Planning a 4 day journey from Philadelphia to a new home in San Diego, California in the STR in June. She has 87K on the clock and has experienced just about every little issue the '03 STR is known for. Any advise or suggestions as to what tools/parts should be required for the 2850 mile 4600 km trip would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Cheers,
Bob

 

Credit card, GPS.

 

Change the oil, maybe grab a spare coil pack.

 

AAA
And
AA Card?

 

If you've kept up with maintenance there shouldn't be anything to worry about. Just make sure the tires aren't worn out and their air pressure is good.

 

Cell phone. Normal tool kit. Give it a good once over before you leave, fresh fluids never a bad idea.

I usually take my Actron scanner with me on road trips as well.

 

The weather will be hot so I would place a jug of the appropriate orange coolant in the trunk along with your generic metric toolbox. Carrying coolant is always a good idea during the hot summer months....

 

Bring yer mechanic, LOL! Just kidding...but really.

 

Hmm, Ive often thought the STR would make a good tow vehicle. It has the power and brakes, so just get a tow dolly and bring along a honda

 

Check the tire pressure in all your tires including the SPARE...

Also buy a radar detector and laser jammer...You'll thank me later...lol

 

Might plan for 5 days. The Texas, New Mexico and Arizona desert temps can reach 110 + in June...I know....June 2007, trip to near Bullhead City..temps...117*, Needles Calif...111*...
Take looooots of drinking water....

 

Nice to know I'm not alone here! I had begun to think I was the only person that carried a spare coil pack in the boot. Not being stocked at any of my four auto parts stores in suburban town, I figured best to keep a spare.

 

I learned my lesson on this one. I travelled from Washington,
across the Trans-Canada highway, down thru Minnesota, then
to Georgia and the Carolinas.

Before I left, I was tempted to change the DCCV, since I was
draining and replacing the anti-freeze. I didn't: Remember, it's
not if, but when that damnable valve will fail. And fail it did, in
South Carolina. When it does, the system goes to full hot...just
what you need when you're driving across the Arizona desert.
And yes, when it fails it will probably take the climate control
valve with it. The DCCV is a first class bitch to change in the
comfort of your own home. Not to worry; any Jaguar dealer
will be pleased to relieve you of approximately $900 dollars to
replace it. And this is after you're probably driven 5 or 6 hundred
in sauna conditions to reach the dealer.

But wait, there's more! Now the dealer wants $1,400 dollars to
replace the CCM. Replacing the DCCV will not control the sauna
conditions in the vehicle if the CCM is fried. So now you get to
remove the glove compartment, pull the CCM, and ship it off to
that guy in Brea, CA. Hey, at least that's in the direction you're
going. That is, if you would rather pay $350 vs $1,400.

Ah yes, zooming across the Southwest desert with the air-conditioning
on, all the windows and the sunroof open and sweating like a
pig is great fun..all because you didn't change a $150 dollar part
before you left.

Finally, change the 2 piece lugnuts. Stop at a Toyota dealer and
purchase 20 one piece lugs. Take one of yours in to the
dealership to match them up. The Toyota's are slightly larger
than the stock Jaguar's. Next, ya go to Harbor Freight and purchase
a nice torque wrench (on sale for $9.95) and a socket for the new
lug nuts. The wrench comes in a plastic container which will
fit easily in the spare tire compartment.

Trying to change a spare on a clear, cold, dark night in the Arizona
desert requiring the removal of the Jag 2 piece lugs with the factory
lug wrench will require every swear word in you vocabulary. However,
not to worry..you know the broken DCCV is keeping the vehicle nice
and toasty on the inside, and, you'll be kept company by numerous
rattle snakes trying to befriend you and find a warm place to sleep.

Have a nice trip.

Cliff

 

LOL! Thanks Cliff. That was for good reading...cause its true and some of here had a similar experience.

 

If you park on the level you could keep the EPB off (hold down paddle during engine off & key removal).

 

Not sure if it's ever been replaced, I do know the climate control is not very effective. For heat, it's either 85 and pumping fire or it's 70 and not hot enough, same with the AC put it at 60 and it'll make ice cubes 70 is way too warm.

 

I replaced the one of the 3 evaporator control sensors and the climate control is working nicely. One of the sensors was out by about 10 Kohms

 

The STR is in the garage getting a Transmission fluid and connector change.
I'm using the Wolf's Head Synthetic ATF just like I used in the S a year ago.(15K miles and still shifts like butter)
Drain dump and refill this time. Also changing out the driver's side lower strut bushing, draining and refilling the pumpkin.
I also asked the mechanic to tighten the shifter bolts.
The STR's going cross country to a new home in Southern California next month.
Wondering if I should change the belts?

 

I think you should replace all the shocks if you haven't done that yet. I drove a buddies newly purchased '05 recently with 80k miles on it and it was floating all over the place.

I drove my Z06 across the country from NYC to LA a few years ago...it was a blast! I took it up to 180MPH in Indiana and held it there for about 20 miles at 5000RPM's. The only reason I let off is because the oil temp was at 300 degrees. It's flat and boring throughout Indiana, Oklahoma and Amarillo, TX, but the wide open midwest gives you a nice different kind of feeling. There is something about being in the open middle of nowhere like that and its comforting.

Boy am I jealous you are moving to San Diego. It is beautiful out there...I'm going out again this summer and what am I renting? A 2012 XFR that Beverly Hills Rent-A-Car just purchased! Can't wait. Enjoy your trip..

 

Just want to keep the kitty alive a bit longer Just can't see investing all that $$$ in new CATS shocks.