[AJtheTruck]

I am about to purchase this 2000 2WD 7.3 Lariat with only 81,000 miles! It was my grandfathers before he died 6 years ago. Right before he died we changed the oil (2012), changed both batteries, and the air filter. Since then about 300 miles has been put on it. Starting it about 4 times a year. We have also put in SeaFoam to the diesel every couple of years. I am going to travel about 5 hours to get it which means I will need to drive it 5 hours home.

Question.
What is a must do before I drive it that far?

I plan on getting it back into shape at my house. Before I leave for the drive I plan on changing the fuel filter, making sure it has enough oil, checking the air filter, checking the coolant, checking the transmission fluid. For some reason the blinkers quit working just after the headlights quit working. I know it will probably need tires, brakes, tranny service, coolant service, air filter, fuel filter, and oil change. Is there anything else I should look out for?

I will send y'all pictures when I get it!:grin:

 

[Statetreestroke]

First thing i would do is get all the old fuel out of the tank. Start with fresh fuel. Next make sure the batteries are good and charged. Blast the old fuel filter out with some brake clean. Take the intake spider off and blast some sort of penetrating oil down the intake. This will hopefully get to the cylinder walls of the cylinders that have been sitting with open valves and in theory keep you from breaking a ring if theres any rust in the cylinder. Check the air filter box for bird nests and what not also check around the downpipe and back of the turbo for the same you dont want a fire. Give the truck a good once over and try to crank it.

 

[ars5147]

I'd start with just having someone put it on a flatbed and have it towed home. That way you will have nothing to worry about it if breaks down in that 5 hour trip.

Potential headaches and repairs ($$$) on the side of the road or having to have it towed to a shop 2.5 hrs from home could outweigh the cost of a tow. Cost of pars, repairs, your time, etc...could add up fast. If you're not at home where you can work on it over time, you're at the mercy of the side of the road or the closest repair shop. I personally don't trust other ppl (only a small few) but myself working on my stuff.

Try and confirm last time it's been started. Then you could gauge from there. A general look over, looking at the belt and stuff, etc., should be fine.

If it's been recently, then I wouldn't worry about anything. In my experience, fluids really don't "go bad" b/c of time. Might just need some fresh fuel.

Biggest thing probably would be stuck brakes, in the slides, and the calipers. That will ruin a 5 hour drive.

 

[Kmfinley93]

When it's been started 4x a year, has it been driven around? My rule is that if it starts and runs, I'll drive it unless any of the important things aren't perfect:

-Tires
-Brakes
-Exterior Lighting
-Wipers

If it runs and everything above checks out, I'd swap some fluids and run it around town til the thermostat opens and then at least an hour more. If Anything worries you or isn't perfect above, Trailer it or have it towed. It's not worth destroying what could be a very awesome truck to save a few hundred dollars.

 

[GETFURIOUS]

BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID.....I HAS BEEN STARTED PERIODICLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.....AND IT RUNS.....

IF THAT IS TRUE.....I WOULD CHECK AND LUBRICATE EVERYTHING THAT I COULD GET ACCESS TO.....(ESPECIALLY THE BRAKE SYSTEM).....MAKE SURE THE TIRES ARE AIRED UP AND NOT DRY ROTTED.....FILL IT WITH FUEL.....AND DRIVE IT HOME.....

I WOULD NEVER USE "BRAKE CLEAN" ON A DIESEL FUEL FILTER.....(PAPER MEDIA FILTER).....

ONCE YOU GET IT HOME.....POST UP SOME PHOTOS OF THE TRIP AND THE TRUCK.....

HAPPY TRAILS.....:grin:

 

[Statetreestroke]

I'd start with just having someone put it on a flatbed and have it towed home. That way you will have nothing to worry about it if breaks down in that 5 hour trip.

Potential headaches and repairs ($$$) on the side of the road or having to have it towed to a shop 2.5 hrs from home could outweigh the cost of a tow. Cost of pars, repairs, your time, etc...could add up fast. If you're not at home where you can work on it over time, you're at the mercy of the side of the road or the closest repair shop. I personally don't trust other ppl (only a small few) but myself working on my stuff.

Try and confirm last time it's been started. Then you could gauge from there. A general look over, looking at the belt and stuff, etc., should be fine.

If it's been recently, then I wouldn't worry about anything. In my experience, fluids really don't "go bad" b/c of time. Might just need some fresh fuel.

Biggest thing probably would be stuck brakes, in the slides, and the calipers. That will ruin a 5 hour drive.

Wheres you sense of adventure haha

 

[Statetreestroke]

BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID.....I HAS BEEN STARTED PERIODICLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.....AND IT RUNS.....

IF THAT IS TRUE.....I WOULD CHECK AND LUBRICATE EVERYTHING THAT I COULD GET ACCESS TO.....(ESPECIALLY THE BRAKE SYSTEM).....MAKE SURE THE TIRES ARE AIRED UP AND NOT DRY ROTTED.....FILL IT WITH FUEL.....AND DRIVE IT HOME.....

