Re: Old car reliability

[FBFISH@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-08-20 02:20:16 EDT, rfunnell@pobox.com writes:

<< What do listers do to keep old cars reliable?  This question comes from
 losing a brake flex hose on my urQ driving in the mountains of Lake
 Tahoe.
 
 
 I plan to keep driving this car as a daily driver; it suits my perverse
 style.  However, I would like to think I'm not putting my passengers in
 danger when they accept a ride.  My driving style may do that, but at
 least that's something they can judge for themselves.  Brake lines about
 to give up the ghost aren't so obvious.
 
 
 The only solution I can think of is to identify those components capable
 of calamitous failure, and replace them on a conservative schedule before
 they fail.  If that's the answer, what are those components?  Brake flex
 hoses and all hydraulics come to mind.  So do headlight harnesses and
 switches<italic>, </italic>which I'd hate to lose on a fast corner at
 night.  Other candidates?  Any pilots want to add an opinion here?  TIA
  >>
Rich- Before I discovered this list my method was simple, but not painless. In
addition to inspections at the oil change interval, whenever a problem
occured, I always assumed others of similiar ilk were right behind and
performed preventative maintenance on those also. For example, if  a CV joint
boot was split, I would replace it and its partner(both fronts and or both
rears) and inspect the other two carefully. Similiar approach on hoses, belts
etc. Believe it or not I have found a good use for the Audi dealers. When in
doubt about replacing a part not yet broken or Outwardly  showing wear, give
the parts department a call if they have the part in stock, ask if they are a
high demand item. If they don't have the part ask if they are out because of
demand. In the case of the CV joint boot,  I concluded the inner boots hardly
ever fail. With this list, the problem is much simpler,and reduces to reading
the posts and using common sense. HTH
Frank Santoro
1990 V8(for sale)
1998 A8