Car not started in 3 years, engine seized??

[Rich3077]

I am looking for a fuel efficient work vehicle. A Co-worker has a 4 cylinder
Feiro that has sat for 3 years without being started. Should I take a chance on this
car?

He wants $300 for it. Engine rebuild only has about 2k miles on it. After it was rebuilt
he was having problems with the alternator pulley eating belts because it was not lined
up properly.
He put it in his garage and forgot about it.


Anybody know of any tricks or tips on starting this thing?


Peace
Rich

 

[amdskip]

Fresh gas(drain old first), check the hoses for any cracks, check fluid levels.

 

[d33pt]

that car's a pile of junk. you will need to put more money into it to get it to be halfway reliable. not worth it...

 

[Rich3077]

Is it a pile of junk because it sat so long? Or you just dont like Feiros?

 

[d33pt]

Originally posted by: Rich3077
Is it a pile of junk because it sat so long? Or you just dont like Feiros?

both actually... it's a pile of junk that sat too long... it probably never worked right before it sat either..

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Rich3077
Is it a pile of junk because it sat so long? Or you just dont like Feiros?

Probably a bit of both actually. There's a very vocal anti-domestic crowd in here.

 

[Rich3077]

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: Rich3077
Is it a pile of junk because it sat so long? Or you just dont like Feiros?

Probably a bit of both actually. There's a very vocal anti-domestic crowd in here.

I recently bought my first non-Ford car... a 1986 Honda Accord ( wifes car )
and I love it.
Now I need to buy something for me.

BTW my 1978 gas guzzling T-Bird is for sale in the Detroit area. It has a 351M with
110,000 miles and runs perfect..... also perfect suspention. A little surface rust, not bad.
$600. Burns NO oil.
My Ford days are over.


Peace
Rich

 

[thedarkwolf]

Change all the fluids, pull the plugs, and pour a little oil in the cylinders. Turn the engine over a few times without the plugs in it. Put the plugs back in it and hopefully your good to go. If its carbed it may have a bunch of varnish in the carb and need to be rebuilt.

Shouldn't be locked up just from setting 3 years.

Oh yeah this is very important CHECK THE BRAKES

 

[Rich3077]

Thanks thedarkwolf, thats what I was looking for.

I know I am taking a chance on this car.. but I also think its a good gamble.

Now.. if I could just sell this damn Ford.


Peace
Rich

 

[Iron Woode]

I am not particularily fond of the Pontiac Iron Duke 4 bangers. They had a very bad reputation for causing fires in the engine bay. They got too warm and with only 3 litres of oil they would catch fire.

They were basically a sporty car, but they were also fairly crappy cars, esp the early ones. GM X body front turned backward for the drive train and a cheezy front design. No one considers them a serious sports car.

There are clubs for these cars.

Do some research on this car first.

I don't hate them, I am just not fond of them.

 

[richardycc]

good luck finding parts for that car!

 

I am not particularily fond of the Pontiac Iron Duke 4 bangers. They had a very bad reputation for causing fires in the engine bay. They got too warm and with only 3 litres of oil they would catch fire.

Incorrect sir, first off, three liters of oil equals 3.2 quarts, Iron Dukes take 4.5 quarts.
They caught fire easily not because of overheating, they caught fire because thier fuel lines were too close to the exhaust manifold(s), these lines are rubber, they harden up from the intense heat then fail spraying high pressure gasoline over the hot exhaust manifold(s) and engine.


thedarkwolf got it right, remove the plugs, pour a teaspoon of motor oil into each cylinder, ground the coil wire, DO NOT reinstall plugs yet, crank over engine, reinstall plugs, change the oil, check the coolant, install new battery and start engine, watch for oil pressure, check for leaks, once warmed up, change oil and filter, realign alternator and check the brakes before driving it.
You may have to drain the gas tank of stale gasoline and refill, in any case, change the fuel filter.

Good Luck

 

[DurocShark]

Exactly what Roger said.

Then, when you're ready for more power, buy my V6 Fiero.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Roger

I am not particularily fond of the Pontiac Iron Duke 4 bangers. They had a very bad reputation for causing fires in the engine bay. They got too warm and with only 3 litres of oil they would catch fire.

