Longest trip evar!

[nequamminor]

What is the longest trip you've ever taken your 3.4 on? I'm thinking about going to Sierra Vista, Arizona this summer to see a friend that moved out there. My 3.4 has 197k on it, but it runs really well. A trip from my house to Arizona is about 1800 miles. What do you guys think about it holding up?

[Canyonero]

Well, do you have confidence that it would make it to it's next oil change anyway? Why wouldn't it be able to make it in one sitting? I'd do it. I was thinking of taking my Trooper on a road trip down to Cabo San Lucas from Northern Oregon.

[OldSkoolGP]

The time I checked, there's no magical switch on a 3.4 motor that breaks the engine when you go a certain amount of miles nonstop. I don't really understand why you would be concerned. If the car runs good, and you've owned and driven it a fair amount of time to make that determination, what does it matter?

[pocket-rocket]

Ben and I drove the 92 from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to Kansas (to see Brad) and then from Kansas to Indiana. The only problem we had on the way back was when the lid of my cappuccino decided to hop off the cup when I went to leave the pump at the gas station, spilling fresh hot coffee on my legs, and the clutch for the AC compressor decided to start smoking on the west side of Chicago. That was with 125k miles on the clock? A few years ago I drove it to Bowling Green, KY for our 60v6 meet, despite having a charging system issue, and all was well there, too.

[nequamminor]

The A/C compressor started smoking? Was it the clutch or the compressor itself? My clutch occasionally will make the infamous "sssssss" noise if I idle at a stop light for an extended period of time. Is that how your compressor started out?

[Schurkey]

What is the longest trip you've ever taken your 3.4 on? I'm thinking about going to Sierra Vista, Arizona this summer to see a friend that moved out there. My 3.4 has 197k on it, but it runs really well. A trip from my house to Arizona is about 1800 miles. What do you guys think about it holding up?

My "parts car" '93--which I bought to repair body damage on my '92, and intended to drop the cradle and have the rest hauled away--ran so stinkin' good that I bought the extra parts to make a driver out of it.

So far, 4 or 5 round trips (I forget) to California (1800--1900 miles each way, add some in-town miles while there and it's a 4K mile round trip.)

Best time: ~1900 miles (through Wyoming instead of Montana); 29 hours, three minutes including all stops for food, fuel, rest, etc.

Car had 111,000 miles when I bought it, now it has 136,000. I've had two problems with the car on those trips--It crapped the fuel pump on one trip; and I blew a tire coming home on the next trip. Both times it happened just outside of Fernley Nevada; so now I figure if I can drive past Fernley, the trip is gonna be easy...

If you've maintained it properly--timing belt, fluids and filters, tires, brakes, steering and suspension, tune-up, etc. you might as well drive it!

[gpse3400]

If you have a new alternator and timing belt/acessories on there you should be fine...

[Canyonero]

If you have a new alternator and timing belt/acessories on there you should be fine...

Yeah, my alternator crapped out about an hour into a five hour drive. Luckily I was just about to my friend's house that I was meeting up with anyway, and we just took his car. You can't say for certain that something won't die, but that's just the way it goes. Be sure to have spare fuses, oil, coolant, and some tools.

I've bought all my cars at >100k miles. My newest is the '98 Amigo w/ 105k (that had the alternator die). Bought my Trooper at 138k, and it never stranded me where. The other Troopers I purchased with existing issues and didn't own them long enough to trust.

[gpse3400]

Thats nothing. I had a '93 GP and the alternator failed during rush hour going into the Holland tunnel. I never felt so helpless...Oddly enough I made it onto the Island but not without a fight....SAme car that alternator died about 10 miles from my house, though I made it to my exit....Another time is partially failed on the MassPike about 220 miles from my home....That time I made it back. Your worries are justified.

[Canyonero]

Sounds like you may have had some existing electrical problems.

I was able to drive mine home. Gave the battery a charge before, pulled the fuse for the stereo/amps and shut off everything non-essential.

[pocket-rocket]

The A/C compressor started smoking? Was it the clutch or the compressor itself? My clutch occasionally will make the infamous "sssssss" noise if I idle at a stop light for an extended period of time. Is that how your compressor started out?

It was the clutch, sort of. The inner part of the pulley froze to the magnet coils that actuate the clutch. I still have a compressor that Lorenzo sent me that I have yet to put on the car, lol. I just hope it's still good.