[TracerZX2]

Frank,

I know what you are saying to a point, but in post 31, wasn't a lack of PM the cause of all of the drama and expense of the tow bill? I don't believe anyone said just take everything off and replace it every 30k just for fun. What most of us were speaking too specifically was post 6 where a car (CRX) with an interference engine of 130K with a suspected original timing belt still installed should or should not have the TB replaced. I have seen interference engines that have let go of the timing belt, it really is an expensive problem that could have been very inexpensively avoided by replacing the belt, especially if you can learn to do it yourself.

I will say I agree with JTBO on the air filters where it relates to my car. Add in the fact that I live on a gravel road and drive them every day to work, I go through filters. I do clean them with shop air regularly but the style my car uses still become plugged regularly. I can tell when mine is restricting flow by the ZX2 is acting and for my money it is cheap insurance.

Same with the lights, again, I live in middle of nowhere and leave for work in the dark and during winter, return home in the dark, lots of light is important to me as I have found out first hand that a deer is very hard on a vehicle as are other wildlife and farm animals that are regularly found on our roads. Heck, I go to the extreme of polishing my headlight lenses and reflectors as well as replacing lamps when they reach the point of dropping by more than 30 lumens. Again, no drama there, just like having more light for my old eyes to see by.

I have yet to make a tool from an old timing belt, but willing to learn what tool that would be, but I do have a set of brake drums with post welded to them and roller tops that I use for dandy supports for material at my table saw, router table and miter box. I do keep an alternator that I have rebuilt on the shelf at all times to keep drama down when on goes or to sell to a customer that has one crap out.

Granted, I didn't wait for them to break before I stopped using them on the car, the micrometer said it was time to replace them so I did. When it comes to brakes, I don't wait for it to break. If it is worn, I replace it in my spare time while checking fluids, changing oil every 9000, cleaning battery terminals and other PM.

Here we have winter lows below zero as well, and MDOT loves spreading the salt. Summer highs can be over 100 for days or weeks at a time and everything in between. I include washing mud and salt from under my cars and undercoating them to keep them from rusting out because I hate rust and am not good at fixing it. The kids love doing the washing in the summer especially, so it is pretty easy as well.

Which has more drama? Oh crap won't start, call tow truck and get it to mechanic, oh crap they want $1500 bucks, run down, clean battery terminals, drive car home OR sunny afternoon, listen to ball game on radio, do PM, maybe enjoy an adult beverage, smoke a brisket, ribs or shoulder and drive car at will, no problems? Every person has to answer that for themselves per their tolerance for failures.

T