Thanks for the info, already been doing some of this!Originally Posted by ahdoman
That's a beautiful looking VX! If the car has truly been parked for 13 years there's a lot you need to do just to wake it up properly! It would be a shame to have a catastrophic failure now that you have the time and money for it! Before you start driving it too much I'd check the following;
1) if it's overheating do not continue to drive it! Flush the cooling system. At a minimum pull the radiator have it flushed and replace the thermostat. You might also need to replace the water pump as well. If it's overheating you could do some serious engine damage. Speaking of engine damage...
2) replace all belts including your timing belt. If it sat for that long the belts are probably flat spotted and not tensioned properly. They can break. A broken serpentine belt is not a big deal but you don't want to break a timing belt!
3) Have your brakes power bled by a shop. Old brake fluid is nasty stuff and can create problems with ABS.
4) do a couple of short cycle oil changes. Put some Marvel Mystery Oil in or some other type of cleaner. Be sure to change your filter also.
5) pour a bottle of Chervron Techron in to a full tank of new gas. Do that for about 3 tanks, every other tank. It will help to clear and lubricate the fuel system.
6) replace fuel filter and all fuel lines.
7) check all the rubber bits; hoses, fuel lines, brake lines, bushings. Make sure they all move freely. Pinch them. They should return to normal and feel flexible. Look for cracks as you do this. This is going to be important if you want to pass California smog. You'll need to make sure all of the related smog components are working properly. A vacuum leak can fail you. And as Triathlete stated your need everything under the hood to be California Smog compliant.
8) Lube all lube points (u joints, etc.).
9) check your wheel bearings and repack if necessary.
10) unplug all wire connections and clean. If your car starts throwing any check engine codes this is the first place to start looking. That or leaks.
And lastly; wake her up slowly. No high rpm runs or hammer down driving. Welcome back.
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