A little help, please!

[dgibby]

This is my first post in this forum, so please forgive me if these questions have already been asked and answered, but I'm not a car expert, and could use some help from someone wiser than I.

I'm getting ready to move from SC to Va(a 400mi trip into the mountains), and will have a fully loaded van of my most valuable possessions, my fur babies, so want to make sure my car is safe and road worthy. The last thing I'd need would be be broken down with a van full of frightened dogs and cats! The trip's going to be hard enough without that!

Is anyone familiar with the CarMD device that checks for and analysis problems with your car? If so, is it worth buying?

Also, I have an '08 Dodge Caravan, which appears to be in good shape, but was a dealer car. It took a bit of a beating from chemicals/salt that was used in MD during the '08 and '09 winters. The corrosion has resulted in 2 of the tire valves cracking. My dealership fixed the first one at no cost to me, but am wondering approximately what it would cost to have it fixed if I have to pay for this one.

Any suggestions for preparing the car for this trip would also be most welcome.

I'm a member of AAA and USAA, so feel good about emergency services if needed, but would rather have them and not need them.

Thanks in advance!

[Bombero1956]

1. my advise

If you know a mechanic with a car code reader have them hook your van up to it and scan for DTCs. If there's anything mechanically wrong with your van it will say so. It takes only a few minutes. I did look up CarMD. The cost of the device is about $100 to purchase and includes the ability to diagnose 2 diagnostic reports per month, per vehicle. A premium plan is available that allows unlimited reports for $20 a year or $2 per report. There is also a limit to the number of vehicles that can be tested using the device. The limit is 3 cars per device and if more cars need to be tested, you need to buy additional testers. For your purposes it sound okay but if you can get it done for free you could save yourself the money.

[dgibby]

2. Thank you so much!

I really do appreciate your advice. I think I can find someone to check it for me. Looks like you just saved me some money.

Thanks again!

[flvegan]

3. The usual...

depending on your last service interval, make sure all your fluids are up (or changed) including oil, brake, transmission, coolant, etc. Also, an '08...how's the battery? Have someone check the belts really quick.

Also, the advice you got about the code reader above is excellent and highly recommended. I hope you find someone that will do it for no/low cost. AutoZone has error readers on site, so if you have one near you, they'll run it for you.

Good luck with your move!

[dgibby]

4. Thanks!

I'm taking it in today to be serviced, get a new air pressure valve, and get my recalled doors fixed(faulty wiring that could cause a fire in the sliding doors).

[JohnnyRingo]

5. I used to buy code readers and diagnostic equipment

But now 21st century cars have onboard diagnostics that make the equipment completely redundant.
If there's nothing wrong with your van, there isn't the computer in the world that can forecast a problem that hasn't yet happened. Only a professional hands-on inspection (expensive) can find a weak link that may give you trouble 500 miles down the road.

If there's a malfunction in anything that makes your van operate efficiently, the computer will let you know via the "Check Engine Light". If that ever occurs, you can alternatively access the trouble code by finding the method for your vehicle and cross referencing the code to a specific problem, or you can simply go to a big chain parts store where they'll be glad to do it for free (they sell the parts you know).

Auto Zone will even print a list of probable parts you'll need to repair the problem and the costs associated. This is handy information to possess even if you take the car in for repair. People who complain that they don't build 'em like they used to... haven't been working on them for the last 35 years.

Here's advice on how to access Chrysler vehicle codes, and how to interpret them. Be sure to skip down past the advertisements at the header. This may be good to print and keep in your glovebox for future reference:

http://www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html

As stated in the article: "Dealers have sophisticated computers which plug into your car's computer and can gain massive amounts of information; but backyard mechanics can also benefit from knowing what the computer thinks is wrong (since it's often right), especially given that those well-equipped dealers often have dishonest and poorly-trained mechanics".