What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Starting a car that has been standing for a long tim
My relative has an original 1993 mk1 1275cc Mini which has been sat unused for two years or more.
What would I need to do before attempting to restart the car with regard to engine, brakes or anything else which may have been affected?
Do you any idea of the value of this 1993 car? I believe only 1000 were made, and the underlying condition is very good.
What would I need to do before attempting to restart the car with regard to engine, brakes or anything else which may have been affected?
Do you any idea of the value of this 1993 car? I believe only 1000 were made, and the underlying condition is very good.
Asked on 4 April 2011 by AJD
Answered by
Alan Ross
Given that car has sat for 2 years, I would suggest the following.
1. Make sure that the battery is fully charged, then fit to the car BUT do not attempt to start. Leave for approx 30 mins.
2.Remove the spark plugs and squirt a small amount of engine oil into each cylinder, then turn the engine over (without replacing the plugs) a few revs so ensuring that a film of oil is now in the cylinders.
3.Replace the spark plugs.
4.Start the engine.
As for the rest of the car, check the coolant levels/brake fluid levels and make sure that the brakes are working.
Not knowing the service history, you may either want to have the car serviced, oils changed/filters changed.(Also it would be advised to change the coolant and also the brake fluid.) or maybe do it yourself.Also the windscreen wipers will most likely need renewing.
Lastly don't forget to check the tyre pressures which will be lower than they should.
When you first start to drive the car you may hear a scraping noise from the brakes. This would be the rust that has collected on the disc brakes but should go away after a small amount of use.
Sorry but I only do the mechanics so cannot comment on the value, but there are websites that you could check.
1. Make sure that the battery is fully charged, then fit to the car BUT do not attempt to start. Leave for approx 30 mins.
2.Remove the spark plugs and squirt a small amount of engine oil into each cylinder, then turn the engine over (without replacing the plugs) a few revs so ensuring that a film of oil is now in the cylinders.
3.Replace the spark plugs.
4.Start the engine.
As for the rest of the car, check the coolant levels/brake fluid levels and make sure that the brakes are working.
Not knowing the service history, you may either want to have the car serviced, oils changed/filters changed.(Also it would be advised to change the coolant and also the brake fluid.) or maybe do it yourself.Also the windscreen wipers will most likely need renewing.
Lastly don't forget to check the tyre pressures which will be lower than they should.
When you first start to drive the car you may hear a scraping noise from the brakes. This would be the rust that has collected on the disc brakes but should go away after a small amount of use.
Sorry but I only do the mechanics so cannot comment on the value, but there are websites that you could check.
Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.
The Good Garage GuideSimilar questions
My 1996 Ford Mondeo been standing for three years. What is the best way to approach starting it again? I've fitted a new battery but it didn't start. The previous owner said it needed a fuel pump and I'm...
I have had a BMW 320i for about three months and during this time it has developed an intermittent starting fault. Basically, about every fourth time I try, the car refuses to start. I am assuming the...
My daughter's Seat Ibiza has continual problems starting after standing unused for only 2-3 days. We've been told repeatedly that the battery's fine and the current drain with ignition off is within acceptable...
![2020 Vauxhall Corsa e 100kW SE Nav 50kWh 5dr Auto [7.4kWCh]](http://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/url/crop/90x60/https/cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/9c3280e41af068efe00b6d80626a4d8e/5cd63cd9148fc4b672bac07ff1d02ffc.jpg)
.jpg)
