Starting up a SORN'd car after 3 years ?

[zardoz]

My Fiesta has been SORN'D for the last 3 years. But as insurance, tax and juice, all rise inexorably I have had to consider retiring the Volvo 940 and bring out the Fiesta again. I have not started it up for a few years, so am obviously concerned about the state of the unleaded petrol in it. It has about a gallon in it. Do I just put 4 or 5 gallon on top of it to mix it up, or do I drain off the old stuff completely?

(ps: anyone have any idea why the off side brake caliper was held on with 7mm allen bolts and the other side would only turn with a 1/4 inch allen key ?! They neither of them looked like replacements, and as our kid had the car before me, and it was only 2 years old when he bought it, with no work done on the brakes, I am a tad puzzled ?)

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Def drain down the remaining fuel, also check that you can turn the engine using a spanner/socket on the crank nut [just in case it's 'seized'].

You'll find that brakes, fuel lines, coolant will all need checking too.

 

[slimjim]

3 years it will be fine, just add a couple of gallons of fresh.

the correct allen bolts are 7mm

I have done this lots of times in the past

 

[ytre]

(ps: anyone have any idea why the off side brake caliper was held on with 7mm allen bolts and the other side would only turn with a 1/4 inch allen key ?! They neither of them looked like replacements, and as our kid had the car before me, and it was only 2 years old when he bought it, with no work done on the brakes, I am a tad puzzled ?)[/QUOTE]

From what i can remember the correct bolts are the 7mm ones so at a guess the other ones have been changed. Once you get it started check that its charging ok and def change the fuel though ive topped up before and had no problems though the unleaded petrol will have deteriorated with lying up.

 

[Robotstar5]

Check flexible hoses/pipes for cracking/perishing. Once the engine's warm, change the oil & filter. Make sure the brakes work, and pull off again! i.e. not dragging. If it's been standing outside carefully check the tyres for cracking (UV damage).

 

[tigler]

As above, adding a few gallons of new fuel will be ok.
See if you can disable the engine ECU so that you can crank it to circulate oil before starting it.
Also, make sure the clutch hasn't stuck to the flywheel before trying to engage 1st !

 

[rtbcomp]

Take the spark plugs out and crank it, that will make it easier to crank and it won't start.

 

[wrinx]

I always pull the fuel pump relay to crank until oil pressure is seen...better not to have unburnt fuel flooding the engine and all over the cat imho.

wrinx

 

[tigler]

Yes, I should have made my point more clearly by mentioning the fuel issue.
I normally just pull the ECU fuse.

 

[zardoz]

Thanks for the replies guys.

What's this about pulling the fuel pump relay and/or the ECU fuse ?

 

[brightspark]

the only sh ,../t u will; get with leaving un leaded fuel in is if u use lead replacement aditive , it gums the jets up. otherwise just fill it up and crank it over . i just started a ford ohc engine after 7 years with no problems

 

[the snooper]

just take out the plugs and turn it over a few times as said earlier, its also less strain on the starter and battery and will get the oil pumping round the engine quicker

 

[wrinx]

Fuel pump relay (or fuse) will stop fuel from entering the engine so it only cranks at starter motor speed, which allows oil pressure to build up without putting a lot of stress on the engine...check your handbook for it's location.

Not sure pulling the ECU fuse would allow you to turn the car over...never tried it though?

wrinx

 

[the snooper]

depend on the car i suppose some ecu's have the imobiliser built, in i think the focus does so it wouldnt turn over with the ecu disabled

 

[Cobbler]

If the fuel has gone really off, you may have a problem with emissions on the MOT. I took a type 2 VW that I restored for test that had been laid up for about 4 years & when it was running in the MOT bay the exhaust made your eyes run. The tester said that will be ok with new fuel, it's unburnt hydrocarbons. Filled the tank up before retest & the reading was well inside the limits. With a car fitted with a cat I think I would put new fuel or top it right up before running it to long in case it possibly killed the cat. I don't know whether this is a real danger, but expensive if you get it wrong.

Just seen the previous post, I watched the AA testing a starter & what he did was to wrap the key in aluminium foil so the immobiliser could not read the chip in the key. The starter would turn but the engine wouldnt start.

 

[zardoz]

Well I got it all started back up. I de-fused the fuel relay, but it started up for a second before cutting out, I don't think that second would do any damage to the cat ? After I put the fuse back in it started OK.

Frankly I'm more concerned, as to whether or not to change the timing belt kit, before I take it to be MOT'd. Because if its a disastrous failure then the money spent will be wasted.

Which i can ill afford at the moment. But with a holiday coming up in 5 weeks I need a car from somewhere. Typical of me. A pound short and an hour late as usual