Did you come back
after months and are not able to drive your SUV anymore? Before you start
treating your car as stalled steel, here are some tips to revive it at last
minute! – Brought to you by PartsAvatar Performance Auto Parts.
Whether its winter
or your car has been sitting idle for ages, you can’t just dump it off if it won’t
start! There are still some means to revive it. PartsAvatar has suggested some
tips to wake your sleeping beauty!
In this article, we
will not only discuss the ways to revive the stored car but also will provide
some tips to properly store your car if you plan to leave your car unused for a
considerable period.
But let’s first
start with starting a stalled car!
Check the fluids and Engine oil
Car Engines and car
engine components are made to run and to be run regularly. The longer they sit
idle, the more they can develop problems for you! Old oil, antifreeze and
gasoline don’t hold up well when sitting in an engine for months or even years.
Engine will need lubrication
as oil hasn’t been running through it. If you notice any leakage from the
coolant system it could mean a bad gasket, a corroded radiator fitting, a
rotted hose or even broken water pump seals.
You can replace these auto
parts at PartsAvatar and can easily find your
desired product from our product catalogue easily.
Now talking about
fluids, experts advise a car sitting idle for years require all fluids to be drained,
bleed and flushed before refill.
For engine oil
lubrication you can find assistance in a friend or a trusted mechanic because
it requires disassembling of spark plugs etc. There might be chances of replacing car spark
plugs in this situation, so give it a good
visual check.
Inspect the Car Battery
If all the
mechanical parts are working properly but you still can’t start your car, there
might be issue with car’s electrical components. It is easiest to diagnose and
fix a car battery.
When the battery is
idle, the chemical reaction breaks down and causes it lose energy. If the
battery remains unused for a longer period, the engine won’t start. You can
still try recharging car
battery by adding distilled water if the
battery isn’t that old.
If it has been a
long time since you last used or checked the battery, then you may have to
spend money on a new one!
Also, bad or
corroded ignition coils may prevent the engine from firing up. Replace spark
plugs if they look corroded. You can turn on the engine until the oil you put
into the cylinders lubricate the cylinder walls and to prime the oil and fuel
pumps prior to ignition. Keep cranking the engine until the oil pressure reads
normal.
Check for Vacuum Leaks
Vacuum leaks in the
intake manifold can cause engine sensors to report incorrect readings to the ECU.
When this happens, even minors leaks could keep your engine from running.
Engine can develop
cracks if it sits idle for a long time. Too many cracks may cause severe
problem. So it’s better to timely inspect the leaks and replace the vacuum
hoses if needed. Better take advice of a professional.
Before you leave the garage
Once you start the
car, just let it warm up. Don’t rev it. Check the transmission fluid level and
leakage underneath the car, while it’s running.
You can turn off
the engine and try checking hoses and belts for cracks. Check the car’s
suspension system components like ball joints, bushings, leaks at shocks etc.
Give a thorough
inspection to the brakes before leaving. Rotate each wheel by hand while your
car is jacked up. Check the inflation of tires.
These are the basic
things that you need to service, but still it is advised to call your mechanic
if you can’t handle any major issue.
If you are planning
to leave your car idle for a long time, then check out the tips to store it
properly!
Park Indoors
It is said that
aging is accelerated when the car is parked outside thanks to UV exposure,
extremes of temperature and other environmental hazards. Modern paints are not
prone to sun fading but heating and cooling of the interior will age it,
leading to degradation of fabrics.
It is always safe
to park your car indoors and use a quality cover to keep it safer and cleaner.
Don’t engage handbrake when you leave
Use a brick or a
piece of wood to keep your car from rolling. Brake pads or drums can get stuck
if you engage the handbrakes for a long period.
Remove the Spark plugs
It would be nice to
remove the spark plugs before leaving your car idle. You can spray a little oil
onto plug sockets before putting the plugs back again. This will keep your
car’s spark plugs safe from rusting and moisture.
Fill the fuel tank
Fill the car with
high quality fuel to keep the car fuel tank
safe from moisture and rusting. Make sure to seal the tank properly before
leaving.
Maintaining the battery
Remove the car
battery before leaving. It would be good to fully charge it and top up the
water level. Also you can avoid rusting by applying grease on the terminals and
wires of battery. Store it in cool and dry place away from direct sunlight.
Change oil and oil filters
Old engine oil
contains moisture, metal and sludge. It would be good to fill up your car with
fresh oil and car oil filter
and let it circulate by driving the car for few kilometres.
Keep the tires inflated
Proper inflation of
tires prevents cracking of the sidewalls and flat spots. It’s better to
properly inflate your car tires and check the valve caps for leaks before leaving.
Also you can jack
up your car to avoid flat spots on tires. Use four jacks so that car doesn’t
rest on wheels.
Make sure to clean
the exterior thoroughly. This will help in keeping the moisture away.
So, in this way you
can easily store your car. Still got questions? Contact partsavatar.ca.
Want to shop for
aftermarket auto parts? Check out our product catalogue and get the best deal
in auto parts.
0 comments:
Post a Comment