car sat for 2 years. how do i bring it up to scratch?

im thinking about buying another zed. Thing is it hasnt been driven for 2 years. It ran fine previously and has been occassionally started etc.

Just wondering what to look for when inspecting it? Also what would be necessary to do before i could drive it home? And what would i have to change/do shortly after i got home?

Initial thoughts are: battery is flat so i will bring one along to drive home with. Petrol is old (apparently the cause of it running a bit rough). So id stop at the first petrol station and put some new stuff in as well.

Anything else id need to initially change?

After i got home id change all the fluids, maybe give the cooling system a power flush, clean up all connectors of corrosion.

Just wondering what id expect to do to get it back up to scratch.

 

i bought one that has sat for a bit.

Was it under cover? protected?

i would get a fresh batch of fuel and change the fluids.

the one i bought i got a permit and drove it home. didnt stop didnt feel like it was going to. (i did drive it nice)

how far are you going to be taking it? TBH i would take a gamble. and keep a few tow truck number with you and some cash. if it stops half way. you might get it cheaper. make sure it has oils etc aswell, a small leak for 2 years may be enough to drain it.

 

not sure how it was kept. ill find out when i inspect it.

Would you change the fluids before you drive it? I figured as long as its all topped up, theyd be alright for the one drive home.

Also with the fuel, how would you do it? Run it dry then top up with new stuff? If its like half a tank in there do you think i could jsut top up with new stuff so its half-half then when its at home run it dry clean it out?

Its mainly highway driving. About 50minutes from my house. Majority on the highway. It still has plates on it so I wouldnt get pulled up for no plates, but it isnt registered.

Here in NSW on the RTA site it says:

''Unregistered vehicles can be driven for the purpose of obtaining registration by the most direct or convenient route. i.e. -to the nearest convenient vehicle inspection station or authorised inspection station to determine whether the vehicle complies with the applicable vehicle standards ''

Theres a Blue Slip place around the corner from my house. If I get pulled up id have transfer of ownership papers with me and say I just bought it and am taking it to see what needs to be changed for a Blue Slip at my local mechanic, I should be alright yeah?

 

Tyres...

...might be flat-spotted.

Are you sure it's been started?
If it's been started at least every 3 months will be OK.

 

Hi

Dont know about NSW but in W.A. we can get a permit to pick vehicles up and drive home. you pay $15 and get the permit. As far as 2 years sitting not running, should'nt be too much of a problem, just make sure all fluids are full and take your time with it. One thing Id be worried about would be the water lines to the turbo's. I bought a write off that had sat for 4 1/2 years with no fluids and when finnally sorted, ie. new sump and such she fired up no probs.
Did run rough for a bit cos I think the injectors were a bit sticky but came right pretty quick but turbo lies were blocked solid,luckily I picked this up before the car was run.
Good luck with it mate and hope you enjoy.
Ps. dont forget the power steering fluid when checking, wont stop the car but if it is empty it will stuff your ps pump by running dry.
Hope this helps, Andy

 

Book it in for a blue slip to be sure if you do it that way.

Remember it is not insured in any ways.

A flatbed would be a much better option.

Also I would not accept old fuel being the cause of running rough. It could be something much more sinister (or something equally trivial)

 

If you have an accident in it, you're screwed. You have no 3rd Party insurance and could find yourself in jail.

 

You should have kept on reading on the RTA site and you would have found this, and it includes CTP. You will need a Safety Inspection (Pink Slip), and I reckon one of those Mobile Mechanic types could do one of those for you, or a mechanic local to where the car is.

It should also cover you for the running around for Blue Slip, registration, repairs, etc.

 

Hi For the peace of mind flat bed the car to a pre arrabed garage who will do the fluid change Most mechanics will do a quick once over as well. A car thats sat for that long needs a look combined with unisured unregistered if you have am
'event" you are totally horribly screwed. (for the sake of a couple of hundred bucks)

 

Something I thought I would mention is that highway patrol police cars or at least some anyway have cameras that automatically detect licence plates and alert the police if the car is out of rego or stolen etc etc. So the officers don't even need to pay attention you only need to drive past them and you could get done. Assuming they could be bothered to turn around and chase you

Ben

ps. This may only apply to nsw.

 

thats ok. If i see highway police ill speed up to 180+ then theyre not allowed to chase me.


Ps. This may only apply to the fast and furious movie

Ill give the rta a call and see what they recommend. And possibly book it in for a blue slip.

 

I think that's for farm machinery.....

to enable the movement from one property to another via public roads.

I don't think it can be used to drive home a clunker you just bought. Ring the RTA to check.

Also, permission to drive an unregistered vehicle to the nearest inspection station for the purposes of registration or repairs, means exactly what it says....... the nearest inspection station Unless you live in Tibooburra, I think you'd have a hard time convincing the courts you needed to drive 50 mins to your nearest inspection station

 

Dont book it in for a blueslip, because if it needs any work it wont pass, so its a waist of time and money,

to get the permit, you just need a pinkslip and then go to the RTA and tell them how long you need the permit for. pay what they ask, on your way then,
note: still no insurance

 

hmm maybe i will look into lubemobile or someone who can come do a pink slip for me. What do i need to pass pink slip? Not much right? All lights working, brakes, fluids, ok looking engine, fan shroud maybe?.

 

Not so, Ian. That used to be the case, but now UVPs apply to ordinary vehicles as well. Most farm machines have conditional registration these days, and for those that don't you would need a UVP to bring it into town for say a service.

UVPs are great for bringing an interstate car home. All you need is a pink slip or equivalent, and all the things that would cover would need to be checked anyway before you drove it.

The annoying bit is that every copper will pull you up because there are no plates. So add a bit of extra time for the journey and take a supply of donuts.

 

Its 150km/h here

 

Ok so ive gotta get the pink slip and a UVP. Whats necessary to get the pink slip? Straight body, working lights, fluids topped up, no oil leaks. Anything else?

The car has plates on it (werent handed in to the rta). So I wont get stopped for that.

 

If it's not too far away why not get someone with a 4wd or similar and tow the car home on a car trailer. Half day hire for a car trailer is only about $60 - $80 from memory. Insurance isn't a problem then and you don't have to get a pink slip either.

Depending on when you need to do this I have a Landcruiser and would gladly help out.

Cheers,
Dave.

 

I wouldn't count on getting a pink slip straight away, they will see the cobwebs and give it a good check over. Anything from bubbling tint, to oil leaks, to engine mounts, diff mounts, suspension checks, nothing illegally modified, that's if you get a good company. A bad company may wave a slip at ya and drive it away, I doubt it, and it ain't worth the money or hassle.

Being a sports car and where your from cops could more than likely punch in the plates or see the old colour of the rego sticker

I'm no saint and yes I've done it before with no plates in rush hour traffic in the evening time. The looks of some of the traffic beside me as the traffic built up, priceless I have to say.

 

A cars plates are deresgisted after 3 months so there will be no current rta regisation so you could be charged ,

As others have said , nsw police hwy patrol have camers fitted that can auto check your rego , ( not all cars )

tilt tray for peace off mind

ross