jokerGN

My 99 T/A has been sitting for 2 years.... I'm looking for some advice on what I should do before starting it beyond the obvious such as oil change, battery.. Thank you in advance.

9000th01ss

iTrader: (10)

Jump in and drive. Maybe I've just had good luck the last 20 years, maybe my idea of obvious is different than most, who knows.
But I'm serious, do the obvious and drive.

samson_420

iTrader: (1)

Why was the car sitting that long?

Is it a a4 or six speed?

I would find a way to prime the oil in the engine before firing up. But, that may be just me.

Indyjc

iTrader: (1)

My lt1 sat for 2 yrs. I put 5 fresh gals. of gas plus a yellow bottle of heat, and a fresh batt. Turned the key on to let it turn over about 3 times, then she fired right up. Checked all the fluids while it was running then changed the oil after running it for about 15 mins. Good luck

jomomma

iTrader: (39)

was it inside or outside?

ghardester

I personally, would pull all the plugs and wires. Then I'd turn the engine over while they are still out for about 5-10 seconds. Then put in New plugs and wires before starting it. And treat it as if you were breaking in a new engine. Take it easy on it and change the oil after driving it for a short time. You could have slight ridges or deposits where the pistons stopped if the engine hasn't been turned over in a long time. So you want to let things smooth out a bit.

I'm over cautious. You could probably just start it. But since you asked, that's what I would do.

9000th01ss

iTrader: (10)

Pulling the plugs and wires and cranking it is going to wash the cylinders down with fuel.
Turning the key with them in is going to fire the fuel right up.
I've seen engines that have sat for 15 - 20 years untouched, when disassembled had as much oil on the bearings and crank, and cylinder walls as they did when all the machine work was done and it was all reassembled, ready to start.

myfast70

iTrader: (38)

Best bet would be to drain the gas, change the oil before you even turn it over, disconnect the injectors and turn it over for about 15-20 seconds to prime the oil system and get everything lubed and give the lifters a chance to "pump" back up. So long as you have the injectors disconnected you should have to worry about disconnecting the coils but would be easy enough to unplug both sets of coils. Put some fresh gas in it, cylce the key on & off a few times to get the fuel system primed and you should be good to go.

jokerGN

Its an m6, and unfortunatly its been sitting outside. I'm guessing I can just pull the fuel pump fuse to crank it and prime the oil pump.... What does everyone think would be best as far as oil, change it before or right after restarting it?

myfast70

iTrader: (38)

Personally, I would change it before. If the car has been sitting outside the whole time, I'm sure it has moisture in it and why pump it thru the system. If it were my car, I would change the oil & filter and start it and drive it around the block and let it get up to temp and then change the oil & filter again. Just cheap insurance the way I see it but I have OCD about that kind of stuff.

jokerGN

Thanks for the help... I changed the oil and the battery, put some fresh gas in and it cranked right up.... Now I just need to change the wheel bearings I think I scared most of the local pets with the high pitch noise

samson_420

iTrader: (1)

Why did the car sit that long?

jokerGN

I moved into the city & had a company car. So the car ended up sitting at my parents house not getting used.

samson_420

iTrader: (1)

Wow, 2 years is while for a car to sit.

Just wanted to know.


Good luck with the car.

bluestrat

iTrader: (7)

I'd just check your belts too and make sure they aren't cracked or damaged

Joe T

Have stabil in the gas?

If not syphone it out and find a way to clear the lines up to the injectors. Pretty easy to do on my 5.0 just open the line and jump the fuel pump... Or maybe you can jump the pump and it will cycle back into the tank on top of fresh gas (no biggie).

Even if it had stabil in the gas I'd still pump it out after 2 years.

Hope it sat inside on concrete and the tank was full..


Change the oil before hand since it'll have moisture at the bottom of the pan.

Check all the fluids then I'd probably change them... Transmission probably has moisture sitting at the bottom of the pan.



I'd pull the fuel pump fuse and turn it over a few times at 15 second intervals before cranking it.


All that shouldn't take more than a couple hours and can save an injector, bearing, or valve. For some odd reason I don't know it seems like old gas will toast valves...

lowerthanyou00

iTrader: (8)

you can also hold ur foot to the floor and thatll shut off the injectors, also dont be suprised if ur fuel pump is ****, once you get it running, or primed check the pressure in the rails

03 snake

iTrader: (28)

"I'd just check your belts too and make sure they aren't cracked or damaged"

+1 good advice..

Joe T

Good idea, but that would be nerve wrecking though... imgaine if it isn't all the way floored and it revvs to 5000rpms on the first crank after not running for 2 years!


I'd pull the fuel pump fuse, it should only take a few seconds to pull the fuse. At any length I pull the fuse on a couple cars I've let sit up for months at a time just as theft prevention... forgot to mention that.


Just crank it over a few times to get it all oiled back up then pop the fuse back in. If everything else is in order it should run.