Lets see...Broken heater hoses X 2 fixed, on the fly. Fuel pump (mechanical) while visiting my neighbors to the north, fixed on the fly. Fuel line fix…wiper blades miss-installed after new glass was installed, discovered several days later while on a trip, fixed on the fly.

Couldn't fix...Cracked distributor cap, the car completely died, had no idea, AC clutch ceased broke two belts, and last a cam sprocket failed. Oh yeah, while driving on I77S I lost the oil drain plug. I swear I tightened it. (My technique since is tighten it until it strips and back it off 1/4 turn.)

Don't forget to add a hose clamp and a MacGyver type knife.
--
Tom F

A few spare parts can go along way, but how long had it been since the last belt change? I think they're recommended to be change at 60K. And something I almost never do anymore is think to look under the hood and visually inspect the belts and fluid levels before hopping in the car and driving 600 miles! Good habit to reconsider.
--
John Shatzer, '92 965 @100K; one of a few still in captivity.

Yep, I always keep my old belts for just that reason. I also bought a flat tool box that fits in the rear well of my 740 wagon. I just don't feel right driving off into the distance in a complex machine (no matter what the car make) without a tool box and a supply of parts.

Bill

I have a suggestion for you that will put BMW and even Ferrary tool kits to shame. Sears sells Craftman and Companion tool kits in nice zippered cases but I think only SAE, not metric. Otherwise, Craftman tools are beter than Chinese made Companion tools, but the Companion case includes some useful items like ties, tape, knife, flashlight and so on. NOW, does your car have the wells at each side of the trunk like 700 cars?. If it does, Sears sells a Craftman all metric 90 piece tool kit (P/N 33191?) in a plastic case that fits perfectly in one of those wells. For $100, you get 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 inch drive ratchets and long and short sockets, wrenches and a scredriver handle. The case has a lid inside on which you can put a couple of small hinges. This lid covers the wrench compartment where there is enough room to put in some additional tools, supplies and even some spare parts. Add a set of Craftman pliers, screwdriver and torx bits (preferably impact wrench quality) to fit the screwdriver handle, and what other tools, supplies and spare car parts you want, perhaps in a folded cloth tool case or two from Craftman. There will still be room in that compartment for a multimeter and a flashlight. It will all fit in that case inside the well in the trunk like factory or custom made. Moreover, you will have enough tools to comfortably undertake most repairs short of an engine or transmission rebuild. Perhaps you could do these, but you will need a torque wrench. You could even put a bag or a case of spare parts in the other well in the trunk and you would be ready to travel the Americas from the Artic to the Antartic.

That was a great post and a good reminder about two things:

1. Always keep your old ones
2. Change your old ones before they are so rotten you can't keep them

My dad recently had a mysterious alternator belt breakage on a relatively new belt. It's a long span on the alternator belt, which might have something to do with the shorter life of the belts (from what I've seen). They tend to bounce around a lot.

--
Chris Herbst
1992 745, 68k

And others:
93 944, 150k
90 245, 110k
88 744, 160k
87 245, 185k