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Hi, I am new to the site and reaching out for some advice please regarding my car and it's starting issues.
My car has been sat for approximately 12 years without being started. Prior to this, the car is mechanically sound and always started straight away. Then the car was left parked in a garage and am now trying to get it going again.
I got a new car battery and thought to give it a go. The car cranks over but was not starting. So I checked the spark plugs and cleaned the distributor cap. Obviously put fuel in the car.
As its still not starting, i checked the fuel line coming into the engine and when cranking the engine, nothing seems to be coming through. So seems like a fuel issue.
Just to rule things out, I used some easy start spray into the air intake and the car starts for a few seconds and wants to go. I have also replaced all the fuses with new in case there were some old faulty ones.
I've read somewhere about a fuel relay which can cause these issues? Any help would be much appreciated as I would love to get my car running again.
Remove fuel line from tank end and up at engine.
See if you can blow air thru them (low pressure air say 25 PSI)
if no air well your problem is clogged lines.
OR just replace them all and be done with any fuel line issues.
Ten try again.
Change all fluids.
When cars sit for long time plenty of things can and will turn to crap and cause issues:
Bearings, rubber suspension parts, seals, rubber hoses and tubing, etc.
Brakes need servicing.
Wheel bearings and differential bearings need inspection as they tend to rust after sitting for so long.
Tires are dry rot and probable flat spotted.
Tranny parts will have varnish and frictions discs crumble to dust.
Oh and did any rats/mice and other critters eat wires, chew other things and make condominiums?
Remove fuel line from tank end and up at engine.
See if you can blow air thru them (low pressure air say 25 PSI)
if no air well your problem is clogged lines.
OR just replace them all and be done with any fuel line issues.
Ten try again.
Change all fluids.
When cars sit for long time plenty of things can and will turn to crap and cause issues:
Bearings, rubber suspension parts, seals, rubber hoses and tubing, etc.
Brakes need servicing.
Wheel bearings and differential bearings need inspection as they tend to rust after sitting for so long.
Tires are dry rot and probable flat spotted.
Tranny parts will have varnish and frictions discs crumble to dust.
Oh and did any rats/mice and other critters eat wires, chew other things and make condominiums?
on and on the list goes.
thanks for the information, i will test the fuel lines and see how it goes.
Ive had a good look inside and out and doesnt appear to be any signs of rats, mice or anything like that.
Any updates on this? Did you get the car running and back on the road?
I recently picked up a 1981 Euro 230CE petrol and am working on getting it back on the road. Too cold here at the moment to do much, but have stripped out the interior and wood so I can clean/refinish/repair the seats. door cards, and wood bits. There is an area around the switches (circled in orange) that does not appear to have the wood veneer. However all the photos I have looked at of other W123 cars seem to have wood there. Puzzling....
Should this area have wood veneer? Stripped, sanded, and new varnish.
Hi, I am new to the site and reaching out for some advice please regarding my car and it's starting issues.
My car has been sat for approximately 12 years without being started. Prior to this, the car is mechanically sound and always started straight away. Then the car was left parked in a garage and am now trying to get it going again.
I got a new car battery and thought to give it a go. The car cranks over but was not starting. So I checked the spark plugs and cleaned the distributor cap. Obviously put fuel in the car.
As its still not starting, i checked the fuel line coming into the engine and when cranking the engine, nothing seems to be coming through. So seems like a fuel issue.
Just to rule things out, I used some easy start spray into the air intake and the car starts for a few seconds and wants to go. I have also replaced all the fuses with new in case there were some old faulty ones.
I've read somewhere about a fuel relay which can cause these issues? Any help would be much appreciated as I would love to get my car running again.
Thanks
I'm having the same problem. I replaced the fuel pump and filter. It's a little better but still not staying running. So on to see what else it might be. Good luck
I'm having the same problem. I replaced the fuel pump and filter. It's a little better but still not staying running. So on to see what else it might be. Good luck
It is helpful if you complete your profile with Year/Model information. Things can be very different from year to year.
Testing the Fuel Pump Relay would be a simple thing to try. Actually, just removing it, cleaning up the contacts,and re-inserting it may prove enlightening.
Here are some other troubleshooting steps from the below book:
This book is your friend:
Last edited by Eiderdown; Feb 28, 2025 at 07:54 PM.
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