I agree with most of the answers here, you should test your battery maybe 4 times a year or so and when the voltage begins to dip buy a different battery. I do have a suggestion though, buy an optima battery.
They are the best battery you can get, you can mount them sideways or upside down if you want. They also have a shelf life of 12-15 years, when you discharge them completely you don't damage the battery. They are also spill-proof and 15x more vibration resistant. Also the biggest point of all is that all of their redtop batteires have a 36 month warranty. You really can't go wrong, i bought mine about 5 years ago and have never had a problem since.
http://www.optimabatteries.comHow often should you change out a car battery is it every 3 or 5 years?batteries don't need to be changed regularly. best bet is to load test it when you service the engine. And also check the voltage output from your alternator. It should be between 12.8-13.8 v.How often should you change out a car battery is it every 3 or 5 years?There is no definite time period on a battery exchange . Too many factors control the life of a battery . All you can do is watch it . I have had one last as long as 6 years and as short as 6 months .How often should you change out a car battery is it every 3 or 5 years?there is no set time just always do a charging system test and keep the cables and clamps clean and free of corrosion a weak charging system or excess load on the system like huge power amps or off road lights take a toll on a batteryHow often should you change out a car battery is it every 3 or 5 years?Most batteries are stamped with the life span. Now whether they last the full stamped life is doubtful. Id say change it every 4 years, 3 if you live in an extreme climate. There is also something to be said for the quality of the battery you buy and the life span.How often should you change out a car battery is it every 3 or 5 years?it all depends on the climate, its the opposite of what you would think, if you live in hotter climates, you will need to change much more often, every 3 years to be safe, if you live in colder climates, you can go for up to 6 years, but thats pushin it.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
How can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?
im buying a 96 nissan altima.
is this a good car in general?
and also, i plan on bringing someone who knows about cars with me tomorrow. so what kinds of things should i be looking for besides
lights
brakes
leaks... ectHow can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?First – don’t rush when you evaluate the car. Take your time. Rushing you could overlook something you’ll hate later or cost you money. Get the Kelly Blue Book Value for a “good condition” before you go (KBB). KBB for a 1996 Altima with 150k miles is $1500.
Don’t worry about saying things to your friend out loud. Care more about your money than the seller’s feelings. It is only business.
First check out the owner. Is he a dealer in disguise? You want to discern if brought the car home just to sell.
Ask if he is the owner. How far does he drive the car everyday? What kind of driving highway or streets. Has he had any engine problems? Transmission problems. Was the car in an accident? Why is he selling the car? Does the car have a timing belt (4 cylinders)? When was it changed last? How often did he change the oil? How old is the battery.
You'll get an idea if he is the owner and knows the car. You want to buy from the owner not a guy who sells cars to eat.
First check out the car body. Note all the rust and dents. Make sure you see all of them because you don’t want to wake up the next morning and hate your car with the big yellow scratch on the passenger door. Do you like the condition of the body? Has it been recently painted? Paint hides a lot of sins. My son and I just looked a truck where the guy painted over rust. You couldn’t see it but if you ran your hand along the door bottom you could feel it.
Check out all the doors. Do they close properly? Are there any wear marks on the car frame from the door dragging?
Check the tires. Are they worn evenly? Rear tires too. He may have rotated the worn tires to the rear. You want to see even wear across the tire. Uneven wear means ball joint, bearing or tie rod problems.
Does the windshield have any cracks or scratches?
Check out the trunk. Check for a good spare, jack and tire iron. Look under the carpet and along the sides for dampness or water indicating a leaking trunk.
Under the hood. Look for signs of leaking. Oil, trans fluid, power steering fluid. The engine should be dry not oily. Check the oil on the dipstick the color should be clear brown not black. Check the transmission dipstick. The oil should be clear red not brownish or burnt. Put a little on you finger does it smell bunt. Trans fluid smells goofy any way but a burnt one smells different. Hard to describe definitely check the color.
How is the overall condition of the wiring – does it look original or are there obvious repairs
Check the alternator belt for cracks. The battery should be clean no corrosion.
Does all the paint under hood match? Fenders firewall hood should be the same color.
