There is a Nissan Quest family van that has been sitting in our garage for more than 5 years. We just didn't need to use the van anymore, and just left it in the garage. It hasn't been used in all this time. I want to use it now. The battery is dead and the tires have deflated. What else will be wrong with it?

Can I just jump start it and refill the air in it? Will be calling triple A (insurance) tomorrow to come jump start it, but it may have other problems. What can I expect?

Thanks

Edit: Also, I can't find the pink slip for the van. How do I get a new one for it?

Kennelie

United States2296 Posts

June 20 2009 03:13 GMT

you can expect many things. First we need to turn the beast on and get it rolling. If everything is fine then get ur tags up to date and of course insurance. The worst I can think right now is a dead battery that has no charge which u would have to buy a new one. And how good your tires are. With the info you gave me this is all I can assume atm. I don't know the vehicles history but some have had some hard lives.

GrayArea

United States872 Posts

June 20 2009 03:18 GMT

On June 20 2009 12:13 Kennelie wrote:
you can expect many things. First we need to turn the beast on and get it rolling. If everything is fine then get ur tags up to date and of course insurance. The worst I can think right now is a dead battery that has no charge which u would have to buy a new one. And how good your tires are. With the info you gave me this is all I can assume atm. I don't know the vehicles history but some have had some hard lives.

Can't a jump start be used to fix the dead battery? Isn't that what jump starts are for?

micronesia

United States24495 Posts

June 20 2009 03:23 GMT

1) If you inflate the tires again, they might still be okay.

2) I would suggest getting a battery charger rather than simply trying to jump it.

3) Did you drain the gas out of the car prior to the five years? If not, then it could have turned into some gel crap that gums up the engine. Make sure you tell the AAA guy how long it has been sitting there and whether or not there is still gas in it so he can make an informed decision about what to do. Don't pressure him to jump it if he advises against it.

4) AAA isn't really insurance. I have AAA also <3

FuDDx

United States5006 Posts

June 20 2009 03:24 GMT

If its truly dead ie catn hold a charge no it wont work.

Also if gas has been sitting in it/oil it may need carburetor/fuel pump?

Belts may have dry rotted.As well as hoses etc.

Best bet is to have it checked out at a trust worthy mechanic.

epicdoom

United States489 Posts

June 20 2009 04:06 GMT

5 year old unused battery, probably unchanged for 5 more years before that, I would just buy a new battery. And then like Fuddx was saying oil change, Dot5 change, and pump.

GrayArea

United States872 Posts

June 20 2009 04:06 GMT

On June 20 2009 12:23 micronesia wrote:
1) If you inflate the tires again, they might still be okay.

2) I would suggest getting a battery charger rather than simply trying to jump it.

3) Did you drain the gas out of the car prior to the five years? If not, then it could have turned into some gel crap that gums up the engine. Make sure you tell the AAA guy how long it has been sitting there and whether or not there is still gas in it so he can make an informed decision about what to do. Don't pressure him to jump it if he advises against it.

4) AAA isn't really insurance. I have AAA also <3

What's the difference between using a charger rather than jumping it? If I jump it, then I just leave the engine running for awhile until the battery recharges. So won't that be sufficient?

GrayArea

United States872 Posts

June 20 2009 04:08 GMT

On June 20 2009 13:06 epicdoom wrote:
5 year old unused battery, probably unchanged for 5 more years before that, I would just buy a new battery. And then like Fuddx was saying oil change, Dot5 change, and pump.

Why can't the old battery be salvaged?

Also, what do "Dot5 change" and "pump" mean (pump gas into it?)? Thanks.

micronesia

United States24495 Posts

June 20 2009 04:32 GMT

On June 20 2009 13:06 GrayArea wrote:

Show nested quote +

What's the difference between using a charger rather than jumping it? If I jump it, then I just leave the engine running for awhile until the battery recharges. So won't that be sufficient?

After 5 years that battery is so far gone that you want to bring it up slowly...

