How to start a car engine after a long period of inactivity?
- April 25, 2022
- 0
Some motorists refuse to use personal vehicles in the winter, returning to them only after the snow has melted. However, not everyone knows how to properly resuscitate a
Some motorists refuse to use personal vehicles in the winter, returning to them only after the snow has melted. However, not everyone knows how to properly resuscitate a car that has been standing all winter, so that it can run smoothly for the new warm season. Portal “AutoVzglyad” found out all the details of such an important process.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to start your car after wintering in a garage, in a paid parking lot or in an underground parking garage. The point is that even a simple car that does not move for a month and starts the engine periodically has a lot of consequences. And here you have to approach the process of the first start after a long stop a little more carefully than usual.
The first thing not to do is try to spin the starter immediately. Strange as it may sound, but first the car must be ventilated. Believe me, wintering in an unheated garage is also a test for components and assemblies, on which condensation is sure to occur during the off-season and during temperature changes in the spring. In general, as difficult as it is to turn the ignition key, first we open wide the doors of the garage and the car, as well as the hood and trunk. And we give her a breath of fresh air, which will corrode the accumulated condensate.
Then it is recommended to check the condition of the high voltage wires. Their contact points must be free of oxides, rust and dirt. Also, the wires must be secured in place. Disconnect the wires one by one, so as not to get confused where which one is removed. If you notice plaque and other contaminants on the contacts during the check, they should be cleaned carefully.
Candles should also be unscrewed to check. If carbon deposits are noticed anywhere, it should be removed. It pays to clean the recesses around the central electrodes. Inspect the spark plugs for chips, cracks, and other defects. And if everything is in order, screw them in place.
The battery without occasional charging will certainly run out, even in a warm box. Therefore, make sure to charge it, and make sure the electrolyte level is correct. The battery also likes cleanliness. Therefore, when installing, make sure that both pins are not covered with oxide. Otherwise, they must be removed immediately, for example, with a soda solution. When installing the battery, follow the order of connecting the terminals – the positive is screwed first.
It is worth remembering how much fuel you left your car for the winter. If the tank is incomplete, there is a good chance that condensation has formed in it. Which in turn reduces the quality of the fuel. Starting the engine in this case will be difficult, and further work will be unstable, as the resulting mixture can clog the fuel system. It is best to leave the car with a full tank. If this was not possible, as much fresh fuel as possible should be added to the tank.
Before starting the engine, it is also worth checking the condition of the cooling system lines and assessing the coolant level. An insufficient level of the latter promises trouble, and in this case it is not worth starting the engine until the reason for the leakage of coolant is clarified. It is also necessary to check the level of brake fluid and engine oil. In this case, it is necessary to carefully inspect the engine compartment and look under the car for new smudges in the area of the wheels, gearbox, axles and, of course, the engine.
And only when you are sure that nothing suspicious has been found, can you start the engine. Here, however, you should observe some rituals. If in a car with an automatic transmission it is enough to make sure that the selector switch is in the “P” mode, then on the “mechanics”, next to the “neutral”, to complete the procedure for starting the engine facilitate, it is worth depressing the clutch. If everything is in order, you won’t have to wait long and the engine will start quite quickly. But even after a successful launch, you should not lose vigilance.
You need to take another look under the hood to make sure nothing is leaking anywhere. And in order to understand that the battery is being charged, it is necessary to measure the output indicators of the generator and the parameters on the battery itself with a multimeter, comparing it with those of the manufacturer. In the cabin, you need to turn on the air conditioning system to evaluate its performance.
Of course, don’t forget to check all lighting fixtures. You need to make sure that the high and low beam, turn signals, brake lights and emergency gang work. If burnt-out bulbs are found, they should be replaced. Before the first departure, be sure to measure the pressure in the tires, as they say, on a cold one. At the same time, inspect them for damage and hernias.