Look at the radiator, front bumper and plastic around the headlights for damage.
Are the headlights clear, firmly attached and properly aligned
Start the car. Listen for rattling or clicking. It should sound smooth like a sewing machine.
Take a drive. While driving play with all the stuff. Power windows, mirrors, wipers front and rear, heater, power seats, radio
Car should accelerate smoothly with power without abnormal rattles or noises
Car should shift smoothly with out jerks. Should not shift up and down frequently.
Steering should be smooth without noise.
Are all the gages working normally?
There should be no check engine lights
Brakes should work without abnormal noises or pulsation in the pedal
When you get back – leave the engine running and check under the hood again for leaks or abnormal sounds
Ask you friend if they have any concerns. Show your friend what you’ve found.
Listen to your intuition
If you still like the car – offer the owner KBB plus or minus 200.
Get a reciept AND A TITLE no exceptions ..How can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?What you should do is take it to your mechanic and have him check it over. Most will do so for a small fee.How can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?Nissans for the most part are a very reliable car. Ask the seller for any records... oil changes, repairs, parts that have been replaced, etc. Also... mileage is important. If the car was driven only a short distance daily, or highway miles. Highway miles are much better for a car than short tripping. Is it a one owner car? The person you are bringing with you should also check the belts. How often the oil was changed is one of the most important things. The problem is going to be trusting that the seller is being upfront and honest with you. That is why records can be so helpful. I have a Nissan, and I have had it since 2001. I bought it new. One of the reasons I chose this car was because all the people I talked to before buying it said that their Nissan was one of the most reliable cars they had ever owned. BUT... having an owner that has given the car proper care is important.How can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?There are very few guarantees in life - especially with a 14 year old car.
Don't get too attached to the vehicle though - because even in private sales, you have to be willing to walk away, or you will get taken to the cleaners.
Good idea to take someone with you - make sure to take it for a nice test drive, get it warmed up. Hit the brakes hard a few times to see if it pulls one way or the other, or has trouble stopping.
Make sure there aren't any obvious leaks, burning smells, odd sounds, etc. - possibly take it to a mechanic and have them give it a once over ($75 or so typically - not a guarantee, but worth it if something is wrong).
Ask the owner for maintenance records, and look at the mileage. Check on kbb.com for the kelley blue book value of the vehicle.
I'm not a big fan of the Nissan Altima, but there a lot of them out there, so they apparently make a decent product (and junkyards are probably full of wrecked ones for parts).
Good luck! Shop around!How can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?Here's some consumer reviews:
http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/altima/199…
Be sure and ask the owner why he/she is selling it. Some will be honest and tell you if there's a major problem they don't want to spend the money to fix and others will be cagey about their reasons. Be wary if they seem to rave on too much about how %26quot;great%26quot; the condition is without sharing the problems with the car as well (all older cars have issues of some sort). Ask the owner if he/she has maintained the car regularly (oil changes etc.) and then ask if you can check motor. If you can look at the air filter, that might be an indicator of how well they really maintain their car (filter should not be filthy). Tire wear should be looked at; uneven wear might indicate problems.
Great idea to bring someone knowledgeable about cars with you to evaluate the car. Test drive it in town and also on highway to see how it handles when you drive above 45 mph. Sometimes older cars putter around town just fine, but on the highway they make weird noises, wobble, and/or get hot.
Good luck:)How can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?run a car fax on the car. it tells you all owners. and any recalls on it.
is this a good car in general?
and also, i plan on bringing someone who knows about cars with me tomorrow. so what kinds of things should i be looking for besides
lights
brakes
leaks... ectHow can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?First – don’t rush when you evaluate the car. Take your time. Rushing you could overlook something you’ll hate later or cost you money. Get the Kelly Blue Book Value for a “good condition” before you go (KBB). KBB for a 1996 Altima with 150k miles is $1500.
Don’t worry about saying things to your friend out loud. Care more about your money than the seller’s feelings. It is only business.
First check out the owner. Is he a dealer in disguise? You want to discern if brought the car home just to sell.
