Ok...let me have it...my car has been stood for 4 years...and now I need it again

[jonisginger]

Everyone is allowed one post to tell me I'm an idiot, then future posts should ideally be helpful.

OK so my car* has been stood for almost 4 years while I went to Uni. It was initially only supposed to be three, but I did an extra year if that reduces my sentence.

*http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=198650&highlight=jonisginger

I could do with a list of

• Parts I am likely to need to replace,
• Parts with approximately a 50/50 chance of needing to be replaced,
• Parts that have an outside chance of needing to be replaced,
• Things to do before starting up/other misc advice etc.

Some details that may help.

• When I've been home, I've noticed that the gearbox still slides about nice and smoothly. I last checked last summer,
• The car has been jumped started once or twice. Initially, it wasn't happy but after being turned off and on again it seemed OK. It moved back and forward ok. This was probably around 2 years ago. The brakes are in a considerably worse state now than they were then - it may not even move now.

Thing I am prepared for
I'm expecting that the braking system is gonna be pretty shot. Calipers, pads, discs and hydraulics (yes, I left the handbrake on ). The tyres may have flat spots. The battery will be flat and furthermore useless forever. It will need a service and MOT.

Further questions

• It's an old car (51 plate) so I was thinking of getting any parts I need either off here or from a scrapdealer. I live in East Anglia if anyone knows a good one near here. I live in York until end of July. Is this a sensible idea?
• Could somebody in the know give me the low down on tyre flat spots?

Any other advice is gratefully received.

Be nice.

Jon.

 

[NickCupraR]

From a previous student to a previous student. Should have sold it, used the cash to be a rich student and then bought another car this side of Uni!!

I would think majority needs replacing. You dont want to be driving a death trap!

 

[n11tht]

As a starter id:

change engine oil
remove brakes and clean rust of pads and discs
bleed entire brake system
drain coolant and replace
drain petrol from tank, possibly fit new fuel lines
new spark plugs
new battery
new tyres

It should then be fairly good to go

 

[Pete.Cupra.R]

Well you've most likely almost killed it. Almost.!
You're right about the brakes, they will definitely need a full strip down and thorough clean up, may be salvageable.
Tyres will most likely be fooked but will probably do to poodle around on till you get some.
New battery of course and see if she'll run. The petrol may have deteriorated so get some fresh fuel in the system first.
Bushes may be perished.?
Check round everything that can leak something, oils, water etc replace anything major as required.
Was it garaged.? That would make quite a difference.
Fresh oil and filters.
You might be surprised, but definitely brakes, oil and fuel.

That's my two penneth
Good luck dude and keep us posted

Oh and don't be so silly again, like nick says, you should have sold it anyway. They don't like standing for a few months let alone 3-4 years.!

 

[Seal_LCR]

Surely for the possible price of all the work needed doing you could pick up a 1.6 for that at that sort of age and swap the bits??

 

[LEE69]

Bet you get in it start it and it runs fine

 

[NickCupraR]

advertise it as it is on ebay. Someone may pay a few hundred for scrap etc and then out that towards a new car

 

[cupra.al]

Bet you get in it start it and it runs fine

i agree.

 

[cupraslayer]

Mine had stood still for 2 years. New fuel and battery....... She ran fine! Drove slowly up and down the street a few times testing the brakes. Took a few sharp brakes to clean crap off.
Went for mot and needed new near side cv joint and 2 rear bushes. Oil change wasn't done until 1 month after that day of re starting.
Apart from the usual boost leak that most of us suffer from , its as it was before she was sorn .

 

[traumapat]

I turned mine over with the coils disconnected just to circulate the oil for 30secs before I started her up then had a full service to change brake fluid and cam belt.

Reset the fuel trims after I run the old fuel through but nothing major had died.

 

[jonisginger]

Thanks everyone for your quick responses. Being away for 4 year has made me forget how active etc it is on here!

