Common Problems- Car Garaged For Ages

[inissane]

Hi peoples,

just got a question relating to any things to check or replace when a car hasnt been running for a few months. Is there anything other than battery/engine oil/filter/fuel filter/water/coolant to check over??

eg the rust on the brake discs, does that just sand off when used again? Brakes? Fuel system/tank?

It was in good order just hasnt even been cranked for a while. rb20det

advice appreciated

[warpz0r]

you forgot to mention the fuel itself...

it could go stale

[superspit]

Hi peoples,

just got a question relating to any things to check or replace when a car hasnt been running for a few months. Is there anything other than battery/engine oil/filter/fuel filter/water/coolant to check over??

eg the  rust on the brake discs, does that just sand off when used again? Brakes? Fuel system/tank?

It was in good order just hasnt even been cranked for a while. rb20det

advice appreciated

Hi inissane,

how long exactly did you do in jail?

Seems that you've got the main stuff covered inissane.

Don't worry about the rust on the discs, this is only surface stuff, and a gentle/safe drive will have them sorted and looking normal again.

Get your AirCon cranking over too...a must!! (if u have one?)

Someone mentioned fuel??....this will be stale, don't panic, use it!

Once all that petrol is gone, if you really are concerned, change your fuel filter and fill up!!

Are your tyres square yet?

So, how long did you say you were in for?

Anyways, let us know how you go!!!! :wassup:

[inissane]

lol Mark.....pleaded inissane and got off on 3 months!! :wassup: (jokes)

havent needed to drive it daily for a while so its stationary and getting tweaked.....slowly

but yeh changed the fuel filter already so might put the old one on and use a couple of tanks of fuel then put the new one back on I guess...

check tyre pressure...anything else likely to corrode/get stale?

PS- whats the deal with the air con? thanks again

[The Dan]

PS- whats the deal with the air con?    thanks again

It cools the air in your cabin so you don't sweat in summer.

[inissane]

haha we didnt have that where ive been

[Jax]

About the most important thing when storing or not using car for long period, is brake fluid. For preference,you should bleed the system right through, so that there is NEW fluid right through the system. Reason ? Brake fluid absorbs moistute, which is why you should renew it every 12 or 18 months anyhow. Moisture lowers the boiling point, and makes brake fade easier. When stored, the moisture can cause rings of corrosion adjacent to seals [especially in wheel slave cylinders] and later cause seal leakage, and occasionally fairly sudden brake failure. This does'nt normally happen when car being used [even with old fluid] as the pistons keep being moved, preventing any corrosion build-up.

[superspit]

lol Mark.....pleaded inissane and got off on 3 months!! :wassup:  (jokes)

havent needed to drive it daily for a while so its stationary and getting tweaked.....slowly

but yeh changed the fuel filter already so might put the old one on and use a couple of tanks of fuel then put the new one back on I guess...

check tyre pressure...anything else likely to corrode/get stale?

PS- whats the deal with the air con?    thanks again

LOL---Glad ur the sort of bloke who can take a joke...that's ace.

OK...Air-con deal......well it's quite simple actually.

Any compressor likes to be used, like all sealed and rotating mechanical devices.

The seals and bearings in these units that make them work the way they do tend to be like girls,........... ignore them and hey get pissed off very quickly.

Switch on the compressor once or twice a week (at least for a few minutes) so the seals stay fresh and the bearings stay lubricated.

What can happen, and I've seen this, is that the compressor gets turned on once in a blue moon and then suddenly seizes, (expensive trick that one, makes a great sound too as it lets go!) Drive belts break, and all sorts of wonderful things happen, simply put.

Do you get the drift?

Anyways, hope this helps a tad.

and..........I hope your bum doesn't hurt too much. :wassup:

[superspit]

About the most important thing when storing or not using car for long period, is brake fluid.  For preference,you should bleed the system right through, so that there is NEW fluid right through the system.  Reason ?  Brake fluid absorbs moistute, which is why you should renew it every 12 or 18 months anyhow.   Moisture lowers the boiling point, and makes brake fade easier. When stored, the moisture can cause rings of corrosion adjacent to seals [especially in wheel slave cylinders] and later cause seal leakage, and occasionally fairly sudden brake failure.  This does'nt normally happen when car being used [even with old fluid] as the pistons keep being moved, preventing any corrosion build-up.

There is actually a word for this.....when a fluid/liquid wants to absorb water.

Is it Hydroscopic?

Good and important thread!!

[inissane]

and..........I hope your bum doesn't hurt too much. :wassup:

OMG its painful :flamed: (again seriously, joking!!)

mmmmkaaay, few things to check out cheers guys, but if theres any other relevant issues pls roll on :headspin:

[SuAvE-1]

isn't it recommended to get the air con moving because a part of the system will grow moss on it and stink out the vents?

[Ki_spirit]

There is actually a word for this.....when a fluid/liquid wants to absorb water.

Is it Hydroscopic?

Good and important thread!!

Hygroscopic. Gotta love physics and chem from highschool. lol.

[Julz89]

just a quik note if car has been sittin for a while wouldnt the internals dry out from not bein lubricated and seals etc will dry up??

[.:: GimpS-R34 ::.]

This thread is OLD.. why did you start posting again.. and in fact jails have air con on all the time