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well depending on y it was sitting in the first place… fix the issue………… After that i personally would flush/change all fluids including gas iv heard of problems rising from gas thats sat too long…. you may need to change the brakes and possibly brake lines ive heard of brakes and lines siezing from sitting so long…. CHECK THE EXHAUST ive actually seen where rats and mice and other critters have made nests inside the exhaust and clogged it up it just depends where the car sat ….. those are the things i would look into maybe someone else has an opinion on this matter as well lol hope things work out for ya GOOD LUCK
First of all does it even run and what vehicle is it?
Do you know why it was sat for so long?
If it runs and there is no signs of any major issues, then i would continue on.
I would start by changing the major fluids such as the oil and coolant. I would definitely recommend putting fresh fuel in the tank. Also inspect the tires for dry rot. I would also place the vehicle on jack stands, take the wheels off and inspect the brakes on the vehicle. I would also inspect as much as possible while the vehicle is supported by jack stands such as suspension components and so forth.
Once all the above is done, i would take the vehicle for a really short trip to make sure everything functions correctly such as the brakes for one. Bring the vehicle back and then start checking for any types of fluid leaks after your short trip.
Do you know of any maintenance history on the vehicle? A tune up would hurt either if it needed it.
But alas, i would go to all that trouble if the vehicle was parked due to a major mechanical issue though.
Just use common sense and take your time inspecting everything.
Good luck and keep us updated!
If you provide the year, make, model maybe someone could suggest something. You haven’t given us enough information to recommend much other than ummm start the car and see how it runs. Try and pull some codes. Fix the issues. If not post some relevant information so you can help us to help you.
Generally when a car has been sitting for a long time the battery will be dead, tires need air, and fluid drain down to the bottom of whatever surface they are supposed to lubricate. Check the battery, tires, and run the car for a while to get everything lubricated again internally.
Some really great tips posted… here is something I recommend . once you change all the fluids and before you ever start the car I would first pull the plugs and squirt a little oil into each cylinder , then using a ratchet turn the motor over by hand a few times ( remember that those rings will be dry from sitting and you wouldn’t want one to hang up and possibly break ) next I would bring the oil pressure up – best if you can do this with a drill and an attachment to spin the oil pump to bring oil to all the moving parts prior to starting it. if you cant do this then you can disable the ignition system and crank the engine over to bring the oil pressure up. then re-activate the ignition system and fire it up.
The worst thing you can do to a car is let it sit for prolonged periods of time as it attacks EVERY system on the vehicle especially all the rubber seals. Really all you can do is change the oil and confront what comes up as it does. Good luck.
The last time I had to deal with a sitting car was on a 1984 Volvo. It was essentially a family heirloom, as the grandfather had bought it new, then gave it to the father who was in turn passing it on to the son. Unfortunately, the father stopped driving it three years before the son was old enough to drive it, so he towed it to my shop and dropped it off, wanting to know what all it would take to make it road worthy again. I replaced, in no particular order; spark plugs, wires, distributor (twice, the first one was defective), air and fuel filter, the battery, all 4 tires, inner and outer tie rods on both sides, all the fluids, the exhaust system from the catalytic converter back, several light bulbs and the driver seat-belt mechanism. I also had to disassemble and then rebuid the e-brake handle as the button wouldn’t stay out under it’s own power.
Personally speaking, I’d check for leaks, make sure the fluids are topped off and it’s got fresh gas in it and the jsut start driving it, fixing things as they stop working. But then again, I’m unbelievably sheap when it comes to repairing my own cars.
Agreeing with Eric….of course…who wouldn’t?
Recently got an 1992 Accord on the road again after well over two years sitting motionless in my driveway. Immediate issues confronted:
gas line had a few leaks in it due to corrosion…..
Brakes—– seized—-All round new rotors and new calipers in the front…I got lucky with the calipers in the back.
Needed a new cat and had another small leak in the front pipe….also required an o2 sensor…
Incidentally…a few months prior to parking this car the exhaust had been redone front to back….
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