Ask if he is the owner. How far does he drive the car everyday? What kind of driving highway or streets. Has he had any engine problems? Transmission problems. Was the car in an accident? Why is he selling the car? Does the car have a timing belt (4 cylinders)? When was it changed last? How often did he change the oil? How old is the battery.
You'll get an idea if he is the owner and knows the car. You want to buy from the owner not a guy who sells cars to eat.
First check out the car body. Note all the rust and dents. Make sure you see all of them because you don’t want to wake up the next morning and hate your car with the big yellow scratch on the passenger door. Do you like the condition of the body? Has it been recently painted? Paint hides a lot of sins. My son and I just looked a truck where the guy painted over rust. You couldn’t see it but if you ran your hand along the door bottom you could feel it.
Check out all the doors. Do they close properly? Are there any wear marks on the car frame from the door dragging?
Check the tires. Are they worn evenly? Rear tires too. He may have rotated the worn tires to the rear. You want to see even wear across the tire. Uneven wear means ball joint, bearing or tie rod problems.
Does the windshield have any cracks or scratches?
Check out the trunk. Check for a good spare, jack and tire iron. Look under the carpet and along the sides for dampness or water indicating a leaking trunk.
Under the hood. Look for signs of leaking. Oil, trans fluid, power steering fluid. The engine should be dry not oily. Check the oil on the dipstick the color should be clear brown not black. Check the transmission dipstick. The oil should be clear red not brownish or burnt. Put a little on you finger does it smell bunt. Trans fluid smells goofy any way but a burnt one smells different. Hard to describe definitely check the color.
How is the overall condition of the wiring – does it look original or are there obvious repairs
Check the alternator belt for cracks. The battery should be clean no corrosion.
Does all the paint under hood match? Fenders firewall hood should be the same color.
Look at the radiator, front bumper and plastic around the headlights for damage.
Are the headlights clear, firmly attached and properly aligned
Start the car. Listen for rattling or clicking. It should sound smooth like a sewing machine.
Take a drive. While driving play with all the stuff. Power windows, mirrors, wipers front and rear, heater, power seats, radio
Car should accelerate smoothly with power without abnormal rattles or noises
Car should shift smoothly with out jerks. Should not shift up and down frequently.
Steering should be smooth without noise.
Are all the gages working normally?
There should be no check engine lights
Brakes should work without abnormal noises or pulsation in the pedal
When you get back – leave the engine running and check under the hood again for leaks or abnormal sounds
Ask you friend if they have any concerns. Show your friend what you’ve found.
Listen to your intuition
If you still like the car – offer the owner KBB plus or minus 200.
Get a reciept AND A TITLE no exceptions ..How can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?What you should do is take it to your mechanic and have him check it over. Most will do so for a small fee.How can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?Nissans for the most part are a very reliable car. Ask the seller for any records... oil changes, repairs, parts that have been replaced, etc. Also... mileage is important. If the car was driven only a short distance daily, or highway miles. Highway miles are much better for a car than short tripping. Is it a one owner car? The person you are bringing with you should also check the belts. How often the oil was changed is one of the most important things. The problem is going to be trusting that the seller is being upfront and honest with you. That is why records can be so helpful. I have a Nissan, and I have had it since 2001. I bought it new. One of the reasons I chose this car was because all the people I talked to before buying it said that their Nissan was one of the most reliable cars they had ever owned. BUT... having an owner that has given the car proper care is important.How can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?There are very few guarantees in life - especially with a 14 year old car.
Don't get too attached to the vehicle though - because even in private sales, you have to be willing to walk away, or you will get taken to the cleaners.
Good idea to take someone with you - make sure to take it for a nice test drive, get it warmed up. Hit the brakes hard a few times to see if it pulls one way or the other, or has trouble stopping.
Make sure there aren't any obvious leaks, burning smells, odd sounds, etc. - possibly take it to a mechanic and have them give it a once over ($75 or so typically - not a guarantee, but worth it if something is wrong).
Ask the owner for maintenance records, and look at the mileage. Check on kbb.com for the kelley blue book value of the vehicle.
