27 replies to this topic

[paulfoel]

So its been 9 months now.

 

How do I tell if the petrol is still ok? Apart from it not running lol.

[hoody99]

Petrol should be fine I knew nothing about minis when I bout mine which had been sitting for the best part of 7 years only turned over twice in a garage. I put a new battery in it and fired it went no problems apart from the trimming being slightly out. I might of just been lucky but I wouldn't worry about the fuel just stick some fresh stuff in

[the_samkingdon15]

Petrol should be fine I knew nothing about minis when I bout mine which had been sitting for the best part of 7 years only turned over twice in a garage. I put a new battery in it and fired it went no problems apart from the trimming being slightly out. I might of just been lucky but I wouldn't worry about the fuel just stick some fresh stuff in

mine was the same as this.. just had to sort timing

[wile e coyote]

 

Still not got around to this. Will wait a month or two for better weather. Then hopefully it can dry out a bit first.
 
Plan of mine is:-
 
1. Remove battery and charge it.
2. Replace, remove coil connection and crank engine (to get oil going).
3. Connect back up fingers crossed.
 
One other thing - brakes. I guess they might be a bit seized too.

 

If storing for that length of time again - make sure the handbrake is off....... leave it in gear though!!

[paulfoel]

Well garage have had a look. Alternator definitely knackered.

 

They're also saying dont bother with battery after such a long time. But is it worth testing it to be sure?

 

Also, they're saying:-

 

1. New pads/shoes because they'll be no good.

2. Drain and flush petrol.

 

Necessary or not?

[surfblue]

Brake pads and shoes will not have deteriorated.

I would drain and replace with new oil just prior to start up to ensure there's oil round the top end instantly on start up.

[firstforward]

Has this started yet?

[paulfoel]

Yeh started it. Even rolled it back and forth a few feet. Alternator knackered - not sure about a battery.

 

Garage have said:-

 

1. Alternator (yeh know that)

2. Battery will be knackered (even though they havent tested it)

3. Brakes (will be knackered)

4. Petrol will need to come out and be flushed.

 

Sensible or not all necessary?

[firstforward]

So its a new alternator, new battery, take it for MOT and enjoy......

 

If you left the battery discharged, if it is not completely buggered it will have shortened its life somewhat anyway. What I cannot understand is, if you charged your battery and a couple of days later it is still holding a charge your question is answered??? then again if its flat then its also answered.

 

Same for the petrol, if it starts and runs fine which I see no other reason why it should not then there is no problem to solve.

[paulfoel]

So its a new alternator, new battery, take it for MOT and enjoy......

 

If you left the battery discharged, if it is not completely buggered it will have shortened its life somewhat anyway. What I cannot understand is, if you charged your battery and a couple of days later it is still holding a charge your question is answered??? then again if its flat then its also answered.

 

Same for the petrol, if it starts and runs fine which I see no other reason why it should not then there is no problem to solve.

 

Thanks yes it charges and runs OK (on the driveway at least).

[dklawson]

Yeh started it. Even rolled it back and forth a few feet. Alternator knackered - not sure about a battery.

 

Garage have said:-

 

1. Alternator (yeh know that)

2. Battery will be knackered (even though they havent tested it)

3. Brakes (will be knackered)

4. Petrol will need to come out and be flushed.

 

Sensible or not all necessary?

 

1)  OK... maybe.  How do they know?  Alternators don't just go bad from sitting for months.  See below.

2)  Batteries lose charge at a steady rate when sitting for a long time.  Try charging it.  Maybe it is too depleted to fully charge, maybe not.  See below.

3)  Why would the brakes go bad from sitting?  If they were bad when parked they will still be bad now... but not from sitting.  However, brake fluid in general should be flushed every 2 to 3 years.  I would encourage flushing the fluid and checking the condition of the pads, shoes, and flex lines.

4)  You said above that the engine has been started.  If it starts and runs on the fuel in the tank... drive the car to use the fuel up, don't pay to flush the system. 

 

Do a basic test of the charging system yourself.  Kernow has posted some test procedures and I am sure he will be along shortly to post the link.  In the meantime, take a volt meter and connect it across the battery terminals with the engine off.  A healthy charged battery will measure about 12.5V.  On an old sulfated battery it will be a bit less.  There are drop-dead (replace me) figures like.... 11V but most of the time if the battery is more than 12V you have some life left in it.  Now start the engine and repeat the voltage measurement across the battery.  If the alternator is working you should see about a 1.5V increase over what you measured with the engine off.  Ideally you want to see something between 14 and 14.5V.  A little higher is OK... but not too much.  If you measure 14.5V with the alternator running I would not necessarily replace the alternator.  If the battery has more than 12V in it when parked... I would not replace it (yet) either.  Both of these components can be tested by other places than the garage you are dealing with.  Get a second opinion.

[paulfoel]

 

Yeh started it. Even rolled it back and forth a few feet. Alternator knackered - not sure about a battery.

 

Garage have said:-

 

1. Alternator (yeh know that)

2. Battery will be knackered (even though they havent tested it)

3. Brakes (will be knackered)

4. Petrol will need to come out and be flushed.

 

Sensible or not all necessary?

 

1)  OK... maybe.  How do they know?  Alternators don't just go bad from sitting for months.  See below.

2)  Batteries lose charge at a steady rate when sitting for a long time.  Try charging it.  Maybe it is too depleted to fully charge, maybe not.  See below.

3)  Why would the brakes go bad from sitting?  If they were bad when parked they will still be bad now... but not from sitting.  However, brake fluid in general should be flushed every 2 to 3 years.  I would encourage flushing the fluid and checking the condition of the pads, shoes, and flex lines.

4)  You said above that the engine has been started.  If it starts and runs on the fuel in the tank... drive the car to use the fuel up, don't pay to flush the system. 

 

Do a basic test of the charging system yourself.  Kernow has posted some test procedures and I am sure he will be along shortly to post the link.  In the meantime, take a volt meter and connect it across the battery terminals with the engine off.  A healthy charged battery will measure about 12.5V.  On an old sulfated battery it will be a bit less.  There are drop-dead (replace me) figures like.... 11V but most of the time if the battery is more than 12V you have some life left in it.  Now start the engine and repeat the voltage measurement across the battery.  If the alternator is working you should see about a 1.5V increase over what you measured with the engine off.  Ideally you want to see something between 14 and 14.5V.  A little higher is OK... but not too much.  If you measure 14.5V with the alternator running I would not necessarily replace the alternator.  If the battery has more than 12V in it when parked... I would not replace it (yet) either.  Both of these components can be tested by other places than the garage you are dealing with.  Get a second opinion.

 

 

 

Thanks.

 

1) Alternator is deffo knackered -  I did that unfortunately by connecting battery wrong way around. Confirmed by me - no ouput when engine running.

2) After two years are the chances it will be sulfated. For the sake of £50, is it worth bothering? I'd rather replace than struggle on with an iffy battery.

3) I'll have to check with garage. Maybe they needed chaning anyway.

4) Good point. It cant be that bad if it runs. Any risk of damage by using the old petrol? 

[dklawson]

4) Good point. It cant be that bad if it runs. Any risk of damage by using the old petrol? 

 

Not really anything bad.  It might not run well and if you have to pass an emissions test the pollutant levels may be marginal but you are not going to hurt anything.  Add a bit of fuel system cleaner to the tank and replace any fuel filters when this tank of fuel has been used up.