S3 (Ford v6) has been layed up for 5 years, basic checks?

[ButtonIt]

We've finally unwrapped the S3 from a 5 year lay-up. She rolls, she's fairly clean (kept dry)and we think that with a little bit of fine tuning she should be ok.

What should we be checking/doing before trying to fire her up? The battery is being charged on the conditioner at the moment. Oil levels and fluids look ok.

[steve j]

After a five year layup, I`d pay attention to the tyres and brakes above all else. The clutch has been known to play up too, check the fluids, maybe the fuel left in the tank is not to good. I`m sure most things are ok and just need a shakedown.

[clive f]

you could remove the sparg plugs, and the fuel pump relay and turn the engine over to circulate some oil before actually starting the car.

[thegamekeeper]

CHANGE the oil and filter, oil goes out of grade with time and use and oil filters can clog up with the muck that was in there before you laid it up. CHANGE the brake fluid completely, brake fluid is hygroscopic which means it absorbs water from the atmosphere. Water in fluid will boil under the heat generated by braking and can/will cause loss of brakes. Change coolant, antifreeze doesn,t last for ever and new coolant will help flush out system and aid cooling in very hot summer ahead. Check visually all water hoses and tyre walls, rubber perishes when left and replace anything that looks suspect. Be prepared for shocks to leak when you start to use them so keep an eye open for leaks, the seals dry up. May be worth taking filter out of tank (which filter in tank you say?), it can clog up with rust, especially if tank has been left empty, water condenses in tank, produces rust and will ruin pump if allowed to pass through it.

Or you could just take a chance, are you feeling lucky?

[mep12345]

thegamekeeper said:

cooling in very hot summer ahead........ are you feeling lucky?

Agree with everything gamekeeepr said except maybe the above two statements which I think may go together roll on the long hot soft top summer after all we are due one!!!!

[thegamekeeper]

Pessimist, and you live in the South West. I bet you thought they would never get Bin Loader either.

[ButtonIt]

We aren't going to drive it, just wanted to run the engine

We put 20 litres of brand new fuel in, new battery (nicked the one off my land rover)and it turned over but never fired.

All the electrics to the back of the car seem to have stopped working so I'm wondering if the fuel pump is back there (like my Chim) because we can't hear it prime. Not sure if we're meant to hear it though???

She needs a fair bit of work, but most of it's superficial and shouldn't take too much effort. We got a bible for the S Series

[mep12345]

ButtonIt said:

so I'm wondering if the fuel pump is back there (like my Chim) because we can't hear it prime. Not sure if we're meant to hear it though???

Fuel pump is in nearside rear wheel arch just above the large diameter outrigger where the inner bush of the trailing arm is mounted.

On turning the ignition key to the on (not start) position you should hear the pump prime and then stop after the rail has been pressurised.

HTH

Mark

[GreenV8S]

ButtonIt said:

We've finally unwrapped the S3 from a 5 year lay-up. She rolls, she's fairly clean (kept dry)and we think that with a little bit of fine tuning she should be ok.

What should we be checking/doing before trying to fire her up? The battery is being charged on the conditioner at the moment. Oil levels and fluids look ok.

If it was me, I'd check the fluids and try to start it. Don't go anywhere until you've given it a full service, but if the engine won't run then everything else is a waste of time.

[tubbystu]

ButtonIt said:

it turned over but never fired.

All the electrics to the back of the car seem to have stopped working so I'm wondering if the fuel pump is back there (like my Chim) because we can't hear it prime. Not sure if we're meant to hear it though???

Is the alarm/immobiliser fully de-activated ? Meaning it'll turn over but no fuel.

With the fresh battery etc, it might need re-setting.

Just a thought.

[ButtonIt]

It's possible... the fob receptacle on the steering column doesn't light up, but does still allow the starter to work.

So, if you just get in and turn the key you get nothing. If you put the fob into the receptacle it'll turn but not fire.

[ketvrin]

Just thumbing through April's Practical Classics (why are there never TVR's in it ? )
There's a pretty comprehensive article on restarting a stored classic (bloody Volvo of all things )
Anyway it covers just about everything

Hth

K