Anyone have any suggestions on how to recondition a car that has been sitting for 3 years?
It was driven regularly until the owner had no place to park it, so it ended up in my yard. It has been sitting for about 3 years, and I have been offered it. Besides changing the oil and getting a new battery, what more should I look at in regards to reconditioning it for regular use?
2010-11-13T11:05:24Z
It's a 1995 Ford Aerostar van, with about 85,000 miles on it. The only problem it has that I know of is that one of the tailgate supports is broken and won't support the tailgate. The tires are almost all flat.
2010-11-13T20:43:25Z
I only intend to keep it for a couple of years until I can buy something newer.
Otto2010-11-13T13:58:57Z
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Many of the suggestions made by a supposed ASE mechanic are wrong. Drain all the fuel and do NOT use any "injector cleaner" or any other additives. They will just gum up the systems. The tires need to be replaced as they are old and would be in poor condition from sitting flat. All the belts hoses and fluids should be changed. Keep in mind before you start this process, the Aerostar is notorious for bad head gaskets and transmission problems. You may be acquiring a "money pit".
Ok if you want to keep it here is a list of things to get you started for daily use
1. tune up....this includes spark plugs, wires, air filter, coil packs 2. oil change....add a additive to the first oil change just to help lubricate 3. new belts 4. check the condition of all fluids, if good then top them off 5. battery
Depending on the condition of the tires you may be able to just add air, or you may have to replace them as well. Now the gas is also an issue, depending on how much is in the tank, if it is less than half and the car starts and runs, add some fuel injection cleaner to the tank ($3 at local parts store or gas station) and drive it until all the old gas has burned out. Then replace with fresh gas and another bottle of cleaner. If there is alot of gas and it runs you can do the same thing, no need to go through extra stuff, if it will not run, you will have to have the old gas removed and the system cleaned.
This should get you started anything else that may be wrong you may not see until you start driving it everyday. Now word for the wise, it will take for you to drive it daily for about a week or so before the computer adjusts (because it sat so long) and the car starts to run normal. So if it starts out rough don't worry just give it a little time before you give up hope.