I'm not a big fan of the Nissan Altima, but there a lot of them out there, so they apparently make a decent product (and junkyards are probably full of wrecked ones for parts).
Good luck! Shop around!How can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?Here's some consumer reviews:
http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/altima/199…
Be sure and ask the owner why he/she is selling it. Some will be honest and tell you if there's a major problem they don't want to spend the money to fix and others will be cagey about their reasons. Be wary if they seem to rave on too much about how %26quot;great%26quot; the condition is without sharing the problems with the car as well (all older cars have issues of some sort). Ask the owner if he/she has maintained the car regularly (oil changes etc.) and then ask if you can check motor. If you can look at the air filter, that might be an indicator of how well they really maintain their car (filter should not be filthy). Tire wear should be looked at; uneven wear might indicate problems.
Great idea to bring someone knowledgeable about cars with you to evaluate the car. Test drive it in town and also on highway to see how it handles when you drive above 45 mph. Sometimes older cars putter around town just fine, but on the highway they make weird noises, wobble, and/or get hot.
Good luck:)How can the car that i am buying from a private seller is a good car and not crappy?run a car fax on the car. it tells you all owners. and any recalls on it.
Friday, September 23, 2011
My car has been acting weird since my oil change?
The radio/cd speakers have static now and the ignition has been slow to start a few times. I can't imagine what an oil change has to do with this, but this didn't happen until right after the oil change.
I called the dealership and they said it has nothing to do with it etc.
Is this normal? And if so, how can I get rid of the static in my once pitch perfect speakers?My car has been acting weird since my oil change?Sounds like you need an alternator- if it's cranking slow, either the battery's getting weak, or not charging fully. A failing/ failed alternator diode will give you electrical noise, cause the alternator to undercharge, and can also drain your battery, depending on how it fails. I doubt it has anything to do with your oil change, unless they soaked the alternator with oil, and hit it with a hammer a few times. You need to go to a shop, and have them test your battery and charging system.My car has been acting weird since my oil change?when i once got my alternator pulley sorted it caused a static buzzing sound from my speakers, but never on an oil change they must have accidentally hit something to trigger it off. My honest opinion you will never find the cause. But as for the slow to startthere isn't too much oil in the sump, check dipstick when car is cold to make sure it's at the right mark if it is then maybe something electrical is on it's way out and may be causing the static speakers. It could be you're alternator too.
I called the dealership and they said it has nothing to do with it etc.
Is this normal? And if so, how can I get rid of the static in my once pitch perfect speakers?My car has been acting weird since my oil change?Sounds like you need an alternator- if it's cranking slow, either the battery's getting weak, or not charging fully. A failing/ failed alternator diode will give you electrical noise, cause the alternator to undercharge, and can also drain your battery, depending on how it fails. I doubt it has anything to do with your oil change, unless they soaked the alternator with oil, and hit it with a hammer a few times. You need to go to a shop, and have them test your battery and charging system.My car has been acting weird since my oil change?when i once got my alternator pulley sorted it caused a static buzzing sound from my speakers, but never on an oil change they must have accidentally hit something to trigger it off. My honest opinion you will never find the cause. But as for the slow to startthere isn't too much oil in the sump, check dipstick when car is cold to make sure it's at the right mark if it is then maybe something electrical is on it's way out and may be causing the static speakers. It could be you're alternator too.
How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?
as I was driving the lights started to dim and the radio went off and now the car stalled. It won't restart without a jump from another car.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?check the pulley belt .. if its loose tighten the belt and start the engine and put everything on .. lights heater wipers anything ...if you find its still dim and slow .. then alternator is no Good change it ... if everythings working ok then the battery is no goodHow do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?A bad battery is easy to test. Hook it up to a battery charger. If it's bad, it will only charge so far and then the needle will crash back to the begining or it will only go so far and stop. If the battery becomes fully charged, it's your alternator.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?get them tested. I take out the alternator and have it brought to autozone and have it tested and same for the battery. ur alternatoer could be bad and draining the batter there test they can do to see. i have to see the car to figure it out.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?SOUNDS like a bad alternator.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?First, ensure the battery connections are clean and tight.
This test is not 100% accurate, however I've never seen it fail.
