Starting up saxo for first time in nearly 2 years

[sweeney85]

Crashed my saxo a year last december and it's been sat in the garage since. Not started it once. Planning to soon though before I decide whether to repair it or sell it as it is or break it or whatever. Just bought a new battery the other day

What's everyone's predictions on what will happen? Should I pay my last respects to the engine now?

Any other advice or things I should do before I take the plunge and turn the key?

Cheers :y:

[Bedford126]

service it before you start it.

[Boombang]

Whip plugs out, splash of oil into each plus hole and turn over by hand first.

If you care about the engine, new belt water pump and tensioners, plus full service, would be sensible - but it could already be siezed or bores rusted to fuck.

[Dom]

The engine won't be in 'that' bad of a condition, I've left engines for years, they didn't need much for them to run, as said above, a service would do. I wouldn't go to the extent of timing belts just to start the car though. What's the point in splashing that much cash if the car doesn't run?

[holdawayt]

We restore classic cars, some of them sitting for over 50 years.

Your saxo will be fine,

[barwell1992]

fuel will be off by now and could have a fair bit of water from condensation so might be wise to drain the tank,you can drain from the fuel filter as long as you leave the filter connected on the tank side then turn the ignition on and the pump will prime, im not sure if the saxo has a pressure switch that keeps the pump going until it primes or whether it just has a timer cut off, if the pump stays on it will pump all the fuel out of the tank for you if not you can just turn the ignition on and off

[Manu]

obviously, flush and replace every type of liquid in there, new plugs, new air filter, check your tyres as they're probably oval now.

[tichy]

Just service it no point in doing the timing belt, water pump etc. saxo engines are cheap as now not worth spending on it incase its f***ed anyway.

[Boombang]

The engine won't be in 'that' bad of a condition, I've left engines for years, they didn't need much for them to run, as said above, a service would do. I wouldn't go to the extent of timing belts just to start the car though. What's the point in splashing that much cash if the car doesn't run?

Is why I said if you care enough. I have dismantled an engine that was left for a year (Gti-6) and although no doubt it would have started fine, the bores were rusty enough to have played havoc with the piston rings and left a lot of iron oxide chunks rattling about.

Have had another engine found siezed solid in a friends car, worked it free and it ran ok, but I dread to think how long it would have lasted.

[holdawayt]

fuel will be off by now and could have a fair bit of water from condensation so might be wise to drain the tank,you can drain from the fuel filter as long as you leave the filter connected on the tank side then turn the ignition on and the pump will prime, im not sure if the saxo has a pressure switch that keeps the pump going until it primes or whether it just has a timer cut off, if the pump stays on it will pump all the fuel out of the tank for you if not you can just turn the ignition on and off


Again, we've started cars with 40 year old petrol. 2 years will do fuck all.

[blackie_2k5]

Again, we've started cars with 40 year old petrol. 2 years will do fuck all.

agree and disagree....ive started cars that aint moved in 20 years on their original petrol lol...but it all depends how the cars have been stored

ive see cars stored just a few years and the petrol has turned to nigh on paint


OP..you're car will be fine :y:

remove the coil pack plugt and turn it over on the starter for ten secs or so to get the oil pumping round and id imagine itll be spot on

if you get any probs just post up..plenty ppl here to help

[mattknight1984]

If the damage is substantial and it's an s-reg as per your details, it's worth nothing anyway so just give it a try. Haven't got anything to lose.

[Rogue_Shadow]

Start it up already! :A:

[OMGASAXO]

Id say itll be fine but would probably need new spark plugs

[blackie_2k5]

Id say itll be fine but would probably need new spark plugs

your username always makes me laugh

[MickyWelsh172]

Has he started it yet....

[DeanAngell1234]

Just crank it ;) haha

[sweeney85]

It's alive! haha. Just went for it before. Couldn't lift the bonnet, had to poke a screwdriver through to pop the catch. Then primed the pump a few times and whispered a quick prayer before turning the key. Fired up as though it had been driven yesterday! Fan not working so couldn't leave it running too long. Nice to hear it running again though!

Not had it out the garage yet, will save that till next weekend... haha. One step at a time. Hopefully roll as well as it runs though! The resto starts here! Already got all brand new panels for it so will drop them in for spraying soon and hopefully get a full weekend on it next weekend stripping it down etc. Excited to get it back on the road now, just hope we get some decent weekend weather!

Thanks for all the replies everyone :y:

[sweeney85]

Actually, I say the fan didn't run, but of course it's not gonna run all the time... duhhhhh. So it's probably fine to be honest. Will let it get up to temp next weekend and see what happens

[Rogue_Shadow]

Now go make a progress thread :y:
Off you go, your free now!

[sweeney85]

Haha, will be taking plenty of pics that's for sure! She will rise like a phoenix from the ashes!

[Prickle]

She will rise like a phoenix from the ashes!

Dont get carried away mate.

[LSOfreak]

Dont get carried away mate.

lol...

[Spanky]

Dont get carried away mate.

So you can be funny..

[sweeney85]

Ha maybe just a seagull in this case :zainy:

[Manu]

If you do it right, any car can be restored. I have a mate who restored a mini from a shell that was more or less a 1mm thick rust structure. It's just a matter of how much time + money you have to put into it. In your case, a good bit of basic maintenance should do the trick.

[m4tt274]

i bet it will just start...
left engines longer and they have been fine. if its been in a garage and it ran when it went in... should run when it come out. maybe turn it over a few times with the plugs out to get the oil circulating again

[Prickle]

So you can be funny..

im here all week. :hug: