97 Stratus - Sat a while...what to expect? [Archive]

BoneyOne

02-08-2005, 12:51 AM

I've just got back from Iraq and my car has been sitting for a bit over 18 months. I'm curious about what all I should expect as far as problems and what I need to check out before my roadtrip (it's in NY and I have to drive it back down to FL now that I'm back).

Also, before I left I started having problems where it would run fine, but wouldn't idle. When you'd stop you'd have to keep your foot on the gas to keep the RPM's up otherwise it would stall. Unfortunatly with me getting called up I didn't have time to fix this before I left. Any idea's on this?

Dunno if this matters or not, but it's a 97 with the 2.4L and auto.

Thanks

rkfsm

02-08-2005, 01:54 PM

I recovered a Ford Crown Vic that had been sitting for 14 months. This is what I learned:

If the car wasn't started on a regular basis, then you can expect pitting on the cylinder walls above the rings, sludge in the oil and 4, 6 & 8 legged critters trying to survive the Nebraska (or NY in your case) winter.

Fill the battery with water and put it on a charger. While it's charging, change the oil with something cheap and thin (Generic 5W30) and change the plugs. Don't bother changing the oil filter (yet). While you have the plugs out, spray some WD-40 into each cylinder to make sure your rings aren't stuck. Check all the fluids and top off if needed; change the PCV valve as well. While you're at the auto parts store, pick up some starting ether. Just be wicked careful with it, OK?

You are going to have a problem with vaporization. 18 months ago, it was summer. Refineries change the formula of gasoline during the year to help cars run better. The gas sold during winter vaporizes more easily than summer fuel. Since your gas is 18 months old, it is summer fuel trying to vaporize during the winter. Also, after 18 months, the fuel may have seperated. If the car starts on ether and stalls, you may have bad fuel. If you do and if fuel stabilzer doesn't help, then you may have to drop the tank and flush it out.

Re-install the battery and start'er up (or try to). Use the ether if you have to. If the engine doesn't crank and all you get is a loud clunk, then your engine's rings may be siezed.

Run it till the upper radiator hose gets hot. Shut it down and change the oil again. Use a flush this time and use premium oil and filter.

The stalling problem sounds very, very much like an IAC (Idle Air Control). Remove it and spray it out with WD-40. If the IAC is bad, then the car will idle normally for a week or so and then, very suddenly, stop idling correctly again.

Once the car is going, check all your lights and blinkers and such and taker her out for a drive to test the brakes and steering.

.......and......

:gr_patrioWelcome Home:gr_patrio
RK