The next time it's running, disconnect the positive cable.
If the car dies, you have been running off your battery - therefore have the alternator check.
If the car continues to run, the alternator is putting out current, however if may not be enough or the battery won't hold a charge.
Personally, I would take the battery to an auto parts store and have them check it. If it's okay, then take the alternator. Or take them both at the same time.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?Been there done that.Your alternator is bad.And you ran down your battery.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?Have the battery tested and replace if needed, but make sure the alternator is still ok. Sometimes when the alt goes bad it will take the battery out.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?all you have to do, is test the battery. hook it up to another battery, or just replace the alternator, which is cheap and easy, and probably what it is anyway.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?buy a new alternator and a battery, trust me my 99 alero did the same thing, don't listen to them.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?take the alternator and the battery to the parts house and have them checked and replaced if needed
This test is not 100% accurate, however I've never seen it fail.
The next time it's running, disconnect the positive cable.
If the car dies, you have been running off your battery - therefore have the alternator check.
If the car continues to run, the alternator is putting out current, however if may not be enough or the battery won't hold a charge.
Personally, I would take the battery to an auto parts store and have them check it. If it's okay, then take the alternator. Or take them both at the same time.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?Been there done that.Your alternator is bad.And you ran down your battery.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?Have the battery tested and replace if needed, but make sure the alternator is still ok. Sometimes when the alt goes bad it will take the battery out.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?all you have to do, is test the battery. hook it up to another battery, or just replace the alternator, which is cheap and easy, and probably what it is anyway.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?buy a new alternator and a battery, trust me my 99 alero did the same thing, don't listen to them.How do I tell the difference if the alternator or battery in my car is bad, the electrical system is failing?take the alternator and the battery to the parts house and have them checked and replaced if needed
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?
see theres a 92 camaro that im looking at and it ran great and started great 3 years ago but it sat for 3 years and now it wont start what do i have to do to get the car running (epert help needed)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 off, check to see if the engine will even turn over. In 3 years it's entirely possible that the engine is seized if it wasn't properly prepared for storage. If it will turn over, proceed as follows.
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=combustionlips hurt during odp.net charakterset
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
How to change a headlight?
The headlight burned out on the driver's side of my '96 Toyota Corolla. Does anyone know how to change it? Does the battery need to be removed? We tried removing a couple of screws to detach the lamp from the car, but that didn't work. It looks like there may be a couple of bolts that require a wrench to remove them - do those need to be taken off? This is quite frustrating! Help!How to change a headlight?Yes the bolts need to be take off, once you get those off it should come right off, maybe a lil force to get it off. But once it is off just change the light. if all else fails look online for a manual to your car.How to change a headlight?you should read your owner's manual, it's in the back with step by step instruction...How to change a headlight?it's in the owners manualHow to change a headlight?If it's a composite light the bulb is mounted in a socket which is in the back of the head light turn the socket counter clockwise to remove pull out bad bulb and put in new one useing a rag so you don't get oil from your fingers on it then turn the socket clockwise until it locks in place
If you own a car with hydraulics, please help!?
I have this Toyota truck with hydraulics;it has 8 batteries. I changed the water on all the batteries and bought a newer,bigger battery charger.Now it's making a bubbling noise when I have it on the charger.Is this normal,and how long will it take to fully charge all the batteries?If you own a car with hydraulics, please help!?A couple of things here. You should never %26quot;change %26quot; the water in the batteries. The batteries come with acid in them and should be topped off only with distilled water. If you drained and refilled them you drained all the acid out and lost some of the life and proper function of your batteries. The bubbling is due to the battery overcharging and %26quot;boiling%26quot; over. That is not good. The time it takes to charge the batteries will vary on the condition and state of charge of the battery. You should charge them according to how they test. You should also charge them all separately. Good luckIf you own a car with hydraulics, please help!?u need to buy an automotaic chrger, ur over charging your batterys, heatig up cells,If you own a car with hydraulics, please help!?you don't change the water in batterys
that is acid, and never add acid to an old
battery, only water.
that is acid, and never add acid to an old
battery, only water.
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