2000 V70 XC has not been started in 3 years

commandoNate · Post by **commandoNate** » 21 Oct 2015, 11:19

I am picking up this car from a family member who hit a deer in the car 3 years ago this month. They were holding out some hope of fixing it but it never happened, they are buying a new car. They purchased it new and it now has 150,000 miles on it. My plan is to replace the hood, fender, grille, light, radiator, ect. and have a car to save some miles on my big diesel truck that is my daily driver/work truck.

My question is what should I expect to do in order to start the car and drive it onto my trailer when I get there? I'll be 750 miles from home when I pick it up so I'd like to have anything I may need when I get there. My checklist so far is:

drain fuel
change oil
new battery

What is the best way to remove as much of the fuel as possible? Should I plan to pull the in tank pump and suck it out from the top of the tank? I assume there is an access panel in the back of the car so I don't have to remove the tank?

Any advise on what the car needs or special tools to bring would be appreciated. And I'll bring a come-a-long just in case.

Post by **kahl** » 21 Oct 2015, 12:35

I would drain the fuel at the fuel rail into a container mindful of static being generated by the flowing fuel. Change oil. I would then pull the plugs and put a cap of oil in each cylinder then crank the car with fuel relay disconnected until you have oil pressure. If the car has been stored outside these three years I would also drain the transmission then refill due to condensation. Outside storeage can also create problems with the brake calipers being frozen, water pump and starter issues.

jcdillin · Post by **jcdillin** » 21 Oct 2015, 14:29

I just went through this with a 98 V70 AWD that had been sitting for over a year, tank was half full of bad gas and the fluids looked terrible.

I disconnected the line to the injector rail and slipped some rubber hose over the line which ran to a 5g jug. Then I pulled the fuel pump relay and jumped it out to pump everything out of the tank. I put in a few gallons of gas with some seafoam to help start cleaning out the gunk.

I didn't bother changing any fluids just to get it up on the trailer, but that only took a minute on mine. I think the engine oil in the cylinders is a good idea and also cranking it without the fuel relay to prime the oil system.

jcdillin · Post by **jcdillin** » 21 Oct 2015, 14:31

Also the tires on this one were dry rotted and flat, I was able to pump them up with some fix a flat long enough to get on the trailer.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 21 Oct 2015, 16:53

The list pretty well covers it. On a 2000 you may or may not have hydraulic lifters and if you do they will sound awful, don't worry about if you have lifter noise since they are likely dry. After the engine runs a bit they will quiet down.

...Lee

commandoNate · Post by **commandoNate** » 21 Oct 2015, 20:02

jcdillin wrote:Also the tires on this one were dry rotted and flat, I was able to pump them up with some fix a flat long enough to get on the trailer.

Thanks for the responses! I'll track down a wiring diagram and location for the fuel pump relay. Did you just run a jumper wire from the positive battery terminal to where the relay was removed to run the pump until the tank is as empty as possible?

On the transmission, should I plan on draining the fluid and doing a fluid and filter change before I start it and put it on the trailer? Sure would be a lot easier to do that in the shop when I get er home. The car has been outdoors for the last 3 years.

Post by **tryingbe** » 21 Oct 2015, 20:44

I'd get enough people to push it on the trailer instead. That takes maybe 5 minutes vs who knows how long before you can get it started.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 21 Oct 2015, 21:12

I have used a come-along cable winch to pull the car up onto the trailer and did it by myself. It took me about 30 minutes since I had to pull it on in 5 or 6 foot segments, the working length of the cable.

Obviously, since this is an XC, you need to have a full trailer for it that gets all four wheels off the road. A dolly type trailer will kill the transfer case.

...Lee

commandoNate · Post by **commandoNate** » 21 Oct 2015, 21:46

I agree, maybe just pulling it up with a come-along is the answer. I have a 20' equipment trailer with ramps so it should be easy enough to drag it up there and worry about all the work it needs when I have it in my shop.

Post by **rspi** » 22 Oct 2015, 05:16