Suggested Preventive Maintenance

[robertc1024]

Hi Folks,

I just aquired a 1988 Ranger - 2.9, 2WD, 110k miles, Mazda 5 spd manual and am looking for suggestions for getting it going. It has hardly been driven for the past 3 years. I picked it up about 200 miles from my house, put a battery in it and it started perfectly. I've already replace the leaking master cylinder, but all other rubber looks good. I want to use it as a daily driver. I've been lurking on this site for a week or so and know I need to replace/fix the shifter rail seals - and I'm going to replace the front brake flex lines. Other than the tranny fluid, rear end fluid, gas filter - is there anything else I should be watching? Thanks alot, I've never had a truck before and this one is great. In my neighborhood tours I'm pretty impressed, no valve noise etc. brakes are good with even wear on front outer and inner pads etc.

 

[Cyberbeer]

You're on the right track. Replace the fluids with synthetics if you have the mola, and change the oil and she will be good to go. Might want to flush the cooling system, buy a T hose connector and hook into the heater hose and flush her out.

Other then those things, not much else to do.

 

[RustedRanger]

One of the first things I do is spray WD-40 on all the plug-ins for the wiring that I can get to. Get it to run into the backside of the plug-n where the wires go in. I always put dielectric grease on the plug-ins whenever I unplug anything also. I agree with the synthectic fluids also and flushing the cooling system.

 

[robertc1024]

Thanks for the suggestions

I appreciate the advice gentlemen - sounds like this weekend is going to be filled with lots of draining, filling, and tire buying! I don't know what I did before the internet - I rebuilt 5 BMW 2002's years ago when I was in college and I could have written a book about their typical problems. It really helps to be able to tap into expert's brains!

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I agree with everything said above, except anything about synthetic fluids, they really aren't worth the money unless you have a high performance vehicle... If you want to spend the money go ahead, in my book though it's a waste... Regular maintenance is more important than what goes in...