So, my 04 Accord coupe has sat without even being turned on for almost exactly a year. It ran fine when I parked it and was always serviced.

What kind of checklist do I need to to run down before turning it on again? Do I need to drain all the fuel and lines? Other fluids? Any other things that should be done before starting it? I really want to get this thing back on the road but do not want to damage it. I appreciate any advice that could help me out.

Thank you.

 

Drain the gas for sure. It dont hold up like it used to in the older days. Maby a fresh oil change. Check plugs and distributor cause of sitting maby could of drawn moisture. Also check coolant with a tester for quality. And pull the tires and check all the breaks and master cylinder and break lines. Sometimes the seals on the break plunger fall apart. The last thing u want is to be driving and have no breaks. Check tires for dry rot. Most might not need replaced but its better to check them. Also do a belt check, drive belt, power stearing and timing. It might sound like alot of work but better safe then sorry. Climb underneith it and see how much rust accumulated and if the exhaust is still good. Honestly the worse thing for a car is to sit

 

so were you in jail or something ????

 

The 04 doesn't have a distributor.

How many miles does your accord have?

 

No, but my car was...

It has 79,000 miles on it. I am hoping the tank has a drain plug so I don't have to try to siphon every last bit out. What about the lines? Should I worry about draining those as well? Kinda worried about it because I have had water in my gas with my current ride and it was a PITA to deal with. Had to access the tank from the trunk and pull the fuel pump, siphon as much as i could, then wipe it clean with a rag. Then I thoroughly bled the lines. Needless to say it sucked.

I just really want my Accord to be as solid as it was the last time I rode it.

 

Dilute the old gas at least 2-to-1 with new gas, then run all of that gas out ASAP. Change the oil & filter.

 

When you say run all the gas out, are you talking draining or running the car?

 

have never been faced with this scenario myself, but that said - here's my suggestion.
* any problems will likely be battery and fuel.

1 - you'll need a new battery almost certainly. Then -
2 - I'd siphon out as much gas as I'd get
3 - add three or more gallons fresh gas w/ gas-line antifreeze to absorb water condensed in partially full tank and
then add a fuel injector cleaner
4 - fire it up and run this gas out as low as you dare, then refill and use car as normal...

 

Whatever it takes to dilute it to one part old / two parts new. Siphon if necessary.

And then, as UhOh said, run it down as low as you dare before you fill it back up again.

I keep a truck in another state and don't drive it for eight months at a time. I try to get the two gas tanks pretty empty before I park it and then just run down to the gas station to fill it up when if comes time to use it again. Never given me any problem; the battery always has plenty of charge even after sitting so long - it fires right up and drives fine.

 

You guys are thinking way too much about the gas issue...go to the parts store and buy a can of Seafoam, dump it in, run down to the gas station and fill it up. I can almost guarantee you'll have no problems.