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long term storage question

B

banspy

Be Gentle I'm New Here
Joined
Oct 3, 2005
Messages
2
Let me give you a little background first. I'm a cop and three years ago we seized a 1996 Taurus during a bust. The car ran great back then, no problems. Well its been sitting for three years and never been driven and maybe started once or twice since then. No long term storage precautions were taken...NONE! ...and yes, I know this is a contour site but you guys have been so helpful on my tour that I thought I would hit you all up for more help on the Taurus.

I just bought the car for a buck through the city auction and it wont start (no big surprise though). Is it pretty much a gaurantee that the car is shot or is there something special I might try to get it going. And if going...should everything be fine after the usual fluid changes, plug / wires, etc.

Ive stored vehicles before for over a year with no prep and they fired up after being jumped and worked fine but never after three years. Any and all suggestions appreciated.
 
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I would guess that you have a dead battery and stale gas.

Get the battery charged and replace it if needed. Once you can consistantly crank the engine, worry about the stale fuel. If the engine spins when you try to start it, but it just will not start, try priming it with fresh fuel directly into the throttle body. Do this carefully because people get injured and start fires if they are careless. Sometimes stale gas will still support combustion once it does light up. Try to consume what you can before adding new fuel. The main thing lost in stale gas is the light ends that help make it easier to start the engine. Adding some fresh fuel to the tank may help if the tank doesn't have too much in it. Once you get the tank down to a gallon or two, you can fill the tank and it will run pretty well until you use that up and can get a completely fresh tank.

Considering today's environmental controls on hazardous waste, you don't want to drain the tank if at all posssible. You will have a hard time finding anyone that will dispose of it for you.
 
Big Jim said:
I would guess that you have a dead battery and stale gas.

Considering today's environmental controls on hazardous waste, you don't want to drain the tank if at all posssible. You will have a hard time finding anyone that will dispose of it for you.
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A grill in someones backyard takes care of that resonably well. (hey, it was going to be burned anyway...,)


I've got to agree w/ everyone else though, bad battery/gas. Also worth checking the oil/coolant, and other fluids. though those won't stop you from starting the thing. A jump + a fresh tank of gas should more than do it. (and as said, gas in throttle body/air filter. always works if you have trouble starting a motor)
 
I should have mentioned that I put a new battery in and drained the old feul from the tank, put new fuel in and shot starter fluid into TB and AI. Cranks but wont ignite.

Thinking maybe fuel rails gummed or stale gas in combustion chamber. Also thinking I should take out a few plugs and pour some gas or seafoam (in small amount) into cylinder.
 
Do you hear the fuel pump when you first turn the key on? It should run for about 3 seconds to prime the fuel rail. You can also see if there is some fuel pressure (not a complete test) by going to the schraider valve on the fuel rail immediately after trying to start the engine. Depress the pin and see if you get a fuel spurt. If you do, you probably have fuel delivery.

Check for spark. Have someone crank the engine while you ground out a plug wire. Ground it out by removing it from a plug, inserting a long screwdriver to make good contact with the metal part the contacts the top of the plug, hold any metal part of the screwdriver about 1/2" from any metal on the engine. Do not touch any part of the metal yourself or you will have a very memorable event. If there is a spark jump as the engine is crank you have spark.

If you have spark and fuel, it should start. You may have washed out the plugs with stale fuel and may need to crank with the throttle wide open to shut off the injectors. It may be necessary to pull the plugs and clean them up.

If you have spark, it should light from priming the engine even though it may not keep running.

It isn't likely that there is anything else wrong if it was running when it was put away. It is not likely that the fuel has caused a plug in the lines. It sounds like you are on the right track.
 
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