So I decided I'm going to keep my car

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 08/06/2014 at 18:30 • Filed to: pt cruiser

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So I decided I'm going to keep my car. I know it's history, it's almost paid off, and once it is paid off I can look for a second car, one that is a manual. But I have a few questions though, so please excuse me because I'm still learning in automotive knowledge.

1. My car currently has 86k miles on it, is there any maintenance (big or small) that should be done to it at this stage in it's life? Since its my only car, I plan on keeping it running until it literally dies.

2. To combat the coming winter, I convinced my wife that its ok to get snow tires. Should I get two or four of them? I was thinking four, so the wear on the current tires wouldn't be uneven, and I could just rotate the snow tires the next winter, so they would/could last longer. Does that sound right?

3. Is there anything else I should be aware of when driving a car in the show? Any precautions?

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > zeontestpilot 08/06/2014 at 18:31

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Unless that is a PT GT I am sad.

zeontestpilot > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 08/06/2014 at 18:32

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Then you are sad. Its what I have, it'll be a 2nd vehicle, and it'll serve the function of "transportation" (notice that nowhere in my statement is the word "fun").

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > zeontestpilot 08/06/2014 at 18:34

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If it has one and it hasn't been changed yet the timing belt will probably need doing by 86k. Usually best to do the water pump and tensioner at the same time.

offroadkarter > zeontestpilot 08/06/2014 at 18:34

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have you ever done a timing belt? if not, you need to.

I also heard the struts are supposed to be replaced every 40-50k miles. One of my friends used to have a 05 PT GT that he dumped with 52k on it because it needed a ton of maintenance.

Built BMW Tough > zeontestpilot 08/06/2014 at 18:38

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All four winter tires will help with overall stability and braking; only two will help acceleration, IMO.

If you could find a place that will let you put it up in the air so you can do an inspection of the undercarriage, that would be awesome. You could take a good look at all your steering and suspension components and see if anything is on it's way out. Then you can shop for parts/plan accordingly.

tromoly > zeontestpilot 08/06/2014 at 18:39

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Get four snow tires, you'll thank yourself later when all four tires have roughly equal traction in snow.

At 86k, I'd say you should aim to have done a coolant/antifreeze flush, new thermostat, and new radiator/coolant hoses. At most should take a couple hours, but will be set for a while. Other than that, aside from the obvious oil changes, if you haven't done so already you will want to replace spark plugs and spark plug wires, and I'm assuming it's an automatic, you may want to drain and replace the ATF fluid in the transmission, it may not absolutely need it but just to be safe.

Also, who really cares if it's an Automatic PT Cruiser, it's your car and if you are enjoying it, that is all that matters, no one else can tell you otherwise.

zeontestpilot > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 08/06/2014 at 18:39

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Timing belt, water pump, and tensioner; got it!

zeontestpilot > offroadkarter 08/06/2014 at 18:44

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The struts should be good, but I'll have them checked out. I really sorta of messed up my car a couple of years ago by ignoring obvious problems (first car, wasn't really interested in cars at the time) with the tires and everything related to it.

Because of a $700 bill, I actually started researching cars to figure out "what I did wrong". Needless to say, I became a gearhead in the process.

zeontestpilot > tromoly 08/06/2014 at 18:51

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It serves its purpose of transportation predictably and reliably, I'm not gonna argue with that fact, :). I enjoy it to an extent, I would like to get something more fun to drive, with better mpg as well.

But as a husband and a father, I have decided it's best to keep the car around and get it paid off. Plus, the bill is $192 a month, and from what I've heard, that's a pretty good deal. The idea of having a paid off car appeals to me. Thanks for your words of encouragement though!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > zeontestpilot 08/06/2014 at 18:56

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Hey there. People can say what they want about what other's choose to drive...f them. My dad always told me, "It doesn't matter what you drive, just as long as you take care of it." I'd respect a well taken care of PT over a Beamer that's beat to hell any day of the week.

As far as snow driving...where do you live? In Ohio where I currently live; the snow isn't that bad and I have never owned specific snow tires...only all-season. That is on fwd and rwd/4wd (jeep). With the jeep there were times my low tread all-seasons needed its 4wd system to get me going...so I would imagine the only thing worth buying snow tires for is a rwd car. Other than that just drive slower and you'll be fine. Sure I've slid out plenty, but it was because I tried to get cute and 4 wheel drift my jeep...that doesn't usually work so well haha. Driving my first car (golf); I was fine only losing it a couple times...just be careful and keep rpms down.

zeontestpilot > Built BMW Tough 08/06/2014 at 18:57

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I need to rotate my tires actually, so I'm going to a place someone recommended to me this Saturday. I was gonna ask them to check it over. Then perhaps, take it to another place, the one I usually go to, and have them look over it.

