Starting after 7 months in storage - place your bets
Discussion
So! Got back to the Uk yesterday and already can't wait to take the Chimaera out for a spin in the lovely (but variable) weather!
Does anyone have any tips for getting back on the road with minimum hassle (i've read the section in the Bible) or anything to watch out for? I was thinking of buying a new battery (old one was on it's last legs anyway), checking it all over and checking the levels, then starting up. I'll book it in for a service straight away to change the oil and sort out any potential niggles, and of course there's the small matters of Tax, and Mot
What condition are the brakes likely to be in? It's been sitting covered up in a dry hangar, so hopefully will not have suffered much corrosion. My biggest fears are the electrics / immobiliser throwing a wobbly after connecting the new battery, and seizing up of certain parts (hubs/brakes etc.)
Anyway, i've got several mates with bets on that it won't start....we'll see.
Does anyone have any tips for getting back on the road with minimum hassle (i've read the section in the Bible) or anything to watch out for? I was thinking of buying a new battery (old one was on it's last legs anyway), checking it all over and checking the levels, then starting up. I'll book it in for a service straight away to change the oil and sort out any potential niggles, and of course there's the small matters of Tax, and Mot
What condition are the brakes likely to be in? It's been sitting covered up in a dry hangar, so hopefully will not have suffered much corrosion. My biggest fears are the electrics / immobiliser throwing a wobbly after connecting the new battery, and seizing up of certain parts (hubs/brakes etc.)
Anyway, i've got several mates with bets on that it won't start....we'll see.
If the battery is charged and there is decent fuel in the tank i recon it will start..
My guess is
Will start but sound rather tappy where the oil had drained from the top-end but will smoothen up.
Idle will be very lumpy to start with.
err i recon the brakes will bind when you first pull away
oh and she'll have the ump so be prepared for odd noises and squeaks!
My guess is
Will start but sound rather tappy where the oil had drained from the top-end but will smoothen up.
Idle will be very lumpy to start with.
err i recon the brakes will bind when you first pull away
oh and she'll have the ump so be prepared for odd noises and squeaks!
I'd put money on it firing up but I'd be inclined to follow a more conservative approach to ensure oil is getting around and building a little pressure in the critical bearings before I went anywhere near ignition. Perhaps this is being a little over-protective of a v8 workhorse that seems to take pretty much what ever gets thrown at it. Good luck.
And dont forget, when you put the new battery in give the alarm a few minutes to get some juice into its internal battery, then disconnect the earth on the car battery, leave off for 5 seconnds, reconnect and immediately press the plipper to lock / unlock the doors. Otherwise you are likely to find the alarm going a bit crazy.
My bet is it will start - as long as you have enough battery power to turn the engine over smartly!
This is probably irrelevant to the post but I recommend a battery conditioner to anyone who keeps a car in storage for whatever time frame. I know you need a mains socket to plug it into, but it is well worth the investment.
This is probably irrelevant to the post but I recommend a battery conditioner to anyone who keeps a car in storage for whatever time frame. I know you need a mains socket to plug it into, but it is well worth the investment.
Haven't been able to give it a go yet - bought a battery yesterday - 072 from Halfords - please someone tell me quick if this is the wrong one 
I'm planning on collecting it tomorrow - after ages driving round big lumbering Yank cars it'll be good to feel what proper speed and cornering are like again!
I'm planning on collecting it tomorrow - after ages driving round big lumbering Yank cars it'll be good to feel what proper speed and cornering are like again!Ed450 said:
Haven't been able to give it a go yet - bought a battery yesterday - 072 from Halfords - please someone tell me quick if this is the wrong one I'm planning on collecting it tomorrow - after ages driving round big lumbering Yank cars it'll be good to feel what proper speed and cornering are like again!
I'm planning on collecting it tomorrow - after ages driving round big lumbering Yank cars it'll be good to feel what proper speed and cornering are like again!huuurrryyy uuuupppp!
I'd advise the following:
Put the car in gear and rock it back and forth - make the sure the front pulley moves a bit (you won't get the car to actually roll against the resistance of the engine, but it should budge a bit). This will overcome any initial 'stick' due to the engine not having turned for 7 months.
Disconnect the fuel pump electrical supply (easiest way is to pull up the fuel pump inertia switch button) - ideally also remove the plugs, but your impatience will probably prevent this! - and turn over for 5 - 10 seconds, perhaps two or three times as long as the battery's fully charged. this will circulate oil and again, make sure the engine is free-turning for the big moment.
Then try and start it. Make sure the gears are in neutral, and keep the clutch pedal down - just in case the clutch is stuck. Be very careful when selecting gear - again, just in case the clutch is stuck.
Good luck - I reckon it'll start.
Put the car in gear and rock it back and forth - make the sure the front pulley moves a bit (you won't get the car to actually roll against the resistance of the engine, but it should budge a bit). This will overcome any initial 'stick' due to the engine not having turned for 7 months.
Disconnect the fuel pump electrical supply (easiest way is to pull up the fuel pump inertia switch button) - ideally also remove the plugs, but your impatience will probably prevent this! - and turn over for 5 - 10 seconds, perhaps two or three times as long as the battery's fully charged. this will circulate oil and again, make sure the engine is free-turning for the big moment.
Then try and start it. Make sure the gears are in neutral, and keep the clutch pedal down - just in case the clutch is stuck. Be very careful when selecting gear - again, just in case the clutch is stuck.
Good luck - I reckon it'll start.
Great success! Started promptly and ran as good as ever - the only sticky thing was the bonnet release lever which I had to be brutal with. Once it was warm I ran it up the peri-track a few times and it was a smooth as silk. Everything worked as it had done, no sticky clutch, brakes etc.
One thing though - WHO is responsible for that battery box design? Honestly, in this day and age
I can see it may be a good idea in theory, but somewhere along the line it went horribly wrong.
I got the box out to discover that the half-panel that covers the top rear half of the battery was riveted together.
RIVETS! Did they assume no-one would ever want to change the battery? The most time consuming thing though was getting the bolts on the underside to line up with the holes in the box - in the end I got it done with the aid of an extra pair of hands, a ramp, a torch, and a lot of swearing. Still, satisfying once the beast was runmbling again! Bring on the summer!
One thing though - WHO is responsible for that battery box design? Honestly, in this day and age
I can see it may be a good idea in theory, but somewhere along the line it went horribly wrong.
I got the box out to discover that the half-panel that covers the top rear half of the battery was riveted together.
RIVETS! Did they assume no-one would ever want to change the battery? The most time consuming thing though was getting the bolts on the underside to line up with the holes in the box - in the end I got it done with the aid of an extra pair of hands, a ramp, a torch, and a lot of swearing. Still, satisfying once the beast was runmbling again! Bring on the summer!Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff