Practically Classics Forum

OK, stretching the 'classic' definition a bit I guess, but it's 18 years old now.

This was my daily driver for a while until it got parked up on the drive under a car-cover when I replaced it with something newer. Was nothing wrong with it on 95k, but just fancied a change.
It has been dragged around on a trailer to a few different outdoor storage locations until my current house and it now has a warm, cosy garage to live in.

I am not very familiar with cars of this age (my last classic was a MK1 Transit Van) so what kind of things should I be attending do before I attempt to start it up after 7 years of being laid-up.

A few things I can think of:

1.Drain fuel tank (no idea how as there seems to be an anti-syphon thing where I can't poke a hose down the filler cap!)
2.Check fuel lines
3.Drain engine oil (recommend to remove the sump as well, or just open the drain?)
4.Fresh engine oil and filter.
5.Drain automatic gearbox oil and re-fill.
6.Drain coolant and flush system before renewing
7.New air filters

...any other steps before I then try turning the key?
Maybe I should I try turning the engine over by hand before trying the key?

Assuming it all fires up OK, I guess I'll then need to look at the braking system, replacing pads, discs, pipework and fluid, before moving onto the suspension system checking all rubber bushes and ancillaries in the engine bay like the air-con pipework, wheel bearings etc.

welcome mate! can we have some pics?
you seem to have everything covered, turn the engine over by hand like you said..

With such a modern car I'd say charge battery, check it has fuel (few fresh gallons) check oil level and see if it fires up.

Kev

if its got a cam belt change that, as after being laid up it might snap..

Ideally the engine oil should be warm before you drain it. You might be able to drain it cold if it isn't too thick. You could try a heat gun on the sump. Don't bother dropping the sump unless you need to replace the gasket. Replace the rest of the fluids, replace the ignition parts, replace all the rubber hoses, fit a new battery, drain the old fuel, replace the fuel filter and you should be ready to start up.

Keep us posted with your progress and get some photos posted.

Good luck with this, specifically with the changing of the ATF in the Peugeot's gearbox. Dad had a 406 saloon with the V6 and by 'eck that was some engine! Lovely thing, between its frequent bouts of pencil coilitis. But the dealership that serviced that one for the old chap told him that the ATF was in there for the life of the car, hence the absence of a sump plug on the box and there being no dipstick.

JPB wrote:Good luck with this, specifically with the changing of the ATF in the Peugeot's gearbox. Dad had a 406 saloon with the V6 and by 'eck that was some engine! Lovely thing, between its frequent bouts of pencil coilitis. But the dealership that serviced that one for the old chap told him that the ATF was in there for the life of the car, hence the absence of a sump plug on the box and there being no dipstick.

Mercedes came up with the same BS with the 722.6 transmission and a bunch started failing in the first couple of years. If there is no physical plug, use the transmission cooler lines to flush the system. Pump a liter and add a liter until the fluid comes out clean.

alabbasi wrote:..Mercedes came up with the same BS with the 722.6 transmission and a bunch started failing in the first couple of years. If there is no physical plug, use the transmission cooler lines to flush the system. Pump a liter and add a liter until the fluid comes out clean.

Absolutely. It may seem like a load of effort but for a rare car that you enjoy, then look upon it as part of the car's ongoing preservation and do it. A little extra fluid is cheaper than a transmission rebuild by an auto specialist.

I'll check to see if it has a drain plug or not.

Quite used to this 'filled-for-life' jibberish as that's what Audi say about the box on one of my other cars - complete tosh and I get the fluid and filter changed regularly.

Thanks for the tips everybody. I'll try and get some pics up.

A few (low quality) pics from 'happier times' when it was being used and cared for: