Drain the fuel tank. Blow out all the fuel lines and replace the fuel filters. Change the oil and filter. Flush out the cooling system and refill with 50/50 coolant mix. Install a new battery and clean the battery terminals. Check the trans fluid. Change it if it's not a clear red color or if there's rust on the dipstick or if no fluid shows on the dipstick at all. Put the trans in neutral, release the parking brake, and push it backwards by hand to release the parking brake shoes. Rock it back and forth if needed to try to break them loose. If they don't release, tear down the rear brakes and repair as needed. Jack up the front of the car and try to turn the front wheels. There will be loads of rust on the calipers. If you can't break the wheels loose, tear down the front brakes and replace the pads and rotors. Inspect the boots on the calipers for any sign of cracking or leakage. Replace the calipers if any is found. Inspect the front wheel bearings and repack or replace as needed. Check the brake hoses for any signs of cracking, checking or leaks. Replace as needed. Bleed the brakes. Put 3 or 4 gallons of fresh gas in the tank. Replace the plugs and wires. Spray some WD40 in each cylinder and crank the engine over for a couple of seconds to spread it around and expel any excess before installing the new plugs.
Prime the fuel and oil systems by pulling the coil wire or disconnecting all of the sparkplug wires if it's a distributorless system and cranking the engine for 30 seconds. Let it sit for 5 minutes to cool the starter motor. Repeat this 3 times. Hook everything back up and cross your fingers.
If the engine does start, do NOT rev it! You'll likely hear a lot of noise as the oil fills the lifters and the oil galleries. It should quiet down substantially within 30 - 60 seconds. Watch oil pressure and temp like a hawk. If you don't see oil pressure within 30 seconds or so, shut down and find out why. It's possible that the oil system is plugged from sitting so long.
If everything is OK so far, run the shifter through the gears, pausing for a few seconds in each gear. Make sure that the trans engages properly. Move it onto a clean flat surface and look underneath for any leaks. Trans fluid and engine oil leaks are pretty likely since the seals may have dried out having sat so long. Drive it VERY gently and test the brakes. If they're not working right, do a full brake job if you didn't replace any of the brake components earlier.
Check the radiator hoses, heater hoses and fanbelts for signs of deterioration. Best bet, replace them all as they're likely to blow soon anyway.
If everything is still OK, get it tagged and drive straight to the tire shop for a new set of tires. Even if they were brand new 3 years ago, they're useless now. Change the oil, filter and trans fluid and filter again in about 1000 miles. A lot of corrosion has been knocked loose and you need to get it all out of the engine and trans.How do i get a car running if it use to run but it sat for 3 years w/o running and now it wont start?Probably has bad gas drain the gas and put fresh gas in also pour a little into the carbHow do i get a car running if it use to run but it sat for 3 years w/o running and now it wont start?Check the battery voltage. Change the fluids (oil, gas, brake fluid, etcHow do i get a car running if it use to run but it sat for 3 years w/o running and now it wont start?That's what happened to the car I bought. The gas had sit in it long enough to turn to turpentine. I bought some fuel treatment and filled the tank up and then drove it until it was empty. It was easier then taking the tank off to drain. Good luck!How do i get a car running if it use to run but it sat for 3 years w/o running and now it wont start?first check all fluid levels. then a fully charged battery, turn the engine over several times to pump oil through the engine. the engine is fuel injected.
turn the key to the on position and listen for the fuel pump to run. then turn the engine over to try and start it. then use a little starting fluid sprayed into the air intake to mix with the air. if that fails a mechanic needs to read the codes in the computer. good luck .How do i get a car running if it use to run but it sat for 3 years w/o running and now it wont start?Well, i could get detailed here, but ill keep it short, yes, relpace the gas, and possibly the lines too, replace basicly all the filters, and make sure nothign is living in the engin any where.. if that doesnt work, make sure the wireing is good, the starter is good, all your injectors are clean, and engin isnt seized. If its sezied up, eather trash is cuz its no good, or sell it to someone that will rebuild it (or pay for it to get rebuilt).
With any luck tho it'll just be the gas, or lines.. but if it has been siting that long you never know... also if you can get it running, or think you will be able to, you will want to replace or at least check your seals, and change all your fluids (brake, oil, radiator, ect.).
If you need any more help, Email me... ill try to help.. Bigtymer3691@yahoo.com
My brother in law had a car that sat for olmost 5 years (1970 something Mustang) it didnt fire right up so we took it all apart, come to find out the guy we bought it from took out the spark plugs and set the wires just right so it liiked like they were in there, put some plugs in, cleaned the lines, and added gas and it took right off.... so good luck to you...How do i get a car running if it use to run but it sat for 3 years w/o running and now it wont start?Charge the battery on a slow charge 12 volt charger, if it will not hold a charge, you can try to jump start it, or buy a new battery. Take the air filter off, and spray some very good , not the cheap stuff, carburetor cleaner in side the carb and let it soak in there for about 15 minutes or so. Check the oil, if it is really black, and burnt smelling change the oil and filter. Take out the spark plugs, clean them, if worn replace them with new. Make sure the plugs are gapped right, per your cars owners manual, or go and buy a shop manual at an auto parts store. While the plugs are out, it does not hurt to spray W-D 40 in each hole. Don't start it with out this. You may want to carefully lift off the distributor cap and make sure it is not developed rust inside. If so replace it, and the rotor. Take of the radiator cap, and fill the radiator with water for now, or anti freeze if you have some handy.. After it starts and warms up, you will have to add more, as the thermostat will, (hopefully) open, and let the water into the block. If the car starts, and then after a few minutes gets hot, shut it off and check the radiator hoses. If they are not leaking or collapsing from dry rot, then you may need a new thermostat. You can pull the thermostat out and run a while with out it to see if it still heats up. Always check your trans fluid as well, and the brake and power steering fluid. After all the fluids are checked, plugs are reinstalled, carb has been cleaned , and primed with starting fluid, hook up your battery , freshly charged and fire that puppy up. Let it really warm up, recheck the oil and radiator before heading out to cruise. Luck to you.How do i get a car running if it use to run but it sat for 3 years w/o running and now it wont start?air+fuel+spark=combustion
