Sitting for a year without starting

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Mark, Jul 28, 2003.

  1. Mark

    Mark Guest

    I posted another message here about possibly buying a 94 Scoupe from a
    friend.
    Well I'm going to check it out, but one thing I was thinking about is that
    it hasn't been fired up for over a year.
    What precautions should be taken before starting it?

    What exactly happens when a car sits for that amount of time? I would
    imagine the oil might dry up a bit, but I'm no expert.

    Any advice would be appreciated.


    Mark
     
    Mark, Jul 28, 2003
    #1
  2. At the very least, you're probably going to have:

    1) a flat battery (it might not take a charge even after you jump it)
    2) flat spots in the tires (you'll probably have to replace them)
    3) gunked-up oil (should be flushed and changed before starting car)
    4) belts will have become stiffened in their current shape and bending
    them will weaken them; I'd replace them all
    5) all the gunk in the gas tank has settled to the bottom, ready to
    get sucked into the fuel line -- replace the fuel filter after the
    first startup, it'll probably need it

    Various things may have become rusted or otherwise stuck to other
    things. I'd be very sure of the brakes before taking it for a test
    drive, for example.

    Please, have a mechanic you trust (or at least someone mechancially
    inclined) check this car out before giving your friend any money for
    it. Actually, since he obviously hasn't been in desperate enough need
    of cash to sell the car in over a year, maybe you can suggest that
    you'll pay him if it's still running in two months. %)
     
    Jerry Kindall, Jul 28, 2003
    #2
  3. Mark

    jor Guest

    Well, everyone is giving you good advice so I'll put in my two cents. I'd
    remove the plugs and squirt a little Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder,
    put the plugs back in and fire it up. After it gets through coughing and
    sputtering, drive it around a bit and then do all the other stuff.
    jor
     
    jor, Jul 29, 2003
    #3
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