch of parts in a small box in their trunk that usually go out as the car ages. The only thing I remember one of the saying is that he keeps a CAS in his "box". But, he said a ton of other parts which I can't remember now, mostly electronically related, like a few sensors and stuff.

So, I plan on using the DSM as a daily (2g automatic AWD turbo), and I want to know what to carry with me so I can repair myself on the side of the road and be on my way again, which was the idea everyone was telling me with their box of spare parts.

Do I keep a coil pack? TPS? MAF? or what? What should I keep in my car for those long trips to Vegas and such......I mean, besides oil, coolant and tow straps.

Thanks in advance!

 

[95gst16g]

I just have a knife,pliers,screwdrivers,electric tape,flashlight,zipties,intercooler couplers,tbolt clamps,vacume line,wire strippers,fuses,scissors,lighter.Everything I have ever needed.

 

[joe sobo]

i would keep a shortblock, a clutch setup, synro's for the trans, a head-gasket, and some extra intercooler clamps. also a 5,000 peice craftsman tool set would be nice

 

[khartley]

Definitely a 10, 12, and 14mm wrench and socket, and spare spark plugs/spark plug tool/gapper. Silicone, couplers, and lug nuts are good security as well.

 

[Benshooter]

I take an emergency box with me as well when I make the same trip your planning on.

Tools! FLASHLIGHT, Flathead, Phillips, pliers, hammer, 4-way, sockets, wrenches, good sharp knife, etc.

Fluids... 5 qt container of oil, gallon of coolant, a quart of gear oil, can of fix-a-flat.

Parts... Extra water pump/alternator belt, spark plugs, spare tire, vacuum line, hose clamps, fuses fuses fuses, small electrical kit, and a jumper wire with 2 spade ends. (sure, it's not the right way if you keep blowing fuses, but it beats hypothermia because your stuck in the mountains.)

Others... Duck tape(don't judge me :] ) Tube of RTV, dielectric grease, electrical tape, and I have a little box full of various nuts bolts washers fasteners, zipties, etc

If you can't fix it with that stuff you're probably going to need a tow. The drive to Vegas isn't that bad, just take it easy on the big climbs, and don't lug it. I wouldn't bother doing 80 or more in the 80mph test zones. Just keep it in closed loop and save gas. Try not to fuel up in Beaver, they're a usually the most expensive place along the way for fuel.

 

[crimsondragon]

Everything not found in a parts store.

 

[GooeyGus]

I try to carry anything minor that could stop the car dead in its tracks.

I carry an extra ECU, an ignition transistor, a coil pack, a CAS, sometimes an alternator, a tool set, and oil & coolant.

Obviously if the timing belt breaks, or if the HG blows, you're screwed either way. But I like to think that I can fix any minor problem that will completely stop the car from running.

 

[Cassera]

i would keep a shortblock, a clutch setup, synro's for the trans, a head-gasket, and some extra intercooler clamps. also a 5,000 peice craftsman tool set would be nice

Lmaoooo ^Yah he has it pretty much downpacked!!!
If can also get one of those electric jumpstarts where you dont need another car to jump you if your battery dies, that had come in handy for many family members of mine

 

[snowborder714]

Not to be different from everyone else, but if you build it properly and maintain the car, you shouldn't have to carry anything with you (unless you plan on driving it like you stole it all the time). I don't carry anything in my car. I have only had a few issues after getting done with some major work while I was tuning the car, but it wasn't anything horrible.

One thing most DSMers should have is AAA.

 

[JEFFREYCASTGSX]

Not to be different from everyone else, but if you build it properly and maintain the car, you shouldn't have to carry anything with you (unless you plan on driving it like you stole it all the time). I don't carry anything in my car. I have only had a few issues after getting done with some major work while I was tuning the car, but it wasn't anything horrible.

One thing most DSMers should have is AAA.

Amen.

All I ever carry is some jumper cables, and my little jack plus the necessary tools to replace a flat.

 

[snowborder714]

I should have mentioned I do have some small things like jumper cables, extra fuses, and locking lug nut socket, along with the stock tools the car came with. But I would carry this with any vehicle.

 

[GooeyGus]

I dont beat on my car, but there are certain parts which can just fail out of nowhere for no good reason other than being old, no matter how well you maintain your car. The coil and transistor fall into this category, which is why I always keep an extra handy

 

[rlacasse1]

I always carry my tools and that's it. you never know when something may break, or you can help someone else having a problem.

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

I have a milk crate sitting in the passenger's corner of the trunk area that houses Oil, Coolant, DOT3 brake fluid, 1 gallon Water/Meth a spare coupler and T-bolts, PB blaster, WD-40, brake clean, RTV and two ziploc baggies one with a coil of vacuum hose in it and one with various fuses, fusible links, wire terminals, heat shrink tubing and a spool of solder. Then I carry my tool bag in the trunk also.

