I've have a Honda civic 03 with about 150k on it, it's been sitting for about 3 months, have no started it. Am worried there may be some damage to it because I've heard letting a car sit that long without starting and such can do damage. Is there any precautions I should take before starting, like new gas and such?

To the topic at hand though, I am installing a new alternator on the car and I took the belts off awhile back and have just gotten around to installing them. The pulleys have been exposed to the elements for some time. There is dirt, grim, grit and rust on them. Today I sprayed them all down with apple cider vinegar because I know that's good for getting rid of rust. Is there anything else I should do? The lower pulley I can access fine but the crankshaft pulley is more difficult to clean and access. Any suggestions on cleaning all the pulleys, best solutions and grit, grim, rust removal procedures?

Thank you

I don't think I've ever cleaned my pulleys. My car has seen rain, snow, salt, sand, dirt, dust, mud, you name it. Even sat in a field for months with me doing no more than disconnecting the negative battery terminal when I parked it

3 months is nothing. Fire that sucker up and drive it around the block a few times, slowly at first until you're sure it's gonna make it further than around your block.

I shouldn't be worried about the gas or anything? it should still fire up good? worried about those pulleys they are pretty rusty.

Should start fine, might need a boost but try starting it normally first. Pulleys should be fine, post a picture if you're really concerned.

You still haven't got it running yet????


3 months is nothing, I have cars and engines sit far longer than that all the time. The fuel is fine.
We have brand new cars on the lot that sit far longer than that.
Fire that sucker up and drive it.

The belts will clean the rust off the pulleys as it runs.


I have a truck that sits for a year at a time, I've let it sit over 5 years and I fired it up and drove it. 5 year old gas doesn't burn very good at all, but I drove it until the tank was empty then filled with fresh fuel.

I will do this when I get my camera. It seems like the apple cider vineger made the rust worse, I don't know how but it looks super rusty now. Also the battery or something has went in this car. So after three months I noticed that little red security blinker thing stopped flashing. So I guess the battery needs a jump now. I went ahead and disconnected the negative terminal on the battery anyways because now i'll be installing the alternator. But first must clean off these pulleys because there is a lot dirt and some peddles jammed into the grooves.

Give them a quick rub with a wire brush? Should probably do an idle relearn if the car has been sitting, just let the car idle with no electrical accessories running until the fans cycle on and off a couple times.

For sure!

Was thinking I could have some issues with the battery and new alternator (used)

Since that car hasn't been started in three months and the battery needs a jump and I'll first be replacing the alternator. Will there be any risk of blowing the new alternator out? Since the first time it will have to run in the car will be after jumping the battery? seems like that's a lot of load for the first run in the car.

probably not, if you're worried about jumping it maybe borrow a charger from someone? or if it's stick bump start it

It's an auto.
I have a friend who has one of those machines I think I might just do that.

Thank you!

Why does it need an alternator?

At first, I heard lots of squealing coming from underneath the engine then one day all the sudden I started smelling rubber in the cabin and saved up for different parts and such cause I knew something major must be going on and I didn't want to start it under those conditions again. So I took the belts off thinking that may be the culprit, they seemed cracked so probably needed to be changed. Then I played around with the alternator pulley and it was seized so that's what must have been causing it. So I said ok need a new alternator and went to a junkyard and picked one up now just prepping and making sure I have all the conditions right before re-starting.

Pee on your pulleys: http://twentytwowords.com/20-things-...s-flushing-it/

Ok, so yesterday I bought a wire brush at the dollar store. I mixed a 50/50 of Acetone and Fully synthetic motor oil and used this mix as a penetrating oil solution. Then dipped a rag into that solution and scrubbed down the power-steering pulley, lower alternator pulley, and the crankshaft pulley. Then I used the wire brush and brushed away most of the rust on those pulleys, even in the tighter spots. I have to work today so I can't get the alternator on there. Wanted to let all that solution dry out heard the pulley's shouldn't be super lubed.

Just want to make sure I have the steps correct here:
So now the negative battery terminal is disconnected.
Now have to re-install the bracket which holds the belt tensioner wing-nut. Then after that disconnect that wire and bolt from the old alternator then disconnect the connector cord.
And then place the new alternator in the bay, screw in the through-bolt to the alternator to secure that.
Then put the two cords onto the new alternator.
Then, line up the belt tensioner wing nut and place that thick middle through bolt on the bracket into the lower alternator hole.
Once that's all in, I proceed to put the alternator belt on.
And then after that start screwing the belt-tensioner wing nut until there is about 1/4 deflection on the belt.
After that, tighten up the thick middle bolt on the lower bracket.
Then re-install the power steering pump and that side bracket.
After the nuts and bolts have been put in,
Then put the crankshaft belt on and tighten that up with the wingnut onto of the power steering pump.

Is any of this wrong?

Thank you

Get a can or two of Brake Parts Cleaner so you can get ALL of the oil residue off of those pulleys.
Oil will ruin the belts.

Thanks!
what would you say is the best Brake Parts Cleaner out there? I haven't install the alternator yet because I took it to autozone today and they tested it, bad alternator. So now I'll have to head back to the autoparts place to exchange for another.

I think most are pretty similar. Any of them should be able to clean off the oily residue.

Ok thanks again. Going to pick up a can of CRC Brakleen Brake Parts Cleaner - Non-Flammable today or tomorrow. Got to get off work and install this dang thing. Do you think I'll have any problems installing the alternator, then right after that jumping the battery? could that screw anything up like work the alternator too hard?

Also, was thinking of using mineral spirits to clean the metal parts. And after I sprayed all the pulleys with the brake cleaner should I scrub/brush it all down or just maybe soak a towel in soapy water and wash them off?

Brake cleaner evaporates, just let it dry.

If you have a battery charger available, it's preferable to charge the battery with that instead of making the alternator work at maximum capacity right out of the gate.


Brake cleaner evaporates completely and leaves no residue of its own. If you get all the oil rinsed off the pulleys with it, nothing else should be needed.

I would have just ran it. You've been worried about a little rust, you probably wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've seen running over the years.

Are there any places that do this? I thought a friend had one but I guess not. Like does autozone or advance auto parts do battery charging?

Oops, ok just read that autozone will do this for free. Ok, so now all I gots to do is return and get my alternator replaced and then get autozone to charge up my battery....making some progress.

Is your phone broken? Call them and ask.

You could connect your battery (or car) with jumper cables to a running car and let it soak up power for 15-30 minutes, that would charge it up a bit.

Does the battery have enough power to start the car as it is now? (I'm not sifting through thread to read)

Cannot believe how long this is taking to get done. So yesterday I took the alternator to the used autoparts place, told them I got it tested and it failed, they sent me to another yard to get one in exchange. Went there and got an OEM!! so happy about that, also had it tested and it came out as "Good". Then I took my battery out and to autozone where they could charge it, apparently this is a 1-hour process. I wait an hour, come back, and they tell me the battery isn't holding a charge. Then they say, "let's see if it's under warranty" apparently it was under warranty, about to expire in two days!!

The OEM alternator spun well, a little grinding sound internally but it was faint. Going to spray down all the pulleys with Brakeleen (nonflammable) and then install the alternator, then belts and screw down all the neccasary parts.

Thank you