I WOULD NEVER USE "BRAKE CLEAN" ON A DIESEL FUEL FILTER.....(PAPER MEDIA FILTER).....

ONCE YOU GET IT HOME.....POST UP SOME PHOTOS OF THE TRIP AND THE TRUCK.....

HAPPY TRAILS.....:grin:

It wont hurt it to get it cleaned up a little and use long enough to get the old fuel out of the lines and drop in a new one before you start on the trip.

 

[djmaguire]

If you know that it needs tires - and you have the money for the tires - why not just get new tires mounted before you leave on your trip back? Driving on junk tires seems like an unnecessary risk to me.

Same goes for batteries. It's not like the batteries and tires near you are special in some way.

That said... Before heading back home, I'd take a day or two to drive it around seeing the sights. There's no reason to start the truck and immediately drive five hours straight just to see what's gonna happen. You can find out a lot within 10 miles of your starting point with a number of short trips.

 

[AJtheTruck]

Wow the information is very helpful. I love this truck.

I plan on changing the fuel filter, and air filter before I go. The batteries were good when I went down 2 weeks ago. My grandmother can't drive this truck; she could barely start it. She would let it run for about 5-10 minutes (which is not long enough) every so often (5-6 times a year now that I think about it). When I came to visit I would drive it around.

When I drove it last weekend I thought it drove fine (other than the lack of turn lamps and head lights), it didn't shift as smooth as I had hoped but I didn't drive it too far. My father will be following me in his Silverado (a little more peace of mind). I don't want to get tires were I am because of two reasons. 1. I have a guy. 2. It is in pretty good need of an alignment and I would rather have it aligned first before I start dumping the money.

It's maroon by the way!

Thoughts?

 

[GregWork]

The fact that you know the full history, you drove it last week, and your Dad is running behind you...

I'd change the filter, put fresh fuel in it, and drive it home.

 

[Kmfinley93]

You're going to have to take some pictures for us.

Since you've got the backup I'd do the above and make sure I've got good brakes. Run it up to speed a few times and slam on them to get them heated up and clean them off... If your pedal goes to the floor, get a trailer.

 

[Ckelly78z]

You will want to follow the good advice above, but also consider having parts/spares/tools for the trip home. Power steering fluid, brake fluid, trans fluid, couple quarts of oil, jumper cables, tow strap, basic hand tools, coolant, portible air compressor or filled air tank, good flashlight.

Good luck.

 

[AgTires4295]

I tend to think everyone is a little over the top on this (call me wrong).

If it's been driven with that frequency, there shouldn't be any issues (especially since you drove it around last week). Take some extra fluids, tools, fuel additive, and hit the first diesel station, filling it up with fresh fuel. Run the "older" fuel with the additive, diluted with new fuel and roll on home, taking it easy of course.

Does it have any monitors? I'd recommend monitoring everything anyway, but especially on this trip back.

 

[ars5147]

When I drove it last weekend I thought it drove fine (other than the lack of turn lamps and head lights), it didn't shift as smooth as I had hoped but I didn't drive it too far. My father will be following me in his Silverado (a little more peace of mind).

Thoughts?

I wouldn't worry about anything then. Fill up the fuel tank and drive it home.

If it runs good don't even waste any money on new filters or oil or trans fluid as long as they all look good on the dipstick. Do those at the recommended maintenance intervals.

 

[AJtheTruck]

I got it home....

So I made it 340 miles.:icon_ford:

I started by checking the oil level (very clean), changing the air filter, changing the fuel filter, changing the wipers, replacing the headlight switch, retighten the front hubs, and fixed the blinkers.

It was not the easiest drive ever. I didn't get new tires and the old dry rotted ones made it (in hindsight I probably should have changed them before the drive). 200 miles in and the engine began to cut out. It would cut out when I had my foot on the gas but would always come back, it did that about 30 more times (it made me die a little every time it did it), the engine only shut off 3 times! It would shut off while idling in drive or when my foot was not on the gas. I got it home, parked it, and kissed the dash; for 6 years it hadn't been driven 300 miles and it got a rude awakening Sunday.

Things that work:
Stereo
Power Windows

Things that don't work:
Everything else including the....
Gas Gauge
Power Locks
Power Mirrors
A/C
Blend Door
Cruise Control
Interior Lights
Overhead Console Readout
OBD 2 Port

For some reason I couldn't get the code reader to pull codes, it just wouldn't connect. I ended up having to go around it by using the Advance DCT toggle which I can see pending codes, KOER, and something else I can't remember.

I pulled the codes off of it and was able to see the following:
P0603
P0344
P1212
P0304

All in all I love this truck. I will spend way too much money restoring it, and I couldn't be happier!

 

[Kmfinley93]

Since everything you mentioned sounds fairly electrical, you may want to check you’re getting power to the fuses in question. Check for moisture... I’ve read a few times about the windshield leaking and frying the under dash fuse panel

 

[AJtheTruck]

Thanks for the advice!
I don't know if they are all related but the cruise doesn't work, the overhead console is real dim, the gas gauge always reads between a half and full.
Oddly, the truck seems to only miss when the wipers are on? Not sure what is up...