If the car starts without problems after a long winter storage, this does not mean that they do not appear at all. Be sure to check engine temperature, oil and coolant levels during the first few weeks of use. At the first manifestation of a malfunction, contact the service center or, if qualifications allow, fix the problem yourself.
photo globallookpress.com
Photos from open sources
Photos from open sources
Unfortunately, it is impossible to start your car after wintering in a garage, in a paid parking lot or in an underground parking garage. The point is that even a simple car that does not move for a month and starts the engine periodically has a lot of consequences. And here you have to approach the process of the first start after a long stop a little more carefully than usual.
The first thing not to do is try to spin the starter immediately. Strange as it may sound, but first the car must be ventilated. Believe me, wintering in an unheated garage is also a test for components and assemblies, on which condensation is sure to occur during the off-season and during temperature changes in the spring. In general, as difficult as it is to turn the ignition key, first we open wide the doors of the garage and the car, as well as the hood and trunk. And we give her a breath of fresh air, which will corrode the accumulated condensate.
Then it is recommended to check the condition of the high voltage wires. Their contact points must be free of oxides, rust and dirt. Also, the wires must be secured in place. Disconnect the wires one at a time so as not to get confused where which one is removed. If you notice plaque and other contaminants on the contacts during the check, they should be cleaned carefully.
Candles should also be unscrewed to check. If carbon deposits are noticed anywhere, it should be removed. It pays to clean the recesses around the central electrodes. Inspect the spark plugs for chips, cracks, and other defects. And if everything is in order, screw them in place.
The battery without occasional charging will certainly run out, even in a warm box. Therefore, make sure to charge it, and make sure the electrolyte level is correct. The battery also likes cleanliness. Therefore, when installing, make sure that both pins are not covered with oxide. Otherwise, they must be removed immediately, for example, with a soda solution. When installing the battery, follow the order of connecting the terminals – the positive is screwed first.
It is worth remembering how much fuel you left your car for the winter. If the tank is incomplete, there is a good chance that condensation has formed in it. Which in turn reduces the quality of the fuel. Starting the engine in this case will be difficult, and further work will be unstable, as the resulting mixture can clog the fuel system. It is best to leave the car with a full tank. If this was not possible, as much fresh fuel as possible should be added to the tank.
Before starting the engine, it is also worth checking the condition of the cooling system lines and assessing the coolant level. An insufficient level of the latter promises trouble, and in this case it is not worth starting the engine until the reason for the leakage of coolant is clarified. Also check the brake fluid and engine oil levels. In this case, it is necessary to carefully inspect the engine compartment and look under the car for new smudges in the area of the wheels, gearbox, axles and, of course, the engine.
And only when you are sure that nothing suspicious has been found, can you start the engine. Here, however, you should observe some rituals. If in a car with an automatic transmission it is enough to make sure that the selector switch is in the “P” mode, then on the “mechanics”, next to the “neutral”, to complete the procedure for starting the engine facilitate, it is worth depressing the clutch. If everything is in order, you won’t have to wait long and the engine will start quite quickly. But even after a successful launch, you should not lose vigilance.
You need to take another look under the hood to make sure nothing is leaking anywhere. And in order to understand that the battery is being charged, it is necessary to measure the output indicators of the generator and the parameters on the battery itself with a multimeter, comparing it with those of the manufacturer. In the cabin, you need to turn on the air conditioning system to evaluate its performance.
Of course, don’t forget to check all lighting fixtures. You need to make sure that the high and low beam, turn signals, brake lights and emergency gang work. If burnt-out bulbs are found, they should be replaced. Before the first departure, be sure to measure the pressure in the tires, as they say, on a cold one. At the same time, inspect them for damage and hernias.
If the car starts without problems after a long winter storage, this does not mean that they do not appear at all. Be sure to check engine temperature, oil and coolant levels during the first few weeks of use. At the first manifestation of a malfunction, contact the service center or, if qualifications allow, fix the problem yourself.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
I’m Sandra Torres, a passionate journalist and content creator. My specialty lies in covering the latest gadgets, trends and tech news for Div Bracket. With over 5 years of experience as a professional writer, I have built up an impressive portfolio of published works that showcase my expertise in this field.
