Re: waking a sleeping 4kq

["Doyt W. Echelberger" <Doyt@nwonline.net>]

>To: Dan Whalen <djwhale@ibm.net>
>From: "Doyt W. Echelberger" <Doyt@nwonline.net>
>Subject: Re: waking a sleeping 4kq
>In-Reply-To: <37F817CA.30708BC3@ibm.net>
>References: <199910032339.TAA28823@audifans.com>
>
>To do it right will be time consuming and expensive, in my opinion. I'm
talking thousands of dollars, especially if you have it done by
professionals. On the other hand, you may just want to change the brake
fluid, coolant, oil & filter and battery, start the car, see how it runs
and stops, and then replace things as they break (which they probably will.)
>
>I'd sure replace those tires. 5 years sitting will flat-spot them, and
rubber ages badly anyhow under the best circumstances. I've tried running
old tires, and they blew out on me in every case.
>
>First I'd replace the battery and check the battery holder and all the
wiring ground points for corrosion. Use a Bentley Repair Manual for
location of all those many ground points. I'd unscrew the ground point
bolts and Dremel the contact surfaces before refastening.
>
>Then I'd inspect all the rubber vacuum hoses and coolant hoses for
deterioration. I'd actually feel them and roll them between my fingers,
looking for soft gummy or hard crumbly sections. Rubber only stays good for
about 5 years anyhow before the ozone gets it. I'd expect to replace all
the hoses, tubes, fittings and even the tires and most of the rubber
bushings in the suspension, maybe the motor and tranny mounts, and the
rubber donuts hanging the exhaust system.Most people with 86 4kq's have
done this anyhow by now, because age destroys rubber even if the car is not
being driven. 
>
>And I'd replace all the belts, including the timing belt. While doing
that, I'd have the water pump and idler roller replaced while that section
was open. Timing belts go bad like tires in 5 years just sitting there, and
they also should be replaced at about 60k miles. Your car is approaching
both those limits.
>
>Even fuel stabilizer wouldn't have held the gasoline for 5 years. I'd
replace any of the flexible fuel lines (rubber) because they would have
deteriorated by now and might leak fuel when the car is started. That could
star a serious fire.  Also replace the fuel filters. And take note....In my
86 4kq at about 10 years I had to replace my metal fuel lines from the tank
to the engine, because they rusted and developed pin holes. Yours may have
done the same, just sitting there. Depends on if you are from a salt-belt
area, probably.
>
>Then I'd check all the fluid levels and the condition of the radiator
fluid. If I had a pH measuring set, I'd see if the coolant fluid was
between 8 and 9 and change it if it was below 8. Especially if it was 7 or
less. On a 5 year old car I'd replace the antifreeze just on general
principles. Normally a service book calls for replacement every 2 years.
>
>I'd look at and probably change the air cleaner filter. I've even heard of
a mouse getting in the air box and making a nest there, using the old air
cleaner paper.
>
>After draining the old oil and replacing it and the oil filter, I'd take
out the sparkers and shoot a squirt or two of engine oil into each cylinder
through the plug hole. Lacking a squirting device, I'd dribble it in with a
kitchen baster. I'd turn the engine over a few times by hand while the
plugs were out. If the engine turned OK by hand, I'd check the plugs and
gap them right and put them back in and start the car.
>
>I'd drain the old brake fluid and bleed the system and replace with fresh
fluid.  The old stuff is certainly bad by now, and may have corroded the
lines and calipers by now. At any rate, I'd expect the brake calipers to
have seized to the rotors due to corrosion, so once the car was running I'd
have someone watch as I tried to move the car in gear after it had warmed
up for a minute or two. If all the wheels went around, I'd feel lucky and
I'd take it in to a brake shop for professional service.
>
>I'd expect the exhaust system to have corroded by now, and I'd take it in
to the muffler shop and have it inspected.
>
>I'd replace all the tires. They will be flat-spotted forever by sitting 5
years in one place, and the rubber will have aged to the place where they
might fail catastrophically when driven for a few weeks.
>
>Finally, after replacing fuel lines and doing the engine work, I'd put
some fresh fuel into the empty tank. Naturally, the tank would be empty
because the owner would have drained it before laying the car up for 5
years. If it wasn't drained, it probably evaporated anyhow and has left a
varnish behind on the entire fuel system. This varnish may cause
considerable fuel system problems.  I'd run a few tanks of Techron-treated
fuel through it if I did get it started.
>
>On the other hand, you may just want to change the oil & filter and
battery, start the car, see how it runs and stops, and then replace things
as they break. I'd sure replace those tires.
>
>Doyt Echelberger
>86 4kq
>87 5kcstq
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>At 05:13 AM 9/26/1999 -0700, you wrote:
>>
>>My '84 4kq has been sitting unused for almost 2 years
>>because of need to rework suspension and brakes to
>>pass inspection.  Engine was running great (except for
>>noisy lifters, numerous oil leaks, insufficient power,
>>etc....) before car was given its current sabbatical.
>>
>>What should I do in preparation before restarting it? 
>>I'm sure all the metal surfaces have terminal oil
>>starvation.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>>
>>Bob Gregory
>>'84 4kq
>>'88 90q
>>__________________________________________________
>>Do You Yahoo!?
>>Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
>>
>
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>At 10:58 PM 10/3/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>>Hi listers,
>>
>>    Im new to this list, and to Audis...  Although I do own a VW.
>>Im about to acquire a '86 4000cs quattro,  The thing is, that its been
sitting in a garage pretty much untouched (except for a smelly cat) for at
least 5
>>years.  What I need to know is,  what is it that I should do to a car
thats been in hibernation for this long?  What should I do before I start
it for the
>>first time?   I just don't want to wreak to much agony on the works of
the thing.  What should I be looking for to fail or go bad?
>>The car has 58k miles on it, and nothing was done to "store" it.  Its in
pretty good shape though.
>>Thanks in advance,
>>Dan
>>
>>