Incorrect sir, first off, three liters of oil equals 3.2 quarts, Iron Dukes take 4.5 quarts.
They caught fire easily not because of overheating, they caught fire because thier fuel lines were too close to the exhaust manifold(s), these lines are rubber, they harden up from the intense heat then fail spraying high pressure gasoline over the hot exhaust manifold(s) and engine.


thedarkwolf got it right, remove the plugs, pour a teaspoon of motor oil into each cylinder, ground the coil wire, DO NOT reinstall plugs yet, crank over engine, reinstall plugs, change the oil, check the coolant, install new battery and start engine, watch for oil pressure, check for leaks, once warmed up, change oil and filter, realign alternator and check the brakes before driving it.
You may have to drain the gas tank of stale gasoline and refill, in any case, change the fuel filter.

Good Luck

Yep.. listen to this man.

The engine is probably fine. If it's siezed, he did something seriously wrong before storing it.. Either that, or the conditions in which it were stored were very inhospitable towards metal.

 

[Vette73]

Also for the alt. It sounds like either a bolt on th alt was not put on right or the bracket is bent. It is a common problem on some early 4cyl F cars. But very good and fun car if it is not a 84 (had most probblems with fire). Also make sure it does not overheat, get ALL the air out of the lines.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Just so you know, the Fiero, while not a bad little car, is not a sports car. The Fiero was basically built to be a good-looking commuter car. Think of a Geo Prism with more style. It really wasn't ever intended to be a serious sports coupe. As I said, it's not a bad little car, in fact it's quite good at its intended mission, just don't expect it to be like a CRX or a 914.

ZV

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: d33pt

Originally posted by: Rich3077
Is it a pile of junk because it sat so long? Or you just dont like Feiros?

both actually... it's a pile of junk that sat too long... it probably never worked right before it sat either..

i'm surprised it hasn't caught on fire yet!
i personally think those cars are terrible... i wouldn't risk, but then again, that's just me.

 

[bernse]

The guy went through the time or at least the expense of rebuilding the engine, only put 2K on it and then parked it for 3 years without running it and not taking storage precautions?

This guy doesn't deserve your money as he is obviously an idiot.

 

[bernse]

BTW - I kind of like Fiero's, especially the last couple years (87-88?) Formula V6. They were just starting to be a decent little car and then Pontiac canned it.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Just so you know, the Fiero, while not a bad little car, is not a sports car. The Fiero was basically built to be a good-looking commuter car. Think of a Geo Prism with more style. It really wasn't ever intended to be a serious sports coupe. As I said, it's not a bad little car, in fact it's quite good at its intended mission, just don't expect it to be like a CRX or a 914.

ZV

You're kidding me, right? I'll take on a CRX with my v6 Fiero any day.

Not a sports car...

Mid engine, v6, plastic body, but not a sports car.

 

[DnetMHZ]

hmm.. now where did I put that 10 foot pole? *looking around*

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Just so you know, the Fiero, while not a bad little car, is not a sports car. The Fiero was basically built to be a good-looking commuter car. Think of a Geo Prism with more style. It really wasn't ever intended to be a serious sports coupe. As I said, it's not a bad little car, in fact it's quite good at its intended mission, just don't expect it to be like a CRX or a 914.

ZV

You're kidding me, right? I'll take on a CRX with my v6 Fiero any day.

Not a sports car...

Mid engine, v6, plastic body, but not a sports car.

Beat me 2 it. Esp. the 88 one, since it had the lotus suspension and engine cradle updates.

But like GM they get a car right, 88 Fiero, and they can it.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Just so you know, the Fiero, while not a bad little car, is not a sports car. The Fiero was basically built to be a good-looking commuter car. Think of a Geo Prism with more style. It really wasn't ever intended to be a serious sports coupe. As I said, it's not a bad little car, in fact it's quite good at its intended mission, just don't expect it to be like a CRX or a 914.

ZV

You're kidding me, right? I'll take on a CRX with my v6 Fiero any day.

Not a sports car...

Mid engine, v6, plastic body, but not a sports car.

You're talking about an entirely different car. The second generation Fiero was very different from the first and even then V6 was not as powerful as it should have been. Still, the fact remains that the original 4-cylinder Fiero was a commuter car. The Fiero was a very sporty car, but it was not a sports car. And in retrospect, my choice of the CRX as a comparison was poor since the CRX is also more sporty car than sports car.

Layout and build (mid engine, V6, plastic body) do not make a sports car. A sports car is made by its handling characteristics and its driving feel.

ZV