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Hey all. This summer my wife and I will be taking the '96 SSE out for a nice long road trip honeymoon. Obviously we want no car issues, and maximum mileage, so what are some car things that should be done in preparation? New rear shocks are going in this week, so the ride should be fairly smooth.

Flush the coolant and have it pressure tested, flush the brake fluid, have everything inspected. Oil change, make sure the tune up is good, and ensure all the fluids and tires are full and in good shape.

Make sure to have a spare set of keys but don't leave them IN THE CAR.


Just do a once over of the whole car to make sure nothing is going to fall apart on the road.

check all fluids and bring along fluids if needed
check all tire pressures, and also check tires for any damage, dry rotting, gouges etc
check undercarriage for any suspension issues or bad brake/fuel lines
change the oil maybe even do a trans fluid and filter

and have a safe trip

94SilverSSEi wrote:Make sure to have a spare set of keys but don't leave them IN THE CAR.


Just do a once over of the whole car to make sure nothing is going to fall apart on the road.

I agree.... Have the GF keep a set of keys in her pocket... Or keep the remote off the key chain and in your pocket as well... When I go on a road trip I like to have an extra set on my necklace...

Please, take plenty of pics and post. Thank you! lol - BC

Top up the air in the spare tire.
One of the most useful things to me on long trips with my 97SE is an OBDII codereader. Sometimes on a long trip you'll throw a code. Being in the middle of nowhere with a Check Engine Light is not a place you want to be without a code reader. My car throws the P1870 slipping trans component code a couple times a year. It's nice to just be able to reset it, knowing there isn't anything serious wrong with my car, and if there *is* something serious, I can pull the code and ID it on the road.
-If you have AAA or some other roadside assistance plan, make sure your memebership is paid up, and that you have your card with you.
-If you don't have one already, get a car charger for your cell phone.

Bugsi wrote:Top up the air in the spare tire.
One of the most useful things to me on long trips with my 97SE is an OBDII codereader. Sometimes on a long trip you'll throw a code. Being in the middle of nowhere with a Check Engine Light is not a place you want to be without a code reader. My car throws the P1870 slipping trans component code a couple times a year. It's nice to just be able to reset it, knowing there isn't anything serious wrong with my car, and if there *is* something serious, I can pull the code and ID it on the road.

Without hijacking the thread and turning it into an infomercial for a Scan Gauge II...I'll just say that it's the best, and coolest $160 I've spent on the car. My car throws a P0450 (I think that's correct....) code pretty darn frequently. It's just an evap code, nothing to worry about - BUT - if the CEL was already on because of THAT code, and something ELSE happened, I wouldn't know about it, because the CEL would already be on because of a stupid evaporation code that I could care less about. Scan Gauge II....$160...fun, helps you save gas (by showing you what your TPS is doing when you mash the accelerator off a stop light, for instance), and not really that expensive. FWIW....I usually get about 35MPG on the highway since buying it. And that's my commercial for the Scan Gauge II.

FWIW, I use an under $40 OBDII code reader from Harbor Freight. Okay, it's $50, but you can get it on sale. I think I paid around $30. Sure, you don't get real-time info, but it's cheap and reads your codes and resets them.
http://www.harborfreight.com/can-obdii- ... 98568.html

Bugsi wrote:FWIW, I use an under $40 OBDII code reader from Harbor Freight. Okay, it's $50, but you can get it on sale. I think I paid around $30. Sure, you don't get real-time info, but it's cheap and reads your codes and resets them.
http://www.harborfreight.com/can-obdii- ... 98568.html

my friend has the same one, and I plan on getting one soon. but first I gotta check the port and make sure its all good (previous post: it was acting up when I tried to get a scan).

but I also make sure my 5 gal fuel canister I keep in my trunk has some fresh fuel in it, as well as extra bulbs for the car (twice in my 7 years driving Ive had headlights go out while on trips.)

There are some very good tips in here! I'm planning on going through the plugs and wires beforehand, but should I maybe add a fuel stabilizer to maximize my mpgs? I haven't put anything in my tank besides gas and HEET, so if a fuel additive is recommended, what would be suggested?

Krenzy wrote:There are some very good tips in here! I'm planning on going through the plugs and wires beforehand, but should I maybe add a fuel stabilizer to maximize my mpgs? I haven't put anything in my tank besides gas and HEET, so if a fuel additive is recommended, what would be suggested?

I believe I've seen Lucas mentioned on here before, but I haven't used used it myself. To me, Sta-bil is for long-term storage of gas, but the bottle says something about being good to run year-round (of course they do; they want more money).

Personally on long trips, I check everything that has been said (tires, spare tire, fluids, spare keys).
I like to bring with jumper cables and a small socket set (I think mine's 182pc) and screwdrivers.
If it's snowing, I bring a recovery/tow strap and a small shovel.


Good luck, have fun, and be safe!!!

i use Lucas deep fuel cleaner every couple tanks and i love it, works quite well for 4.99 how can you loose?

wake wrote:how can you loose?

Lefty loosey, righty tighty, win, lose.

Keep the remote clicker separate from the keys... I like to keep a clicker on my necklace when I am traveling.. Or in some cases I keep another set of keys on me...

Spare Serp belt wouldnt hurt. if you replace yours before trip just keep the old one in the trunk