When I bought my 84 F-150 I promised myself I would keep a log. I started entering every gallon of gas that was put in the truck and every maintenance item has been logged. Well, almost every item. In reviewing it this week I noticed that there are some plug changes I know I did, but not listed. I also changed the plug wires more times than listed. Maybe if I go through my log again I'll find them.

For some reason I had 180K miles in my head as how many are on the truck. Don't know where I came up with the mileage. The actual miles are 209913.2.

So my log is both good and bad. The bad is that I can go back through it and see whree it was that a major component failed either leaving me stranded or hobling home holding my breath. The good is that when a major component fails I can tell my wife; "Look it lasted 3 years! That's a lot cheaper than car payments for three years!" when she says "Your replacing that again?". Here are the two "Your replacing that again" items.

Alternators - 7
Starters - 5

The Alternators have been the worst. Had to put one in within a month after I bought it. That one lasted 26K miles. Then one 4509 miles later, 374 miles after that 4101 miles and 5996 miles, now I'm on the seventh and 45325.7 miles have passed. I'm wating for the shoe to drop.

The starters have lasted 16K, 34388 (that's the record), 6543 (the low record) and currently 180 miles. The worst part about the starters is that being so easy to install and remove I should put one in my truck with the tools to change it at the gas station where it will go out.

Oh well. Back to more important things in life.

 

I keep a log in a program called autowolf

http://www.lonewolf-software.com

I have had it for about 4 years now, and it works well. Gives you averages and lets you know when things are due (you can modify the intervals) I find that by tracking the info, I can catch problems when they are small (MPG drops, do a tune up etc)

According to it, my 1993 f150 has run me about $.11 per mile for the time I have owned it. My wife has no complaints, her car is still over $.75/mi (of course, it is a 2000 )

Jim

 

Time for you to start buying a better starter/alternator. The ones from autozone are junk if those are the ones you are getting. There is no reason those should be dieing like that.

 

You got it Mustang. I end up buying the cheap brand because I'm always poor at the time my start or altenator goes. Actually I could have bought a slightly better one this time around. But when you get an Autozone starter with a warrenty it just means you'll be doing the job again within the warrenty period.


Thanks for the tip on the log, Mavinwy. I'll look at it later today.

 

542,000 KM

I'm on starter #2
Original Alternator has lasted 26 years (I have one ready to go in when it needs it)
4 sets of brakes
1 Transmission rebuild
No axle or rear end work
1 new complete front end replace
2 topper strut braces
4 windshields


I keep all receipts and write the mileage at the time on them.