Starting Up a Sitting MR2 Again

Hello all,

I have a 1986 MR2 that has been sitting for over six months and I need help getting it running again. I'm a noob and this was supposed to be my first project, but life happened and I needed to focus my attention on more important matters.

Basically, I'm looking for a checklist of what I need to do. I know emptying the gas tank and changing the fluids are a must, but I'm sure I'm missing something.

I'm in South Florida and the car is well kept in a garage. I'm hoping a weekend will be enough time to get it running again. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Jason

Charge battery, twist key...

?

6 months isn't that long to me. If it makes you feel better, crank it without spark until the oil pressure comes up. Then it's ready to go.

For vehicles that have been sitting a really long time, I pull the spark plugs and put some mystery oil in the cylinders and let that soak a few days. Then turn it over with out the plugs in to disperse the oil. Then new plugs and fire it up.

I would not worry about 6 month old gas. Make sure the oil is at the proper level.

Clem

ZOMG!!! SIX MONTHS???? ZOMG!!!

Charge up the battery, check the oil, put the key in the ignition and turn it.

What if it's closer to a year...

Charge the battery longer ;)...

j/k

I edited my first post with some pointers. I'm sure others will have more.

Clem

Once running, let it get up to temp for a while. That will help boil the condensation out of the crankcase and exhaust systems and such.

Clem

I started my Celica without changing any fluids after it sat for over 2 years. It was fine. You should do the same.

Thanks for the help. I figured it was a noob-tastic question, but I wanted to be sure. No better place to ask than grm!

Yesterday I "helped" my neighbor start up his 3 cars that have been sitting since July 2009. Audi wagon, VW GTI, and a 944S have been sitting outside in the weather with trickle charger attached since they left for France in July.

Checked oil, disconnected trickle chargers, turned key and they all started up just fine.

You may want to swap in a fresh fuel filter after you run the 6 month old gas through it. If it were me, I would drain the oil overnight, really get the old stuff out of there. Then fill it with fresh, cheap oil before you start it. Then once it is running, change that oil with good stuff.

To extend this topic.

Generous brother-in-law... or not. Have been given an 87 MR2 for my son to drive, that was described as sitting (leaking in rain) for 5 months, well maybe 8 months, but maybe a year or more after all. Tires are dryrotted..... Apparently he had bartered for the car and finally needed to take possession, didn't want to fool with it himself so to my house it came, mildew and all. At least the price is right. It was supposed to be a driver, so as near as I can tell after it gets front struts, new tires, maybe brakes, various interior and trim pieces, a new windshield, and paint it may be. The electricals all work and it turns over.

The only advice recieved from previous owner was that the timing belt needed servicing. I am going to pump out old gas, and put in fresh (maybe 2 gallons). If it cranks and passes a compression test I'll change fluids and go from there.

The rear exterior fender arches are rusted out aft - I don't see any other significant rust, but I haven't looked thoroughly from underneath either. Where else should I look for rust? Common problems I should look for? Good suppliers? I know the drivetrain is Corolla based, so it shouldn't be too scary, but I have zero experience with these cars. Have to make the call on whether we keep it or pass it on. Thanks for any and all guidance.

Rust is always present just ahead and behind the rear wheel arches. The rear quarters must be cut and welded to repair, so it is a bit of a pain. There are companies that sells patch panels for the bad spots however.

The front quarters bolt on and off easily, but they are getting hard to find anymore. The metal supports inside of the bumpers rust out to nothing, but are available as N.O.S. parts pretty cheap. The floor where you put your feet can also rust out, especially if the roof is leaking. Again, parts are available including carpets and interior trim.

Timing belt is critical, but not too hard to do. Well documented and more than on person on this board can walk you through it in their sleep. Other than that, they are typical Toyota cars...and will run forever.

Do some searches at MR2OC.com

Other helpful sites are:
http://www.padandwheels.com/mr2/index.html
http://www.clubmr2.com
http://www.twosrus.com
http://www.4age.net
http://www.bilgalleri.dk/alb_vis.aspx?albumid=5214
http://www.1sttoyotaparts.com
http://mr2.com

I dont really get the worries about 6 month old gas.

Our autocross season ends at halloween and starts back up in early May. My mustang gets stored for the bulk of the downtime and I have never had a problem with it as long as I disconnect the battery to keep it from going dead. Are you guys telling me that you would drain the tank for winter storage? I figure top it off (mostly to prevent tank rust) and it will be fine in the spring and have never had a problem that way. (modern fuel's ethanol content IIRC or some other part keeps it from going bad like gas used to) If it was over a year I would worry, but 6 months is no prob to me. If its been sitting outside your bigger problem will likely be rotor rust.

where i live, a gallon of e10 is practically unburnable after about a month.

however, if you muck up a fuel pump with bad gas in a MR2, all is not going to be pleasant in your world. Draining the gas is far more simple. I know this from experience.

MR2 fuel pump is a beeotch, unless you feel like cutting a big hole in the center tunnel...but that would be a bad idea.

Every MR2 I've ever seen has a drain plug on the tank. Use you judgment on whether it is too rusty to try.

I would just fill the tank with fresh gas and drive it.

Appreciate the comments. Plenty of experience with bad gas and crap contained therein - remember, this car wasn't put up by a careful owner. It was driven with multiple problems until it quit. Simple evacuation pump is easy to use, and contents will start an excellent large bonfire. I'd rather not clog filters.stress pumps and run water through the engine for no reason.

I tried to burn very old gas out of my Alfa - kinda like a candle, after it got hot it would burn with a wick.

The plan is to do a mechanical eval this weekend, pull carpets too. Maybe I can get it started...... not counting on that though. Thanks for the links, I'll start looking through!

The last sitter I cranked sat for two years. I changed the battery, fired it up and drove it home.