Car towed and been sitting for 9 months
Discussion
My car was towed by NSL last October from private land for supposedly having no tax, even though it was SORN.
It's taken me over 9 months but they've just now offered to bring it back for free. But I was thinking after sitting in the pound all winter its most likely buggered... the question is how bad will it be? It's an 04 plate Astra Sri 2.2. There's no doubt I want NSL to cover the cost of the restoration that it will no doubt need for an MOT as it is their cock up, but I'm not sure how much work will likely need doing to it and what the best way of getting NSL to pay up is.
Any advice muchly appreciated. Thanks in advance
It's taken me over 9 months but they've just now offered to bring it back for free. But I was thinking after sitting in the pound all winter its most likely buggered... the question is how bad will it be? It's an 04 plate Astra Sri 2.2. There's no doubt I want NSL to cover the cost of the restoration that it will no doubt need for an MOT as it is their cock up, but I'm not sure how much work will likely need doing to it and what the best way of getting NSL to pay up is.
Any advice muchly appreciated. Thanks in advance
It will probably be ok. Will need a new battery and give it an oil and filter change but before you start it turn the engine over by hand to make sure everything is free.
My vx220 has the same engine and that sits all winter in my garage so it does it no harm. Other owners even keep there vx's just under a waterproof covers for the winter months.
My vx220 has the same engine and that sits all winter in my garage so it does it no harm. Other owners even keep there vx's just under a waterproof covers for the winter months.
I wouldn't worry so much otherwise, but it's not been in a nice dry garage or even under a cover.. it's been in a pound and out in the open for 9 and a half months, probably not even moved an inch and not started. Hasn't even had a battery in it all this time as I took it out to charge before the idiots towed it.
Like I said they've offered to bring it back for free but I'm hardly gonna do that if the things wrecked. I could go up and take a look if there's a chance it's OK but its an hour and a half drive through london. I'd like to but it's hard to believe all it needs is fluids changed.
Like I said they've offered to bring it back for free but I'm hardly gonna do that if the things wrecked. I could go up and take a look if there's a chance it's OK but its an hour and a half drive through london. I'd like to but it's hard to believe all it needs is fluids changed.
AlexiusG55 said:
Also make sure there's nothing (mice etc) living in it. When garaging a car for the winter my dad always plugs the exhaust pipe with wire wool so they can't get into the muffler...
Virtually no point in doing that. Why would a mouse want to live in a cold metal pipe when they are small enough to climb in under the bonnet and chew through wiring and get into the nice warmth of the car and it's carpets. A mouse got into my 1983 golf after it sat for 2 years without turning over. Once the mouse chewings had been cleared up the car started and drove with no problems. Tyres slightly perished and replaced as a precaution for track days, but not until after it had sailed through an MOT.I'd say you'll probably be looking at skimming or replacing the brake discs and some new pads.
The rest will probably be fine. If you are worried stick some fresh oil in it and turn it over first by hand, the on the starter with the plugs disconnected (if petrol) till the oil light goes out., then fire it up.
The interior might smell a bit musty!
The rest will probably be fine. If you are worried stick some fresh oil in it and turn it over first by hand, the on the starter with the plugs disconnected (if petrol) till the oil light goes out., then fire it up.
The interior might smell a bit musty!
Aite cheers for the help looks like it might not be as bad as i thought. going to go up and have a look at it before i agree to have it returned though, anything i should look out for in particular? Its had no battery for all this time as i had taken it out for a charge right before it got towed, so that should be alright.
Don't disconnect the spark plugs - this'll just wash the bores with fuel. In the rear right of the engine bay should be a black box with a purple relay in it. Remove this and wind the engine over till the oil light goes out. I even did this after my Astra sat for about a month when I was away in deepest winter (but then I take an OCD approach to looking after my cars).
There's not a lot else to do save actually putting fresh oil and a new filter on. Brake discs might well be a bit sorry for themselves, so there's a couple hundred quid there.
There's not a lot else to do save actually putting fresh oil and a new filter on. Brake discs might well be a bit sorry for themselves, so there's a couple hundred quid there.
Ok we are talking german quality vs modern penny pinching here but my old e28 528i was fine after not moving for more than 5 years.
No brake problems no flat tyres etc. However the bodywork did suffer where the rain was trapped. The only thing that I replaced 15 months later was the water pump, and that was probably the original anyway.
No brake problems no flat tyres etc. However the bodywork did suffer where the rain was trapped. The only thing that I replaced 15 months later was the water pump, and that was probably the original anyway.
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