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My Cougar will have been sitting for 6 weeks or more when I finally am able to drive it again. During that time, I haven't started the car once. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I'd like to check the car over before turning the key just in case something went awry. The car hasn't sat unused this long for as long as I've owned it--4.5 years.
The battery is in good shape. It was just replaced earlier this year, so I'm not worried about it. However, it seems prudent to check things like the oil level, coolant level, power steering, brake fluid, and tire pressure before starting it.
Of course, none of those had a problem before I parked the car, but my Cougar has previously developed problems while not even being used. (Seriously--I went to use it one day after it had been sitting for two weeks, only to discover that the exhaust system had mysteriously disconnected itself right behind the cat. It was fine when I last drove it.)
It's likely the brake rotors have rusted severely, but then they do that after only a couple days of sitting. They'll clean themselves off after a couple brake applications; hopefully none of the brakes will hang up.
So, can anyone suggest anything else I should check before firing it up? Or, can you think of anything I should watch out for when I'm first driving it?
Yeah, this probably could go in the "General Info" or something, but I'd rather keep it local.
Thanks.
--RJ
The battery is in good shape. It was just replaced earlier this year, so I'm not worried about it. However, it seems prudent to check things like the oil level, coolant level, power steering, brake fluid, and tire pressure before starting it.
Of course, none of those had a problem before I parked the car, but my Cougar has previously developed problems while not even being used. (Seriously--I went to use it one day after it had been sitting for two weeks, only to discover that the exhaust system had mysteriously disconnected itself right behind the cat. It was fine when I last drove it.)
It's likely the brake rotors have rusted severely, but then they do that after only a couple days of sitting. They'll clean themselves off after a couple brake applications; hopefully none of the brakes will hang up.
So, can anyone suggest anything else I should check before firing it up? Or, can you think of anything I should watch out for when I'm first driving it?
Yeah, this probably could go in the "General Info" or something, but I'd rather keep it local.
Thanks.
--RJ