Hi everyone, I just inherited a relative's 96 civic 4dr EX that's been sitting in a garage for the past 3-4 yrs. Going to tow it home first, but then what should I do next? It has about 200k highway miles and automatic. I'm afraid to start it up and have the timing belt snap because of dry-rot and cause problems. What would you guys do?

 

get a tune up

 

also you're probably going to need to get a new coil and your main relay may blow. i'd change fluids and stuff too.

i'm curious as to why it was just sitting for 3-4 years though? no one ever drove it or anything?

 

what are you talking about distributor coil blowing??? i bought a Ej6 that stood for 7 years and i never replaced the coil on it... and main relays are not faulty as 92-95 in the 6th gen


First off
Do all the fluids Oil, Coolant, Transmission fluid since its an automatic you have to do it a couple times to get new fluid running trough the TQ converter

Oil 5W30
Oil Filter WIX
Spark Plugs Copper NGK
Spark Plug wires Denso or NGK
Cap and Rotor Napa is good
Valvecover gasket set Napa has a good OE Replacement made in japan
Valve adjustment
Water Pump OEM
Tensioner OEM
T belt OEM/Gates
Fuel Filter
New battery
air filter

I would run BG44K before the fuel filter fill it up with gas to the full

i would also take some carb cleaner and clean the throttle body real good and all the sensors

it sounds expensive but it will insure your car wont bitch out on you 10 minutes after u start it

after all this the car should run great

I got most of my parts online for fractions of the price

 

just saying it can happen. try not to get mad about it. happened to my Ej6 after sitting for a little over a month.

 

I'd also replace all pads/rotors shoes/drums. Every fluid, and filter

 

If it's just been sitting there for 4 years, for the love of god replace the tires. They've got to be dry rotted all to hell. Take the wheels up to your local tire place while you've got it jacked up doing everything else everyone has already said.

 

rotors can probably be turned over

 

Thanks guys, I was kinda thinking the same thing!- All fluids and tune up! I'll probably have to replace the calipers too!They did put on a new set of tires just before they left it. I just found out it had a busted right drive axle. Instead of fixing it, they bought a new car and just left the civic in the garage! Like I said before, It has been in the garage for around four yrs, never started. I'm wondering if rust formed in the cylinders from sitting so long and if i try to start it, the rust will damage the rings?

 

do not start it until you have a full tune up done like i stated...

 

Thanks Wrona, but what do ya think about rust in the cylinders damaging the rings?

 

How do you know there's rust in the cylinders?
Get a manual. Follow all the scheduled maintenance as laid out IN the manual. If you want to check the health of the engine perform or have someone perform a compression and leakdown test.

 

Unless its been sitting outside without any spark plugs don't worry about rust in the cylinders lol.

 

Great ..... Thanks