I don't carry any particular parts with me other than what just so happens to be in my trunk at the moment. When I know I have an issue with a current part, I'll carry a spare just to be safe. Currently the water pump leaks and I don't want to fix it right now due to the cold ass temperatures outside. So, I've got a brand new replacement sitting in the trunk in case it totally blows up on me. Hence the coolant also in the trunk... I check the oil and top the coolant and the meth off when I get gas.

I've never had to use any of the spare parts I've carried though. Good luck I guess!

 

[Force Fed 4g63]

I carry a set of tools, spare plugs, spare wires, a gapper, at least 2 quarts of oil, an oil filter, coolant, and a few other things I can't think of at the moment

 

[blackGSX2g]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say I also don't carry any extra parts, or any tools/fluids/etc. On really long trips I have a screwdriver and both tips, a 10/12/14mm wrench, and my lug wrench in my stock jack bag in the trunk, but most cars have that from the factory. I agree with Brian and think people need to stop swapping in used parts from a junkyard/classifieds/whatever when it comes down to important components and actually spend the cash to get a new OEM unit. Sure it might be more expensive up front, but at least you shouldn't have to worry about it going bad again. Saves you more down the line.

 

[cyclonekid77]

Alternator and belt, oil, tools. Alternators fail at the most inconvenient time.

 

[Cmele89]

you guys are making it seem like your cars are going to breakdown .....

 

[cyclonekid77]

you guys are making it seem like your cars are going to breakdown .....

Haha, well my dd (1.8 talon 1993) is now 17 years old and I have about $300 invested in it so you just never know

 

[Imback]

I as well don't carry any extra parts. I do have my tool set though

 

[My1GLaser]

10,12,14 mm wrench & sockets. Channel locks & Ratchet. 4 way Screwdriver. 1qt Oil. Multimeter. Some zip ties. Rags.

I drive it like I stole it and it has 9k VERY hard miles. I have only broken down once and it was a blown fuse to my fuel pump. I didn't have any of those tools back then, so it sucked. I haven't had to use them since I put them in the car, so now they are good luck!

 

[Benshooter]

you guys are making it seem like your cars are going to breakdown .....

Driving around town I don't have hardly anything but long trips without much inbetween I get nervous with a car thatvis 15 years old whether it's well maintained or not.

So far I've had worse luck just putting around town though.

 

[falcon8r]

It get's easy. I carry a cell phone and I own a car hauler. I have only rescued the talon once in 7 years with the trailer. Tres....

 

[One Equals Two]

I dont beat on my car, but there are certain parts which can just fail out of nowhere for no good reason other than being old, no matter how well you maintain your car. The coil and transistor fall into this category, which is why I always keep an extra handy

^^ These are what I really wanted to know about, but for sure, I agree with a lot of what you guys said. I also am a total fan of doing it right. I replaced the starter with a brand new one with a lifetime warranty. Cost me $200, but I think it's worth it. And, I always carry oil and coolant, along with a tow strap and a jumpbox until someone stole it. Punk... Anyway, the car has only 80K miles, so I plan on putting on at least 25K miles before I sell it. I plan to take it everywhere, so I want to be able to drive anywhere.

I guess I should mention, I make fairly long commutes for work (sometimes 70 miles per trip), and I don't want to be away from home with nothing.

So, a transistor and coil is going in the box. Any other of these parts that can fail for no good reason? Mainly the ones that will keep the car from running, but are easy to replace. I mean, I know if I blow the hg I am screwed anyway. But there are things like, a MAF (at least on my Lexus), that can go and will leave you stranded if you don't have it. But if you do, then it's pop, out with the bad, in with the good and we're on our way. Not like I'd carry a $400 MAF with me though, but you get the idea.

Thanks all.

 

[ReYnd]

Right now I have the stock jack and lug wrench, spare tire, a lot of assorted tools from snap ring and needle-nose pliers to several flavors of screwdrivers and a ballpeen hammer. I also have a small toolbox full of 3/8" and 1/2" drive sockets, ratchets and extensions to match, and a couple plug gappers. There are two sets of deep well sockets, one metric and one standard. At least two adjustable wrenches. A tube of high temperature RTV. What remains of a gallon of coolant. An empty jug that used to contain distilled water. Aaand that's about it, I think.

That list will be thinned out considerably when the cold and snow let up. I had been working on it just before the temperatures finally dipped into the single digits. Two things I definitely want to add are a hex wrench to fit my boost controller and oil. Several other items listed are good ideas, such as WD-40, gear oil, vacuum hose, cable ties, fuses,

I always have a knife and a flashlight on me these days. The knife (and pliers) saved me from a painful coolant leak just a couple weeks ago. I'm planning a trip very soon, and will already be loaded down. So I figure it won't hurt to bring along an extra starter and fuel pump. They're really the only spares I have at the moment. I'm a risk taker like that. No belts, no plugs or wires, and no cell phone! One of the few times I wouldn't really mind having one. Oh well.

Long post! Keep your car up to snuff and carry around whatever seems common sense to you. Small things that could potentially be crippling to your vehicle, in other words. Because we can't all be like Joe and carry around a whole spare car and a garage.