See what they say is similar and different, cross-reference. Then check on the list oppo is giving me now, then perhaps do another post to see what oppo thinks about what the mechanic suggested.

I felt swindled one time by a place suggesting I needed motor mounts (i knew nothing about cars at the time), only to apparently have them "damaged" a year later somehow. Went to 3 different places. All three of them suggested different things, didn't know who to believe. Thankfully, I know have oppo by my side!

zeontestpilot > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 08/06/2014 at 19:09

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Well, I'm trying to be the responsible car owner and take care of it. The body is near perfect except for the front bumper. This past winter, on the way to my in-laws for a pre-xmas party, we took the back roads (big mistake), and while being overly cautious, I tried to turn left with the road, my rear slide out to the left as well, I tried to correct it, and my family (my wife & <1 yr daughter) went straight into a small ditch, taking out a sign as well. It was fun! //sarcasm

I live in MI, right where we got hit hard from the winter snow. I live just north of where the country hits a major road, so I'm on dirt roads a bit, and some paved roads. Plus, it's hilly here.

So you don't think I need snow tires then?

Klaus Schmoll > zeontestpilot 08/06/2014 at 19:13

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It's a quirky looking car, keep it, take good care of it, and run it into the ground. Why jump ship if you are still paying a loan on it? Why not pay it off and enjoy a few months/years without monthly payments. Oh and get 4 winter tires, everything else would be questionable at best. It's your car, you know where it's been, how it's been driven etc. No need to get somebody else's problem into your driveway.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > zeontestpilot 08/06/2014 at 19:23

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Well MI is a bit worse than OH. If you have driven in the snow with your car already and feel unsafe...go ahead and get snow tires (I would get a full set of 4 btw). Keeping your family and yourself safe is more important than saving a few hundred dollars.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 08/06/2014 at 19:25

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But to be honest it's the ice I am afraid of more than snow...snow tires won't make your vehicle impervious to ice.

NaturallyAspirated > offroadkarter 08/06/2014 at 20:34

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I was going to contradict you about the timing belt, but I read up first and now I'm going to agree with you :). Apparently a number of PT Cruisers have broken their timing belt at around 100k miles. I've seen 90k as a recommended good place to do it, so while it maybe isn't an emergency, it's something that should definitely be on the radar as an upcoming expense. If you want to do it yourself, it's a pretty big deal, holy crap. See http://www.ptcruiserlinks.com/forum/tech-per…

offroadkarter > NaturallyAspirated 08/06/2014 at 20:57

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I've (thankfully) never owned a PT cruiser but one of my friends had a 05 GT so I had to learn a lot about these things when I worked on his car.

OP: PTcrew is a better forum to look into, last I remember ptcruiserlinks was pretty dead. But either way, keep the timing belt on the back of your mind.

zeontestpilot > Klaus Schmoll 08/06/2014 at 22:36

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That's one of the reasons I kept it, I know it. Plus, its really predictable when driving it. I know the braking distance, how fast it accelerates, etc. So driving it in winter (for the 2nd time ever), is just adding another variable to the mix.

zeontestpilot > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 08/06/2014 at 22:58

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The cruiser did pretty decent in the winter, the snow tires were going to be a 'just in case' thing.

Ice, yes, not fun. One time, on the way to work, again this past winter, driving on 96 when everybody all of a sudden slammed on their brakes. I was a good distance behind the white crossover thing in front of me. Then it happened, I hit black ice. The car wasn't going to stop in time. My foot was on the brakes and I calculated I would hit the car in front of me if I didn't lose momentum.

I quickly decided I had two choices. 1, ram the car in front of me. 2, Turn the wheel to the right, hope the tires get a grip, and wish I could spin off the hwy into the ditch. The 2nd one was exactly what happened. I turned, the car caught the pavement, and I quickly decided I might as well enjoy myself and shouted "whee!" as the car did a 180 turn into a ditch. An hour later, the tow truck came and towed me up, lol.

