While reading about the efforts to get Concorde flying again, I was pondering the fact that planes appear to need such regular maintenance just so that they can even taxi. That made me wonder how much care cares need, so I wonder...
If I just left my Mondeo (2.0 Diesel) outside in the British climate (London), how long would it be before it wouldn't start and would need proper mechanical attention (beyond just a flat battery or some fluid or other needing topping up), and what would likely go wrong first?
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I was once called to a Nissan Sunny which had been left outside, according to the owner, 'for a year or two'.
It started in no time on a jump and ran quite sweetly.
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Did I mention I have one of those Mondeos ? Jolly good cars y'know. Let me tell you about the time......
Oh I don't know SS, mine never really got cold for years so how long it would take to atrophy from lack of use wouldn't really be known to me.
I used to leave a then new Golf GTi sitting in the UK for up to three months at a time when I worked abroad. I'd come home for a weekend, use it and then park it for another three months and it never complained. I suppose eventually things would start to gum up. Couldn'y say.
Last edited by: Humph D'bout on Mon 19 Jul 10 at 19:23
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The OP seems to be allowing a jump start as part of the test, so I expect there will be stories of barn finds that have started after being left for years and years.
Brakes, clutch and all manner of other things might seize, gum up, rot and otherwise fail, but firing up the motor is fairly straightforward.
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you certainly wouldnt want to fly in them.
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Assuming jump starting is allowed, you're probably talking years.
A friend had a fully stage prepared mk1 Astra 1300 rally car which he'd not used for 5 yrs since he gave up rallying. It had sat completely untouched in his garage. We went over there to shift it in time for its new owner to collect it, armed with virtually a complete toolkit, and ready for a battle. On the off chance, we stuck a gallon of fuel in it, attached the jump leads and tried. It fired after about 20 seconds of cranking. Ran after another 5 or so. Brakes were seized solid so we couldn't drive it, but the clutch worked, the gears selected and everything else seemed OK. Not that you'd drive it without a full inspection of course.
Last edited by: DP on Mon 19 Jul 10 at 20:52
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Spotted the roof of a Rover 90 years ago in a field just above the weeds, been there donkeys years sitting on a trailer.
I bought the car and the trailer (which needed tyres as they were perished through), put a drop of petrol in the tank attached jump leads and she fired and ran first touch.
I stripped it out and bangered it, yes i know but i was a kid.
Somehow i doubt sensitive electronics of today would be quite so forgiving of being left out in the elements for years.
Sounds like a good experiment for Hump to conduct, he could have Bessy hoisted on a pedestal like a garden ornament version of the TG Hilux in the grounds of Humping House and we could have a 2015 meet up for a grand testing.
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...Humping House...
Thought they were still illegal - just.
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>> Spotted the roof of a Rover 90 years ago
That's a very long time ago GB.
I'm surprised you remember ! :-)
Ted
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>> That's a very long time ago GB.
Not as long ago as the very underdressed young woman 21ish on a compartment train when i was 14 on the last Sunday night Tonbridge train from Victoria?, and i can remember her as if it were yesterday.
I still hang my head in shame, the guilt the feelings of...well never mind, never confessed either, my Priest cousin would be mortified......those old cars should have been cherished not wrecked..;)
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I had a 12-year-old Carina E which would be left for a month at a time, then used for a 10-mile journey, then left for another month. It would always fire on the 2nd or 3rd revolution of the starter motor.
The classic car magazines actually recommend firing up "barn finds" with their original oil etc in situ using a gallon of petrol and a set of jump leads. It's all going to be changed anyway so may as well gunk up the already yucky stuff, or so the thinking goes. Gives you a chance to de-rust the clutch early on too.
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My dads Escort was left in a damp garage for 10 months before being started. A replacement second hand battery and it fired into life instantly. My dad promptly drove to have it pre MOT'ed where it failed on about 30 things.
The damp garage had rotted everything away.
I would guess it would take a few years before an engine became properly seized though.
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Rattle - seriously, you should add me on that facebook thingy.
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Dave do you still have my email address so you could send me a link? I meant to add myself to it at the time but I was busy and worried it would be another distraction but may as well join it :).
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Found it but I am a bit scared of joining as I don't want certain people finding this site :) Facebook is too real for me so I need to keep it separate.
To put this into perspective one of my mates is getting married on Friday and the invites were all done via facebook. If I joined the group I don't know how I can hide it from my mates.
Can't sleep because of the rain.
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>> >> Can't sleep because of the rain.
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Rain!
What rain?
It would be nice to have some rain.
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Here in Blackpool its rained for 24 hours solid now.
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About 30 years later it would not start due to the wiring loom gone hard and dropped to bits, but by that time the brakes would be seized and the bodywork dropped off so would be fit for the dustbin anyway.
Modern cars start with a new battery and brakes worked to free off, old aeroplanes are just that old time expired and are good 40+ years when go into private hands.
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I wish it would in the fen!
Pat
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>> I wish it would in the fen!
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>> Pat
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It probably will at the end of the month !
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Wet ropes and soggy BBQ:)
Pat
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I wish it would in the fen!
Heavy showers promised in the East on Wednesday and Thursday which might help the garden a a bit. No significant rain in Norfolk for past 6 weeks
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Regular heavy showers in verdant North Yorkshire - grass green and growing.
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We shouldn't really wish for rain, the first barley was combined last week and the farmers need good weather now.
I shall sprinkle a section of garden for an hour and then try and prise some weeds out!
Pat
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Its been raining none stop for the past 18 hours here. However the hose pipe ban is still going to last until Christmas. Supposed to be nice by the end of the week though. I hope its nice on Friday because I have a wedding to go although it will be a goth one.
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Biggest problem in the Saarf East at the moment is the hot and humid nights. Didn't drop below 19°C last night.
We had a lot of rain at the end of last week which has "greened" things up nicely. Lawn is actually going to need mowing in the next few days for the first time since mid June.
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As cars become more and more like computers with peripheral hardware attached, the main problem will be that operating licences have expired and systems need upgrading to be compatible with the current national traffic regulation network.
It will be like switching on an old DAB radio and finding there aren't any stations because we have moved on to DAB ProBand 2015.
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>> do you still have my email address
I've had a rummage, unfortunately I don't. Mine is in my profile though, whether through naivety or apathy I don't believe any harm can come from having it there.
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How long before my Mondeo wouldn't start? - BobbyG