Probably nothing bad will happen if you don't listen, but since it's been sitting for so long I'd advise against relying on the jump.

mahnini

United States6862 Posts

June 20 2009 04:38 GMT

#10

On June 20 2009 13:08 GrayArea wrote:

Show nested quote +

Why can't the old battery be salvaged?

Also, what do "Dot5 change" and "pump" mean (pump gas into it?)? Thanks.

power steering fluid. basically change all your fluids, charge/buy new battery, and give it a romping to clear out engine build up.

wait dot5 is brake fluid, also not necessarily dot5

GrayArea

United States872 Posts

June 20 2009 05:23 GMT

#11

On June 20 2009 13:38 mahnini wrote:

Show nested quote +

power steering fluid. basically change all your fluids, charge/buy new battery, and give it a romping to clear out engine build up.

wait dot5 is brake fluid, also not necessarily dot5

Ya, I googled it. You are right, dot5 is brake fluid and not necessarily dot5. What does "give it a romping" entail specifically?

cgrinker

United States3824 Posts

June 20 2009 05:28 GMT

#12

Will need a new battery, spark plugs are probably gummed. If the car is old enough to have a carburetor that could be clogged, new air filter, engine could be siezed.

Sorry to be a negative nancy

Grobyc

Canada18410 Posts

June 20 2009 06:19 GMT

#13

Meh everything's been said already basically. Maybe check the rotors and brakes pads too just incase?

TheosEx

United States894 Posts

June 20 2009 07:24 GMT

#14

If you let an engine sit for way less than that, it can just become stale, period. Even if you could start it, all of the oil in it would have probably dried, drained, etc. and the engine would "break" as soon as it turned on.

CharlieMurphy

United States22895 Posts

June 20 2009 08:04 GMT

#15

Call cartalk tomorrow morning on NPR, its a fucking awesome radio show.

http://www.cartalk.com/ct/review/index.jsp

18882278255 i think is the number

micronesia

United States24495 Posts

June 20 2009 15:09 GMT

#16

On June 20 2009 17:04 CharlieMurphy wrote:
Call cartalk tomorrow morning on NPR, its a fucking awesome radio show.

http://www.cartalk.com/ct/review/index.jsp

18882278255 i think is the number

This guy knows a lot about old vans... listen to him.

CharlieMurphy

United States22895 Posts

June 20 2009 19:19 GMT

#17

Did you call?

GrayArea

United States872 Posts

June 21 2009 01:06 GMT

#18

I decided to take it to a mechanic first. Has anyone done this and know how much it's going to cost? Or can someone make an estimate based on what people have said needs to be done to it?

Kennelie

United States2296 Posts

June 21 2009 01:43 GMT

#19

everything that was mentioned can be taken into account with your vehicle. You didn't mention a specific year on this quest so atm im guessing its a 98-02 nissan quest that's been sitting for 5 years. Belts,oils,coolant should all be renewed and maybe more. Hope you get some good estimates. Ask any of your friends if they know how to do any auto work. Check craigslist as well for different quotes.

Edit: P.S. Whats the year/mileage and have you been the original owner the whole time or what?

GrayArea

United States872 Posts

June 21 2009 03:02 GMT

#20

On June 21 2009 10:43 Kennelie wrote:
everything that was mentioned can be taken into account with your vehicle. You didn't mention a specific year on this quest so atm im guessing its a 98-02 nissan quest that's been sitting for 5 years. Belts,oils,coolant should all be renewed and maybe more. Hope you get some good estimates. Ask any of your friends if they know how to do any auto work. Check craigslist as well for different quotes.

Edit: P.S. Whats the year/mileage and have you been the original owner the whole time or what?

Yes, we bought it new. We used it for like 5 or so years and then let it sit for another 5 years. The mileage isn't too bad.

Edit: Also, I googled car belts to find out what kind of belts you guys are talking about, but there are so many different belts (serpentine belt, fan belt, engine belt, timing belt, etc.). Are you saying all these belts might have to be changed?

Edit 2: Okay, I read up more on the belts and it appears that the serpentine belt is the main belt which runs the alternator, power steering, ari-conditioner, water pump, air pump, etc.