Buick Mackane > zeontestpilot 08/07/2014 at 03:49

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First, tell us where you live. Do you get lots of snow? How deep does the snow get in your area? To prepare for winter I would replace the water pump, radiator hoses, thermostat and timing belt if you have one, they are fairly cheap and you might be able to do it yourself. Wash the car, use a detailing clay bar, polish it and apply Nufinish car polish (Nufinish is a paint sealer, not a wax, and usually protects your paint for a year). Nufinish is only about $7.00 per bottle. There are other synthetic waxes out there if you want to spend more money. Also, you won't need to re-wax your car in the middle of winter if you use Nufinish. Get yourself four snow tires, just in case you need them when you get lots of snow and ice. Buy a set of tire chains or Spyder Spikes, you will need them if you do any winter mountain driving and you will be glad you got them.

You can try using synthetic oil in the winter, your car will start much easier on frigid cold mornings. Keep an empty coffee can with a few candles and matches in the car, you can use it for heat if you break down in cold weather.

Buick Mackane > zeontestpilot 08/07/2014 at 04:01

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I keep saying I am going to get rid of my battle scarred 1996 Saturn Sl2, but I can't bear to do it. It still runs like new, handles great, gets 36-39 mpg and the AC blows nice and cold. Plus, I don't have a car payment and the insurance is only about $550.00 per year. Do the preventive maintenance (water pump, hoses, radiator flush and coolant, thermostat, spark plugs, transmission filter and fluid) before winter comes and get four good snow tires and a set of chains or Spyder Spikes. Now is the time to replace your battery and alternator if they are old.

zeontestpilot > Buick Mackane 08/07/2014 at 06:34

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I live in Michigan, Livingston county area. The paved roads are plowed, but as you can see from the pic, I live on dirt roads. Those aren't plowed well at all.

This past winter scared my wife and I, since it was our first winter in Michigan in over four years, coming from Florida. We're from Michigan originally, but never had to drive in that kind of weather before.

I've had to deal with the frigid cold already....twice. Waiting for a tow truck to come, in less than 10 degrees, :(. After the first time, we put blankets in the car.

zeontestpilot > Buick Mackane 08/07/2014 at 06:35

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A Sl2, I love that car. First car I really ever drive. Always sad my parents for rid of it.

thebigbossyboss > zeontestpilot 08/07/2014 at 08:37

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I live in Canada, about 12-14 hours north east of the D. The winters are absolutely brutal here. We had 20 days below -4F. It snows from Mid November through to Mid April.

Here is my take on snow tires: Worth every penny.

Sure, even here a lot of the time, the summer tires will get you through, but I had a point and time where snow tires definitely saved my ass from a sure accident.
That one instance was worth it!

The other consideration is this: Snow tires, tie more of your money up in tires, but in the real long run they don't really cost much more, because your summer tires last longer because they aren't being used 3 to 4 months of the year. (Or in my case 6 months, because I live in an arctic wasteland).

You gonna get separate rims, or just mount them to the rims you have? Steel wheels are pretty cheap, retail for about $65 a pop. Worth it in my case, since I have expensive summer wheels. If I bend a steelie it's not a big deal to get another.

Get a set of 4 snow tires, if you can afford the initial outlay.

zeontestpilot > thebigbossyboss 08/07/2014 at 09:25

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Yeah, steelie rims would be the way to go. I'm cheap like that. It's just the initial cost.

Also my grandpa said I didn't need snow tires, so I'm conflicted. It is a huge cost upfront, but I can drive approximately safely without the tires. I'd just like them for a "just in case" scenario.

thebigbossyboss > zeontestpilot 08/07/2014 at 09:32

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Well, if you're gonna buy them run them from when it starts to snow to when the snow begins to melt, whenever that may be for your area. You never know when conditions can get horrific in winter.

"approximately safely" means nothing. It only takes one instance to hit a tree, car, or whatever else.

How long do you guys have snow for every year?

zeontestpilot > thebigbossyboss 08/07/2014 at 09:53

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It's hard to say how long honestly. I grew up in the suburbs of MI, north if Detroit. Snow rarely happened or was really late in the year. But for the past 7 years, I've been living out of state, mainly Florida for the past 5 years. This was my first winter in MI in that timeframe, and the first time seeing snow in over 4 years! Not to mention driving on it.

To politely say it, it was a heavy hazing that tested the mantle of my driving skills.