Hi guys

I have a 97 XK8 convertible; it would be really useful to have everyone's recommendation of what parts to keep on hand or even travel long distance with, just so I don't get caught out! It's only a 'weekend' car not a DD, but sometimes I think that may be worse for reliability. Anyway, please let me have your lists of all the most likely culprits that I will need to find, replace, or repair over a holiday weekend in the middle of nowhere!

Best Regards

Garry

 

There is like 10 or 15 years worth of content here on the site. All you have to do is search and read.

If that is too much trouble there is always this...available on Amazon.

 

I'd start with:

Drive belt.
Plus one big enough wrench to release the tension on it (try this if you've never done so yet while it's not hard, you dont want to be learning how to do it at 1am in the dark. )
**Diagram- how to route the belt. It IS NOT obvious.

Flash light

Gallon of antifreeze

Roll of paper towels

Windex (glass cleaner)

A few long wire ties

Tire pressure gauge.

Phone charger

Gallon of distilled water (probably more as an emergency beverage backup than anything else)

A wire hanger or two (easily bent to make tools as needed)

Cant think of anything else, hope this helps.

John

 

Set of basic tools. Check fuse boxes have spares and a fuse puller. Straight edge screwdriver for the tire air fill thingy.

 

Or drop a coin in a plastic bag with the tire air fill thingy. ;-)

 

Garry,

I agree that a weekend car is often less reliable than a DD. Keep it on a battery tender because a failing or slightly undercharged battery can cause many weird electrical faults on this model.

The parts most likely to let you down on a trip are coolant hoses. If their condition is unknown, fitting a replacement set could save you a lot of grief.

Graham

 

A mobile phone and membership of a recovery service, because whatever spares you carry, you can bet it'll be a different bit that fails. Plus you have to lug spares and tools around.

 

At least you're in San Antonio and so you shouldn't be too wet if the hood sticks open.

Seems like you're planning ahead, and what you pack as spares, is very dependent on what the car history is and how handy you are in make shift repairs on the move. Do the usual fluid checks and tyre checks before you set off.

I would pack a small tool box, spanners & ratchets, duct tape, some WD40, Contact Cleaner and a flash light. Also have a jump starter pack too (or jump cables, at minimum). I always have a roll of tissue, a spade, and a large bottle of water (but I'm in BAH which is a desert climate so these are essential).

Please note the small tyre wrench with the spare wheel isn't very good, so pack a spare big one too. Plus a block of wood/brick to put under the jack in case you're on bad ground.

 

Replace every cooling system hose. Bring belts, oil, premixed coolant, transmission fluid, power steering fluid (GM ATF), brake fluid, a gallon of water, OBD2 scanner, full roll of paper towels, those grit towels in a plastic container, toolkit and money. I keep all of those things in my car and below that trunk panel above the spare tire.

 

If you can fit a spare engine and engine crane in the car, I'd include those as well. Gearboxes can be problematic, so one of those. If you hit a large pothole you can easily blow both tyres on one side, so at least two spare wheels, maybe three.

Or just don't worry about it - I believe that the USA is a reasonably well developed country, so you are unlikely to die or suffer undue distress due to a car problem.

 

Headlight bulbs

zip ties of varying lengths

code reader


Z

 

Why not tow a donor spare car one behind? LOL!

 

Plastic air thingy? Not sure I know what that is

 

Lots of funny comments and lots of useful advice, I really appreciate it. I have an OBD2 scanner, all the hoses and belts are new, I'm working on the tool kit and a better wrench for the wheel nuts, fuses, great point and I have around $100 of bulbs in stock already, but need a headlight bulb! Zip ties great point and the ubiquitous duct tape check! I have a spare wheel and an inflator/tyre repair pack so good for two wheels! The engine and gearbox I must admit I am quite confident about; much to some of your chagrin I am sure, I bought the car as a Chevy small block conversion with OD Chevy gearbox, my mechanic reckons its good for 500k miles and all the belts pulleys and an oil change are $10 bucks! I think I have the best of both worlds with my Jag but bow to those who disagree. Thanks again for everyone who contributed, even Bladerunner 919, a reference to the bike I imagine (Sc33) and not the movie? It can depend on where you break-down that's why I also carry

Cheers everyone!

 

there goes my warm and fuzzy feeling.


Z

 

You say that, but you could break down in the desert and find yourself in a weird town forced to Thunderdome at any time. I saw it in a documentary one time.

 

Lots of suggestions. I live in Comfort south of Fredericksburg. Maybe we will meet up some day. I have a 1998 XK8 roadster.

 

This is my "Grab Bag". A bag of stuff I always keep in the car. Click me to take a look . It's one of those things you hope you have wasted your time doing.

 

That would be great, we get up that way pretty often to visit the winery, so definitely

 

If you haven't done it already, do yourself a favor and download the XK8 Bible in the Sticky Threads section at the top every page of this (X100) forum. Gary R. VanRemortel has created the quintessential XK8 Review and has updated it several times (newest is Revision K, bottom of the thread). You'll find amazing facts and tips to maintain your car plus a comprehensive list of aging parts to replace before they leave you stranded. If you haven't replaced some of the listed items yet, then those may be the parts to carry with you. I've replaced almost everything my car needed plus a few extra items; now I just carry a tire patch kit, a small compressor, a rear bearing kit, 1/2 gallon of premixed coolant, a quart of oil, a fire extinguisher, an ODBII scanner (for continuous water temp monitoring), a roll of paper towels, and a can of Sprayway "World's Best Glass Cleaner" from Home Depot (truly amazing streakless stuff). I also added an external tire pressure monitor system (which I will change to internal pickups next time I replace the tires). Rather than mount the receiver on the dash anywhere, I just drop it into the driver side door "pocket" knowing that I'll get an audible signal if I start losing pressure (and recharge it every few weeks).