Starting a car that has sat for far too long

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 2:32 pm

Any tips ?

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:12 pm

Charge the battery for a few days before hand....

Check the fluid levels before you start it.

IF it's low on fuel, then some fresh petrol will make a big difference.

Post by **Shug** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:22 pm

Echo what Dom says.

Also, if ultra paranoid, pop off the king lead on the coil (assuming it's Blue Thunder) and crank it till the oil light goes out, then pop back on and start. That way you know you have pressure and it's circulated before it fires.

BigD · Post by **BigD** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:24 pm

Shug wrote: Also, if ultra paranoid, pop off the king lead on the coil (assuming it's Blue Thunder) and crank it till the oil light goes out, then pop back on and start. That way you know you have pressure and it's circulated before it fires.

That would be my main concern if it's sat for a while, definitely get the oil round it before starting.

Post by **pete** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:44 pm

Want a hand? Could pop in after 7?

woody · Post by **woody** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:47 pm

Depending how long it's sat, I'd check the oil (mayo from condensation?), check the belt for signs of deterioration, and check the coolant. Further to what Shug says, I'd take the plugs out and give it a spin on the key for a couple of minutes or to get the oil system primed; doing it with a hole where the plug should be takes a load off the battery & gets you there quicker.

Mikie711 · Post by **Mikie711** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:37 pm

Man you lot are paranoid, jist fire her up. Be fine

tonyg · Post by **tonyg** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:53 pm

Also - you'll probably find the tyres will have a flat spot on them if it hasn't turned a wheel - putting some more air (just a couple of psi) in to them will help them regain their proper round shape according to a guy i met.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 6:44 pm

tonyg wrote:Also - you'll probably find the tyres will have a flat spot on them if it hasn't turned a wheel - putting some more air (just a couple of psi) in to them will help them regain their proper round shape according to a guy i met.

Top tip there!

On the note of tyres, they will all likely be under-inflated, so definitely check them / put some air in.

Brakes may well be seized on too.... rough love to solve that - or some spannering and cleaning.

Come to think of it, just soak the entire car in WD40 for a month before you do anything

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 9:17 pm

Well she runs, cheers all.

Corranga · Post by **Corranga** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 9:49 am

Mikie711 wrote:Man you lot are paranoid, jist fire her up. Be fine

I did that with my old Mini. It had been sitting outside for 5+ years without running. New battery, some fresh fuel and it was turning over (though not firing).
Plug lead off to ensure spark was getting there (it wasn't).
An ex-auto electric friend then placed a screwdriver somewhere (between the starter and the engine block I believe) whilst I was in the car turning the key, and it fired up.
Run for 20 minutes, turned it off and it was happy to start on the key

Amazing what some cars will do.

GBOBM · Post by **GBOBM** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 11:35 am

Mikie711 wrote:Man you lot are paranoid, jist fire her up. Be fine

Make sure you rev it loads and give iut a scottish tune-up on your first run (Like an Italian tune-up but not so mechanically sympathetic)

Scottish Elises

Starting a car that has sat for far too long

Starting a car that has sat for far too long

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Re: Starting a car that has sat for far too long

Re: Starting a car that has sat for far too long

Re: Starting a car that has sat for far too long

Re: Starting a car that has sat for far too long

Re: Starting a car that has sat for far too long

Re: Starting a car that has sat for far too long

Re: Starting a car that has sat for far too long

Re: Starting a car that has sat for far too long

Re: Starting a car that has sat for far too long

Re: Starting a car that has sat for far too long