maintenance
08-06-2009, 09:53 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Japan
Posts: 26
maintenance
I recently bought a 1997 Mustang GT 4.6L V8 281 CID with a little under 30K miles on it.
I bought it from a mature Japanese lady and I don't know how good she was at keeping up with the maintenance. I know the tires were worn thin and I have recently had a pretty bad coolant leak I'm in the process of getting fixed. Otherwise it seems like it's in excellent condition.
The tires have been replaced and I replaced the headlights (because I wanted better looking ones, I replaced the lamps while I was in there even though the old ones still worked). I have new fog lights (and lamps) on order.
I have ordered a radiator hose kit, thermostat, radiator cap, intake manifold and intake gaskets to get the cooling system back in line and not have any worries in that regard for a while.
I also ordered an air filter, spark plugs and wires, and an oil filter to do a tune up. I'm also planning on changing out the automatic transmission fluid, brake fluid, oil, power steering fluid, and coolant (of course).
The car recently went through a thorough safety inspection, so I believe the brakes should be good to go.
Anything else I should do since I don't know what maintenance has been done before I bought it? For reference...12 year old pony that's walked a little under 30K miles.
I want to make this pony smile and be happy for a while!
I bought it from a mature Japanese lady and I don't know how good she was at keeping up with the maintenance. I know the tires were worn thin and I have recently had a pretty bad coolant leak I'm in the process of getting fixed. Otherwise it seems like it's in excellent condition.
The tires have been replaced and I replaced the headlights (because I wanted better looking ones, I replaced the lamps while I was in there even though the old ones still worked). I have new fog lights (and lamps) on order.
I have ordered a radiator hose kit, thermostat, radiator cap, intake manifold and intake gaskets to get the cooling system back in line and not have any worries in that regard for a while.
I also ordered an air filter, spark plugs and wires, and an oil filter to do a tune up. I'm also planning on changing out the automatic transmission fluid, brake fluid, oil, power steering fluid, and coolant (of course).
The car recently went through a thorough safety inspection, so I believe the brakes should be good to go.
Anything else I should do since I don't know what maintenance has been done before I bought it? For reference...12 year old pony that's walked a little under 30K miles.
I want to make this pony smile and be happy for a while!
08-06-2009, 12:54 PM
#3
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South East Indiana
Posts: 353
before the oil change use a can of 1/3 can of seafoam in the oil, 1/3 can in the gas tank, and the last 1/3 goes into the vacuum system through the pcv line. Do it while the engine is warm. Start it up and there will be a ton of smoke but it will clean the valves and what not.
08-06-2009, 02:13 PM
#4
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 479
Seafoam's good also.
When I bought mine I flushed the radiator and block out and drove it a bit with a bottle of cooling system cleaner (forget the name..) and then flushed it out again with the hose really well before installing a new stat and filling with coolant. Also, don't use the orange crap get the old fashioned green stuff, see your owner's manual or download one online (they're free).
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