Vehicle Longevity - What To Replace

Name some parts that are a good idea to replace on a 144,000 + miled car for vehicle longevity purposes. Not all at once of course. Just where to start, what's the first thing I'd want to replace, whats the last thing I'd need to replace, etc.

I'm fairly certain I'm replacing:
-Alternator
-Waterpump (already bought a while ago)
-Throttle Body

What else? Or maybe you might reccommend me holding off on a few things I mentioned?

I hope this isn't a dumb question, it didn't seem to have been asked before. Thanks.

-Marc

Plugs, wires, fuel filter, PCV, and O2's are everything that I have replaced thus far at 145K.

My U-joints are worn out pretty good and my 1LE driveshaft just came in the mail yesterday too! :)

Front brake pads/rotors are going to be replaced when its up on jack stands for the driveshaft.

Probably going with some new springs/shocks here pretty soon.

Is the throttle body broken or something, otherwise, from a maintenance standpoint, I dont understand why you would replace it. You could just buy a can of throttle body cleaner from a parts store, get an old toothbrush, and clean out your existing throttle body.

Is the throttle body broken or something, otherwise, from a maintenance standpoint, I dont understand why you would replace it. You could just buy a can of throttle body cleaner from a parts store, get an old toothbrush, and clean out your existing throttle body.
Yeah, I would remove the throttle body and clean it with Deep Creep (available at Autozone or NAPA - Seafoam product) and an old toothbrush.

You may want to also VERY gently remove the IAC and clean it up real nice. When I did it, mine was black, and when I was done it was goldish again. I would not buy a new TB though unelss you are heavy on mods.

what about fuel injectors?

radiator?

thermostat?

The reason is because this morning when I was sleeping, my dad was checking out the car and pushed (not hard) the TB in the wrong direction and it went below 1,000 RPM's, made a bad sounds and went back to runnig smooth, but then climed to a 2,000 RPM idle and wouldn't stop. It's ok now, I drove it to jack in the box, but just the fact that it did that leads me to believe something's not right.

Thanks for the replies so far, all good stuff. thumb :thumb:

For most non-maintenance parts, I wouldn't replace them unless they are showing signs of failure. There is no use replace them if the originals are still working, just for the sake of replacing them.

Some parts that you SHOULD consider replacing (if still original) are your shocks (springs should still be OK unless they sag), bushings and engine mounts.

Everything else, just be prepared to replace them when they do eventually fail.

But does my Throttle Body sounds bad, from what I described when my dad pushed on it?

For most non-maintenance parts, I wouldn't replace them unless they are showing signs of failure. There is no use replace them if the originals are still working, just for the sake of replacing them.

Exactly. Car parts fail on a bell curve. The majority fail when they are brand new or when they are very old...
You're better off just waiting until something fails and then changing it. Cheapest way to go too. :cool:

But does my Throttle Body sounds bad, from what I described when my dad pushed on it?

no. Clean it up well, replace the gaskets and be happy.

They get really dirty inside. A build up forms around the throttle valves. The IAC compensates for it, but if your dad pushed them backwards it could have moved some of the gunk around and made the IAC have to readjust itself.

remove the TB and tear it apart. DO NOT remove the throttle blades or shaft. As mentioned above use a toothbrush with a cleaner (Gumout, Simple Green, etc) to get everything sparkling like new. remove the IAC and carefully clean the pintle. Do not turn(rotate) the pintle, just clean it as it is.

here are some pictures of my clean TB. I used a polishing bit in my dremel to shine it up a bit and reassemble it with new gaskets. The car runs like new.

Picture 1 (http://24.196.89.146:2980/webshare/tb1.jpg)
Picture 2 (http://24.196.89.146:2980/webshare/tb2.jpg)
Picture 3 (http://24.196.89.146:2980/webshare/tb3.jpg)

The three things you listed in your original post don't need to be replaced as maintenance items. They either work or they don't.

In a '94 vehicle with 145k miles - the economics of the vehicle don't justify spending money for the sake of it. I suggest following these rules:

1.) Maintenance items include things that wear out and fliuds/filters. Some things, like brakes - are meant to wear out - but they will tell you when they are worn out. Other things won't:

Generally speaking you probably need all new fluids in your car. Oil, trans, rear diff, cooling system. Air, PCV, and fuel filters are a good idea too. But really that's just about it.

2.) Almost everything else - in general - wait for it to break.

But keep an eye on rubber and moving parts for signs of excess wear and rotting out. Jounce bumpers are common, sway bar links, ball joints, stuff like that. Batteries tend to last about 5 years.

3.) If you have some cosmetic parts or non-critical (switchgear and panels and such) showing wear - start browsing eBay and boneyards for good replacements. There are some good deals to be had if you are just picking odds and ends up here and there.

peace.

Thanks a bunch for the info on the throttle body, I'll do that!

a fluid not mentioned is Brake fluid, it wears out(absorbs excess mosture/contaminates) as well

change your tranny fliud .. help the longevity of your transmition running new clean fluid...

Picture 1 (http://24.196.89.146:2980/webshare/tb1.jpg)
Picture 2 (http://24.196.89.146:2980/webshare/tb2.jpg)
Picture 3 (http://24.196.89.146:2980/webshare/tb3.jpg)

Lol, your TB is twice the size of mine.

Lol, your TB is twice the size of mine.

That is to get air to those 2 extra cylinders I have!

Your V6 TB will be very similar in overall design.