MX5Ireland

Hi,

I haven’t had my Mk1 on the road for at least 10 months. I was away for most of the time.

I am wandering about what to check and what to look for when a car has being sitting up for that length of time.

So what do I look out and change for in my car in order to have it back on the road like it was?

A good service firstly! Oil is the main thing. Then check your tyres haven't perished.

Hope you didn't leave the handbrake on the whole time!

Ok.

Oil and water needs a change.
I have changed the battery so far. The roof is sun bleached too.
The breaks are not the best and the engine is not ticking over correctly. Its ticking over at a higher rate at the moment. Any reasons I can look for this.
Electrics are not the best too. I greased the window motors. Contacts on the light motors are not happy.

So the list as I need to do in my mind is;

Oil, straight change and service
coolant, refresh the lot
Sparks, inspect the condition and connection
tyres for imperfections and decay
breaks, shoes, discs and fluid
clutch fluid
Suspension inspection
roof damage and mildew
lighting and bulbs
Locks and hinges
Signs of water buildup and rust.

Change oil, check brakes, WD40 in a few places, a wash and it should be good to go. The rest at your leisure.
Had mine stored for a year at one stage, the above got it back on the road.
Re the high idle, check the intake tube and intake manifold for leaks first.

I got my MK 1 last May and put it away in the barn for the winter Big mistake !!! The alternator seized and I had to replace it . I will never put it away again but drive it on dryish days all through the year !! It's more fun than The Navara anyway ha ha !!

I bought a car that had been stored for ages & one of the tyres had become misshapen so gave me an awful wobble at speed. If you store the car, remember to move the car from time to time so different parts of the wheels (maybe mark with chalk/crayon?) are pointing down at different periods.

Reesy wrote:I bought a car that had been stored for ages & one of the tyres had become misshapen so gave me an awful wobble at speed. If you store the car, remember to move the car from time to time so different parts of the wheels (maybe mark with chalk/crayon?) are pointing down at different periods.

See tyre savers. Not sure how good they are.

http://www.cjautos.site90.net/tyresaver.jpg

http://www.cjautos.site90.net/oe02.jpg

£18.00 stg a pair

http://www.cjautos.site90.net