? precautions before starting after 1 year

Hello, I have a 1999 Ford Taurus with 120,000 miles that has been sitting outside, georgia, for about one year. It needed a fuel pump which I am about to install. What preemptive, precaution, steps should I take to minimize any damage after sitting for a year? Thanks! Michael

While you have the tank down to replace the fuel pump, dump the fuel out and start with fresh fuel once the tank is reinstalled. You might also consider removing all 6 spark plugs and putting few drops of oil down the cylinders, give it a few minutes to soak, then disable the fuel pump and coil and crank the engine over a few times before reinstalling the spark plugs and enabling the fuel and spark. Since you have the plugs out, consider replacing them and the spark plug wires while you're at it. Check the other fluids while you're under the hood such as the coolant level, power steering fluid, and brake fluid levels.

When preparing to start the engine for the first time with the new fuel pump and fresh fuel, cycle the fuel pump a few times to make sure fuel is in the fuel rail, Then (hopefully) start the engine and let it run for several minutes to ensure the old fuel is out of the system.

Once the engine cools, replace the fuel filter.

You should also consider replacing the coolant, power steering fluid, and flushing the brake system. A visual inspection should be performed on the belts, hoses, vacuum lines, and tires.

-Rod

Absolutely check the brake fluid. Back in 1980 my first 65 Comet convertible sat in the garage over winter. Sometime during the winter my dad needed brake fluid late at night so he took an old turkey baster to suck the fluid out of my car for his. He of course forgot to tell me about it, working midnights and not seeing each other for days at a time. The first warm spring day I get it running but everytime I put it in reverse it died. So I kept it floored the next time it went into reverse, foot went to the floor for the brakes, immediately put in neutral and grabbed the hand brake. But that wasn't enough to stop it from flying down the driveway, across the street that luckily didn't have traffic, into the neighbors yard and up and over their huge bushes that took the rear wheels off the ground and stopped the car before going into their garage. Nice early leason for a 16 year old. Had to do a few weeks of yard work for the neighbors. So I then had to get the 68' Buick Electra 225 convertible running to hook the chain on and drag my car out. I of course checked ALL of its fluids first.

Did your dad help with the yard work, or at least apologize?

-Rod

Of course not. He said it was my fault for not telling him I was going to get the car out that day and for not checking the brake fluid. I try not to remember that part, and just laugh and wish cheap video cameras were around then so there would be the ability to see my face as I went flying out that garage.