Moving/starting a Cavalier last started 2001

[Alexia]

Wondering if anyone has any advice tips for moving/starting a car that has been unused since 2000/2001

It has been kept in a garage and currently won't start.

Is there anything I need to watch out for/keep an eye on?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Martin_TD]

Flat tyres, handbrake ceasing(sp?), dead battery and stale fuel is about all I can think of but I'm sure someone will post and keep you right

Martin.

[Rage]

Try cleaning the sparkplugs and the dizzy rotor and cap if it has one as any corrosion will play hell with getting it started

[Colin-Allcars]

Stale petrol

[Gaz]

fresh fuel best get super, id change the oil, pull the coil lead when cranking for the first start to make sure the oil light goes out before attempting a proper start.

[psl]

All the above and,Pump up tyers, these will need changing due to flatspots and being over 6 years old, if handbrake has been left on, jack up rear of car and take wheels off, release handbrake and hit with lump hammer till wheels turn. New battery needed. Do not try to start till u top oil right, remove spark plugs and put a small drop of oil down each plug or if no oil a drop of full fat can of coke drink does the job and leave for a few hours. Turn engine over on the crank by hand. Drain coolant flush and back flush then refill, change thermo and she is ready to start

[Alexia]

Well that should keep me busy...thank you for all the tips. Didn't want to damage it in any way. The handbrake is off as the garage is level so I shouldn't need to jack the back wheels up. The garage is tiny literally only room for me and i'm only wee would it be ok to roll it out?! I can't see another option as you can't get to anything.

Also I think it has central locking doors. The car isn't locked at the moment and the garage isn't very secure. Is it ok to lock it? Will the manual locks kick in as there is no power in the car at all.

[Alexia]

Am being a bit dizzy but what do you do about stale petrol?????!!!!!

[Robsey]

Not too sure about the full fat can of coke

yes it will eat away any corrosion, but it will then slowly dissolve metal.

I once read that "A can of coke can dissolve a 6" steel nail in approx 24 hours"

For stale petrol, you need to syphon it out and dispose of it at a local tip, or use it for cleaning greasey car parts.

[Rage]

With no power in the car if you lock it then it will just lock the door that you turn th key in so you will have to manually lock all the doors and boot it won't cause any damage just means that you have to go back to the stoneage way of unlocking/locking it lol

[Robsey]

With no power in the car if you lock it then it will just lock the door that you turn th key in so you will have to manually lock all the doors and boot it won't cause any damage just means that you have to go back to the stoneage way of unlocking/locking it lol

True - I pulled the fuse on my door locking, when it went funny.

Just need to manually lock every door and the boot.
Suits me as I never have passengers in the cav

[vauxtillidie]

yes you can roll it out as long as it moves

[HAIRIBO]

The petrol looses it's oxygen content over time. My dad told me all about it once with him being an old chemist.

I've managed to start a car that has stood for two years. So don't know how long it takes petrol to become crap.

[Robsey]

The petrol looses it's oxygen content over time. My dad told me all about it once with him being an old chemist.

I've managed to start a car that has stood for two years. So don't know how long it takes petrol to become crap.

Old fuel turns a manky off yellow - urine like colour as it goes off.
It did in my old motorcycle, and it wasn't rust.. just dirty fuel.

also old fuel lacquers and clogs up lines, jets, injectors etc if it has been allowed to dry in place

may help to try a bit of carb or injector cleaner (redex etc) in your tank to help the cleaning process... get the correct one if it is an injection set-up

[Rage]

As robsey says redex I can't recommend anything better as a fuel treatment I have even sorted emissions for mot's with redex. I even used it in my diesel 205 and it cleaned it that well I smoked the whole street out as it cleared all the cr*p out of it

[Alexia]

Redex....will do.

[Squig]

There is a much better one just can't remember the name of the stuff...

[iancav6]

Clutch might be stuck if its a manual?

I once had to start an Mg Metro that had been stood for years,only had to clean the points and away it went.

[Alexia]

Wow lets hope its that easy!

[Alexia]

It is a manual so will check out the clutch. I think my Grandpa left it off to ensure there would be as few problems as possible in the future. The seals have definitely gone on some of the doors tho

[Alexia]

If you remember the name of the redex alternative let me know.

[TurboSteven77]

all of above and check belts in case they worn throu

check tyers dont have cracks in them

fresh petrol
new spark plugs
new leads
new battery or make sure old 1 fully charged
clutch should be fine if its not moved
check lights when she up and running
cheeck for rust on sills as well check fuel pump still priming as well

what engine is in it