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I have a 90' civic si that has been sitting for about 5 years now. It had an undiagnosed electrical problem that will have to be adressed, but my concern is preping properly so as not to damage the engine. If someone could direct me to a tutorial, that would be good. Also any info on replacing the fuel filter would be appreciated. Thanks

 
Rep Power: 518

Every case is different. I'd make sure the engine runs before doing much else to it. Get rid of the old gas, and get the rings lubed in the engine-- would be first steps for me.

Did it run when it was parked? Hope so. 5 years is a long time to sit, a lot can happen. How old was the timing belt at that point in time? I might make sure it hasn't dry-rotted before cranking the engine.

Drain the gas tank.
Old fuel probably smells like varnish, that's bad.
I would pull the tank unit (the pump) take a look inside the tank. Make sure the old gas is still in a liquid form and hasn't turned black and left solidified chunks of garbage on the bottom of the tank. You might need to drop the tank and get it cleaned out if that has happened. If the tank needs dropped, then you can replace the filter at the same time since you will be needing to clean out the entire fuel system. It's on the firewall, just look at it and it should be self explanatory.

Add fresh gas, at least 3 gallons.
Is the oil clean? Halfway clean will suffice until you know the car will run. If it is black, go ahead and change it now.
Fresh battery.
Check the rest of the fluids.
Coolant in the radiator? Fill it.
Disconnect the ignition coil high tension lead from the dist cap and ground it.
Disconnect the injectors wiring to disable them.
Remove the sparkplugs.
Dump a few cc's of fresh engine oil into each hole. (A few squirts from a small hand oiler will do).
Place a large towel over the sparkplug holes to catch excess oil when you crank the engine.
If you can wrench the engine over by hand, do it to make sure it hasn't seized up. Otherwise, just hit the key to crank it over. Crank it until the oil pressure light goes out and the starter speed changes (this is to make sure oil has reached the engine bearings).
Reinstall or replace the sparkplugs. Reconnect all the wires and injectors. Push it outside.
See if it will run.
If it won't run, you have diagnosis work to do.
If it does fire up, it will belch a cloud of smoke from the oil you dumped in.
Make sure to watch the coolant temperature, and make sure the radiator fan will be able to run, AND that it does run at the right time. Don't let it overheat.

Then see what else is wrong with it. You know, air up the tires, make sure the brakes will stop the car before driving it.
Give it a quick drive up and down your street. Make notes of stuff to fix or inspect before putting it back into service.
Recheck all the fluids.
Drive it around the block a couple times, make more notes. Hopefully the rust will be wearing off of the brakes and the grinding noises will be lessening.

Fix stuff as needed.
Do a thorough brake inspection. (I let one of my cars sit for 2 years and the brake linings rusted off of the brake shoes after I started driving it again. They were not old nor were they worn when this happened.)


Maybe others have more input?

 
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I would love to know if the motor turns, but the reason it sat for so long is because it has unresolved electrical malfunctions. It did not start after the last time it was parked. Sounds like I will have to do the crap shoot. Thanks for the in-depth instructions. Exceptionally nice of you to take all the time to post that info.

 
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Sounds like you now have to solve the original problems on top of everything else before it will run.
That complicates things, doesn't it?

 
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ezone...
ye rocks!
darn, i can't rep you again yet... need more rep points to do so again...

 
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Yeah, I got nothing but problems, did I mention its winter here in Montana and I dont have a garage. I am really looking forward to troubleshooting electrical problems in 20 degree cold! I have no one to blame but myself. Anybody have any electrical troubleshooting advice?

 
Rep Power: 204

What was the electrical problem when it got parked? A multimeter is your friend when it comes to stuff like that.

 
Rep Power: 518

Well, start with a few basic things: WTF is the problem would be a good place to start. WHY is it a problem might be next. HOW does it work? It's tough to fix it if you don't know how it works in the first place. WHAT can you do abut it? WHERE is a toasty garage with a heater?

You need to be able to read and use a road map (wiring diagram), a test light, a DVOM, apply logic and reasoning, etc........ummmm.....I can't really teach you how to do that. I can explain some of it to you, but I can't understand it for you.

Let a pro handle it if you can't.
Might be cheaper than hacking your own stuff up in the long run.
You better do your research and find someone capable of doing the work though.
Not everyone with a shoebox full of tools has the same abilities and talents. (Wait a sec...management thinks this is true. Are you a manager?)

 
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Thats most likely good advice, but I cannot afford to pay for exploratory electrical trouble-shooting, which apparently has the potential to get expensive. Also a person learns nothing paying someone else to do the work. Personally I like to learn new things, and this would be a golden opportunity to do so.