Car been garaged for 7+ years. What's the liklihood it could be made a runner?

Lum

Important thing here is what kind of Fiesta is it? If it's one of the silly ones like an RS1800, XR2i or Si with that low mileage and good bodywork then it's worth a fair bit more than the estimates of a few hundred quid that are being chucked about in this thread.

If it's a 1.0 Popular Plus or something like that, it's probably not worth the effort.

myhooose

If you get the car up and running I'd then definitely change the tyres if they had been sitting in one spot for 7 years as they will be prone to blow outs.

This happened to my wife at 70 on the outside lane of the M1 in car a car that had been parked up for a long time.

It is recommended to change caravan tyres every 3 years for the same reasons, again as a work colleague found out to his cost.

TrickyWicky

vax2002 wrote: »

Like spend thousands on garage fees.
Charge the battery, turn the key, see what happens.

No-one has said spend thousands. You're over exagerating big time.

Charging a 7 year old dead and flattened battery is almost certainly pointless. Car batteries are not designed to be run flat and recharged. When run flat it damages them internally. Multiply that by 7 years and you've got a duff battery. It might be ok for a small light in the garden shed but thats about it.

As for jump leads, I've jumped plenty of dead cars with mine and even a 6L range rover. Granted they are heavy duty 5L jump leads that cost about £40 not the cheap ones you buy for a 1.2L but they still jumped a 6L with no problems. If you use good quality jump leads you probably won't have a problem jump starting it.

gilbert_and_sullivan

TrickyWicky wrote: »

As for jump leads, I've jumped plenty of dead cars with mine and even a 6L range rover. Granted they are heavy duty 5L jump leads that cost about £40 not the cheap ones you buy for a 1.2L but they still jumped a 6L with no problems. If you use good quality jump leads you probably won't have a problem jump starting it.

Agreed, i've got pro quality leads too with which i've jumped hundreds of completely discharged vehicles in my work including big trucks.

The only vehicles that are a struggle from dead are 12v vans (Transits etc) and 4x4's with large high compression 4 cyl Diesels, have known some to need 2 or even 3 sets of good leads to carry enough current....arguably they should have had twin batteried 24v starting like some Landcruisers.

Those elcheapo jump leads from an accessory shop are a waste of space.

s_b

if its the 1100 it wont run unless the plugs are changed
unfortunately they are probably seized in too

my advice is find a mobile mechanic to give it a looks over

unless the shell is indeed mint i wouldnt bother

AlexisV

New battery, and the handbrake might well need a few whacks with a hammer underneath, but there's no reason it shouldn't run and be A-ok.

richard734

I dont know about teh rest of you, but I'm pretty excited about if this will start or not!
I know you said you are not mechanical, but what a fantastic opportunity to learn the basics - 7-10yr old fords are simple to play with and parts are plentiful and cheep. If it was closer to me, I'd have been round with a friends trailer and had a look/made an offer myself!
Please, if nothing else, try and get her started with a jump at least - and tell us how you got on!

property.advert

If you have to spend £500 on it but could perhaps get £250 in parts, then see what you can get for £750.

Any £750 banger is likely to have short or no test, no tax and need a service and some new tyres so replacing those on this model would not be an extra expense.

colino

I would certainly give it a go with booster pack and see if it goes just out of curiosity. I think though a low mileage kerb crawler that has been shut away for years will be just one gigantic pile of rust on the underside and unless its been properly stored, its just not worth it to recommission.

TrickyWicky

colino wrote: »

I would certainly give it a go with booster pack and see if it goes just out of curiosity.

A booster pack is just that - a boost for low batteries. It is not a replacement for a 7 year old discharged battery. The car will need a jump start from another running car.

@northern star: Where in the country are you?