Car left sitting for over a year

1. Psycho18 Established Member Joined: Apr 2008 west Mids Posts: 1775 Mk1 White VTS

   #1 28th February 2012, 10:24

   What needs to be done/checked to a car that has been left sitting for over a year?
2. Barry123 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2005 Aycliffe Posts: 32205 Saxo VTS

   #2 28th February 2012, 10:25

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Psycho18 What needs to be done/checked to a car that has been left sitting for over a year?

   A good start for a saxo would be to check it hasn't turned to dust.
3. user_29491 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 Lancs Posts: 4124 JP4S'd R.

   #3 28th February 2012, 10:42

   I left mine for 10 months.
   
   Put a freshly charged battery on, and away she went..
   
   But suppose I could of checked the oil/water..
4. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #4 28th February 2012, 10:57

   Check the brakes haven`t seized,then charge/replace the battery then a full service.
5. Psycho18 Established Member Joined: Apr 2008 west Mids Posts: 1775 Mk1 White VTS

   #5 28th February 2012, 11:20

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Barry123 A good start for a saxo would be to check it hasn't turned to dust.

   Haha, Good idea.
   
   Well, fired one up that i got and everything is running sweet except there is a grinding from the back wheels and the brakes are shite.
   
   Seized brakes then? Just new pads and discs?
6. Barry123 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2005 Aycliffe Posts: 32205 Saxo VTS

   #6 28th February 2012, 11:38

   Yeah the brakes have probably binded dude. If it's excessive binding then you've probably taken a chunk out of the pad or disc.
   
   Ideally, although it's not always possible, if a car is going to be off the road for an indefinite amount of time, it's best to leave the car in first or reverse and leave the hand brake off.
7. user_12308 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Nov 2006 The Lang Toun Posts: 4133 Mk2 Clio V6 #007 of 354

   #7 28th February 2012, 11:48

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Barry123 if a car is going to be off the road for an indefinite amount of time, it's best to leave the car in first or reverse and leave the hand brake off.

   Even then they may still bind a little. Best to at least start it and roll it back and forth once a week. You may kill the battery doing this but the cost of a battery is little compared to all the bits that could seize otherwise.
8. Psycho18 Established Member Joined: Apr 2008 west Mids Posts: 1775 Mk1 White VTS

   #8 1st March 2012, 18:25

   How do i fix binding brakes?
9. VTRelite Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 Gloucester Posts: 3000 Citroen Saxo VTR Renault 5

   #9 1st March 2012, 18:52

   I would crank it over a few times with spark and fuel cut in order to build up some oil pressure but that's just me
10. Simo7 L-plater Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 45 2002 Citroen Saxo VTS

    #10 1st March 2012, 19:34

    You're probably best off changing the discs and pads and freeing up the calipers. You could just dismantle, clean up and replace but I would'nt recommend it, discs tend to corrode quickly when not used and can suffer from pitting. This will certainly affect their overall performance.
11. Simo7 L-plater Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 45 2002 Citroen Saxo VTS

    #11 1st March 2012, 19:35

    Another thing to check is the exhaust, mild steel ones can rot away when not used regularly. Thank god for stainless eh?