Mixed bag though. I think the most sensible thing to do is to ascertain a list of things that absolutely must and should be done before I try and start/drive it for the first time, to both avoid further ruination and general safety. So far I have

1. Replace or salvage brakes. Un**** handbrake. Rebleed brake fluid,
2. Drain fuel tank (don't think there's much in there), somehow clear fuel lines (how?), put in some fresh fuel and some Redex o.e.,
3. New battery,
4. Turn engine over for 30 secs (without any fuel?) before starting up for first time,
5. Check no obvious leaks or ruined seals,
6. If it drives, then drive to garage for general service for fluids etc.

Anything else?

This is just a minimum list of things (for small pennies) to see if it's worth continuing with.

I might get my mate back home to take a picture of the brakes so everyone can have a jolly good laugh. To be honest if the tyres are usable until first paycheque then it's the brakes and it randomly not starting/a big leak/an explosion so big it takes out most of my house, after doing the above I am most worried about.

Thanks for your help everyone.

 

[traumapat]

Thanks everyone for your quick responses. Being away for 4 year has made me forget how active etc it is on here!

Mixed bag though. I think the most sensible thing to do is to ascertain a list of things that absolutely must and should be done before I try and start/drive it for the first time, to both avoid further ruination and general safety. So far I have

1. Replace or salvage brakes. Un**** handbrake. Rebleed brake fluid,
2. Drain fuel tank (don't think there's much in there), somehow clear fuel lines (how?), put in some fresh fuel and some Redex o.e.,
3. New battery,
4. Turn engine over for 30 secs (without any fuel?) before starting up for first time,
5. Check no obvious leaks or ruined seals,
6. If it drives, then drive to garage for general service for fluids etc.

Anything else?

This is just a minimum list of things (for small pennies) to see if it's worth continuing with.

I might get my mate back home to take a picture of the brakes so everyone can have a jolly good laugh. To be honest if the tyres are usable until first paycheque then it's the brakes and it randomly not starting/a big leak/an explosion so big it takes out most of my house, after doing the above I am most worried about.

Thanks for your help everyone.

turn it over just before starting , you want it fuelled. its just to get the oil pumped round a bit before you run the engine properly.

if there is crap in the fuel lines i cant see how draining would remove it. better to stick some fresh v power in which has cleaning detergents to dilute the jaded fuel already in there.

you might find the thermostat needs changing

 

[jonisginger]

Thanks, ok. How do I turn it over without starting it? Just keep turning the key left and right?

 

[traumapat]

Thanks, ok. How do I turn it over without starting it? Just keep turning the key left and right?

disconnect the coils at the electrical conectors so the engine cant fire. turn the key so the battery tries to start the car. after 30secs of it trying to start reconnect and start the engine

 

[LEE69]

Remove fuse 28 for the fuel pump

 

[dazjstuart]

Nothing a good service and a bit of driving wont fix IMO. As others have recommended I would be getting some fresh fuel in there though, if theres not much then dont bother draining it just brim it with some fresh. Run it for a while then change the fuel filter (waste of time changing it now then flushing all the crap that has inevitably fallen to the bottom of the tank through the new one). Yeah turning it over without starting it certainly isn't a bad idea

Watch out for things like fragile brake pipes and perished tyres but if you put it to a garage for a service they should be checking for all that anyway.

 

[Fraz]

As above,

If its a cheap car and your not going to cry should it go pear shaped. Change the battery (assuming it is dead. Ive seen some take a good charge and live!), top up the fuel with a jerry can to get some fresh stuff in there. Remove the fuel pump fuse and try to start it a few times, then replace the fuse and start it.

Next, try to move it to see whats seized. If some brakes are seized strip them, push the pistons back into the calipers and copper slip them up. BOOM.

Then see how it goes MOT wise and worry about a service after that. Id expect a set of wipers and checking the tyres for cracks would be on the list too.

 

[Deleted member 74601]

I'd say do all the filters, not just oil.

 

[CupraRmark]

It's a seat it will be fine with some fresh oil and fuel maybe some wipers and a few road tests to get them brakes working again..


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[Dozer360]

My first car had been sitting disused for 2 years before i drove it, all it needed was pushing to the top of a hill, then jump in and bump started it on the way down, that was a fiat tho.