Reviving A Car That Sat For Five Years

Have you ever had an automobile that you let sit for up to five years and then decided to start driving it again? If the answer is yes, there are some steps that need to be taken before you can just start that car and drive like there will be no problems.

There are going to be issues when a car sits for more than a year. One issue will be the battery. A battery can go bad after just five or six months if a car has sat that long. Batteries do not last as long as they used too. Batteries used to last up to 7 years. The time frame is now around three to four years.

If a car sat without the battery being disconnected for several months, the battery will develop a dead cell and may partially charge or not charge at all. If the battery was disconnected before letting a car sit for a long time, it has a better chance of still being good. It will still lose some charge.

The other issue when revving a car that has sat for a few years is the gas. Back in the 1980s, gas would turn to sticky varnish and clog carburetors and injectors when it goes bad. Today’s gasoline turns to water when it goes bad. That poses another issue especially if the gas tank is metal.

Since today’s gas turns to water, it can cause the metal gas tank to rust. The location of where the car has sat will determine how much work will have to be done to bring the car back to life. A car that has sat in a garage will require less work than if it was outside in the weather for five years. ?Another part that is if the car was parked on grass instead of concrete.

If it was parked on dirt or grass, there will be serious rust on the underside. Rust is like cancer. The best way to revive an automobile that has sat for several years is to first get the engine going. Change the spark plugs, wires, antifreeze, and radiator hoses. It would also be a good idea to change the fuel pump. If the under side has a lot of rust, it will not be a good idea to revive the automobile.

If the car had old gas, the rubber hoses attached to the pump will be rotted out. The pump may still be good, but it is better to just install a new one. Most cars have to fuel pump inside the gas tank. The gas tank has to be dropped to get to it. It is also a good idea to have the tank cleaned while it is out of the car. There can be old sediment rust particles inside. Any rubber fuel lines should be replaced.

It is also a good idea to replace the thermostat. When it comes to the brakes, flush the brake system and change the brake shoes and pads even if the look alright. Since the tires are rubber, they will have dry rot. Change those tires along with the valve stems. Make sure the chassis is lubricated and greased.

A lot of car chassis are coated with a rust protect-ant especially foreign cars like the BMW or Volvo. A lot of older American cars do not have that. Mazda Miatas have issues with rust in certain areas of the car. Something else to think of when it come to the engine. Replace the timing belt if it has a belt. Change the timing chain if the car has a chain. The things mentioned may cost a little money. It will cost you more in the long run if these precautionary steps are ignored.