Part two of the story of the Celica, written by Taylor on August 1st.
Something told me not to let this car just sit until the trip, so I put a few miles on it over the first few days. As it turns out, this was a smart but incrementally expensive choice.
The service history
I noticed no issues on the first day driving this around. On day two, I ignored what felt like a strange knocking in the steering. By the third day, I couldn’t chalk it up to road condition anymore — this car had rocks in his shoes. I figured it was time to more thoroughly peruse the “complete service history” in the manila folder in the glovebox. It actually just covers 2016-2018 plus the “replace all the fluids” that Mark’s family did at a Jiffy Lube in May.
The Celica sure had a lot of work recommended in its former life, but the PreviousPrevious Owner declined most of it. Including, apparently, the repeated recommendation starting in 2017 that the passenger’s side C/V axle and outside boot be replaced because the boot busted. And having spoken to Mark and his father, I truly believe the family had no clue. So I went to take a look:
I should have seen this. I didn’t feel it driving before, but perhaps the combination of “test driving on new roads paved with gold” and “I was excited” caused me to miss it. But through the second and third days, the steering knocks and grinding had been getting worse.
Other highlights from the service history included observations about substantial leaks (most of which had corresponding fixes), old engine mounts, and “RADIATOR IS BENT LIKELY FROM AN IMPACT OF SOME SORT.” If there was an accident, that might explain why the passenger airbag looks like it deployed at some point. Also there’s a sales order for a new motor for the convertible top, but nothing saying it was ever installed… which would make sense because it doesn’t work.
The repairs
I suppose it was my turn. I’m willing to live with plenty of brokenness. Just look at the truck… But the worst case scenario for a C/V joint going is catastrophic handling loss on a mountain road in rural Canada. I probably would have been okay, but while we’re always a little worried that we’ll break down on these trips — there’s a difference between breaking down and being catapulted into the sea, even if it’s an off-chance. So I’ve enlisted the help of my local shop to take a look. And with confidence moderately shaken, I’ve also asked for a maintenance inspection. (What they must think of the circus of vehicles I roll through their bays, but they’re rather good sports about it.)
Thankfully their maintenance inspection turned up nothing else, so I feel better. Poorer, but more confident because now I have a new axle that isn’t grinding itself to pieces. Two. I should make that two axles, because the driver side was in even worse shape.
Oh and also the tires.
I go into these trips knowing that tires are probably needed. Surprisingly, all 4 tires on the Celica were in great shape! Two are brand new and two are in decent condition.
But given where we’re headed, I needed a spare. Like a real spare, not just a donut that this car shipped with (but did not still have). So I made a run to the Discount Tire where the salesman made the discovery that the two newer tires are a slightly larger size… Because of course they are.
Now rather than pick which set of tires to make the spare for, I now have five tires of the same size… so I’m ready to give this a shot.
Seattle to Anchorage… that’s only two thousand miles… How hard can it be?