Starting the car after sitting for years.

High_Ram · May 21, 2019

So the car has been sitting at my parent’s house for close to about 2 years without being fired up. The only things done while it was hibernating was some stabil and the battery was disconnected.

Unfortunately I had to get the car out of there that with short notice. So I sign up for AAA so I can get it towed. However, the way it’s parked didn’t allow for it to be loaded on to the flatbed facing forward.

My Pop decides to start her up. (I didn’t want to try and start it) The oil and radiator fluid is checked and he tells me they’re fine.

We hook up the jumper cables and let his car run for a few mins. It cranks but doesn’t start.

The tow truck driver ended up hooking it up from the rear and we slowly backed it onto the flatbed.

So now the car is at my house. What should I do from here to troubleshoot why it won’t start? Check fuel pump? How do I check it besides listening for it? What else do I check?

Here’s a list of what else I’ll do. Let me know if I’m missing anything.

Replace the engine oil with fresh, new oil
Change out the oil filter for a new one
Remove and replace the transmission fluid
Install a new battery
Flush the radiator and replace coolants
Replace the brake fluid
Add new power steering fluid
Pump out the old gas and replace it with fresh gas

Thanks for your help! And please don’t scold me too much for trying to start the car.

PaxtonShelby · May 21, 2019

What kind of car is this? Year / make / model? Carb / efi?

High_Ram · May 22, 2019

It’s a New Edge Cobra. 1999 efi.

MG0h3 · May 22, 2019

Most likely culprit is bad gas.

You should hear the fuel pump come on momentarily when you turn the key to the on position.

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Roots-type · May 22, 2019

Do you know what fuel pump is in the car? If it's original or not rated to work with an ethanol mixed gasoline I'd just about bet the ethanol has taken it's toll. The fuel pumps that the new edge cars came with were never intended to be used with alcohol. When you let them sit for long periods in ethanol it can be the end of them. Can you hear the pump turn on when you roll the key forward? If so, can you take a pressure reading from the schrader valve on the fuel rail?

At the very least I'd change the fuel filter and get the old fuel out.

High_Ram · May 22, 2019

Thanks for the replies!

It’s the original fuel pump. I hear it turn on.

Thanks for the fuel filter and fuel advice. I’ll go ahead and work on that. It might be a while, but I’ll definitely come back and update.

DSG2003Mach1 · May 22, 2019

Id check and see if you have fuel at the rail (theres a valve on the pass side, take the cap off and push it down with a little screw driver. it wont spray out but if you're getting fuel to the rails you'll get a bit running out).

dhowd · May 22, 2019

I had a similar situation. My 99 Cobra sat for 3+ months, but the gas was 6-12 months old. I keep a trickle charger on the battery. So, after 3-4 months of sitting, I went to start it and it would crank but not start. So, after getting some suggestions, I tried spraying some starter fluid in the intake, few gallons of fresh gas, and some STP gas treatment. With the starter fluid, it would start but it would only run for a few seconds. After a few gallons of fresh gas and the gas treatment, it would run for a minute or two (very rough) then stall. Since it has just over 100,000 miles and I am pretty sure it was the original fuel pump (it had 60,000 when I bought it), I had a new fuel pump and fuel filter installed. After the new fuel pump, it started, ran rough for about 20 seconds. then ran great. I have put about 100 miles on it since and it has been running great. It seems more responsive, but that could just be my imagination.

I bought a BBK fuel pump and Motorcraft fuel filter from CJ Pony Parts. The guy that installed it, indicated that he would have used a Motorcraft fuel pump, but the BBK pump seems to be working fine. The BBK unit was a direct bolt on and cost about $350 which I believe is about the same as a Motorcraft pump. I got charged $250 to install the filter and pump.

blownstang4.6 · May 23, 2019

dhowd said:
I had a similar situation. My 99 Cobra sat for 3+ months, but the gas was 6-12 months old. I keep a trickle charger on the battery. So, after 3-4 months of sitting, I went to start it and it would crank but not start. So, after getting some suggestions, I tried spraying some starter fluid in the intake, few gallons of fresh gas, and some STP gas treatment. With the starter fluid, it would start but it would only run for a few seconds. After a few gallons of fresh gas and the gas treatment, it would run for a minute or two (very rough) then stall. Since it has just over 100,000 miles and I am pretty sure it was the original fuel pump (it had 60,000 when I bought it), I had a new fuel pump and fuel filter installed. After the new fuel pump, it started, ran rough for about 20 seconds. then ran great. I have put about 100 miles on it since and it has been running great. It seems more responsive, but that could just be my imagination.

I bought a BBK fuel pump and Motorcraft fuel filter from CJ Pony Parts. The guy that installed it, indicated that he would have used a Motorcraft fuel pump, but the BBK pump seems to be working fine. The BBK unit was a direct bolt on and cost about $350 which I believe is about the same as a Motorcraft pump. I got charged $250 to install the filter and pump.

BBK fuel pump is the same as the Walbro Tu229HP-2 which can be had for $190.

Dirks9901 · May 23, 2019

Mine did the same thing. It was the fuel pump.

Swapped mine out for a svt focus pump since i was going to put a centri on.

Besides everything else you listed, change the fuel filter as well. Check your plugs. Might as well change those out since its cheap and quick to do.

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High_Ram · May 23, 2019

The gas is definitely old, the tow truck driver added more, but I probably should just dump it all out. What’s the best way to dump it?

So it’s about $250 for the install plus the pump? That’s reasonable. I really hope it’s just bad gas, but I have a feeling it’s not...

What fuel pump would you suggest? I don’t plan on going forced induction. I just plan on taking it out for Sunday drives.

deadernie · May 24, 2019

It's worth noting if you're replacing the fuel pump to replace the filler neck grommet as well.

High_Ram · May 26, 2019

deadernie said:
It's worth noting if you're replacing the fuel pump to replace the filler neck grommet as well.

I’m looking at the deatschwerks 340 pump. What else will I need?

High_Ram · May 27, 2019

Also...what if it’s the security system that’s keeping it from starting?

redzaku · May 28, 2019

Maybe a friend was living in the intake tube now the car isn't getting any air?

deadernie · May 30, 2019

High_Ram said:
I’m looking at the deatschwerks 340 pump. What else will I need?

Sorry, I'm not familiar with that pump. When I had to replace the pump in my '98 I went with the SVT Focus pump from Ford. It was much cheaper than the pump listed for my car.

The filler neck gasket is exposed to fuel and the ethanol gas softens it. I was lucky enough to get mine off in one piece but it pretty much disintegrated in my hands after that.

I replaced the pump, the filler neck gasket, and the filter at the same time. You'll need the disconnect tools for the fuel lines.

Starting the car after sitting for years.

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