have not started 86 323 in 3 years. tips needed

[fucdemas]

hey all,
anyone have tips on what i should do prior to starting my 86 323?
it hasnt been started in 3 years. im certain if i do some preventative stuff before i'll start it i'll minimize any risks assciated with all the crud that's settled at the bottm of all my componants.

my plans:

oil and filter change is a definate one. i heard of some sorta detergent to add prior to change to help clean the sucker out.

there's old gas in those lines. i've heard gas goes gummy and will clog up my lines. what can i do to clean it out prior to starting.

i also plan on changing tranny fluid. is that easy to do?

will break fluid be neccesary to change?

anywho. please share your tips! thanks


p.s. what kinda of oil and tranny fluid does my cars use? anyone know?

[mazdaguy]

A car that sat 3 years will need the gas tank pulled / cleaned and most likely a new fuel pump I'm afraid. Probably fuel pressure regulator also. You will have to change the oil twice. Once before you try to start it then again after you get it running right. A good injector cleaner will be advised also. Theres a big bolt on the bottom of the trans you can drain some fluid out of but you would be better off having it flushed.
There is a pan you can pull to get to the screen. The screen is metal so it can be cleaned.

[fucdemas]

wow! that sounds like alot more work than i originally thought. do you think any lasting damage could occur if i were to attempt to start the car wuth out messing with the fuel lines
i figured i could just add some new gas and it might desolve the o,ld stuff?

[fucdemas]

now that i've drained the oil (less than a quart) and drained the gas tank. i'm ready for more action.

the gas pump looks very rusty. it might still be in a working condition. does anyone know how to test this thing with out actually having it connected to the 323? the 323 has no working battery.

i'd really like to clean out the gas tank. as it looks full of crud and really old gas. is there some sort of solvent i can use to clean it out?

[mazdaguy]

Err dont even try to test it out of the tank. I met a guy that killed his 10 year old kid testing his fuel pump out of the car. It exploded and the kid died a terrible death while his father watched him burn. To test it reinstall it then have someone crank the car and rest your hand on top of it. It should vibrate a little. I seriously doubt it's any good after 3 years though. Your best bet is pick one up at a salvage yard cheap. Mazda is really proud of theirs. It wont hurt anything to crank it with bad gas in it. The whole fuel system is a mess atm anyway. That car isnt going to run right for awhile i'm sure. If you get a fuel pump go ahead and pick up a pressure regualtor. No way it's any good either. Easy to replace though.

[fucdemas]

i've got nothing out of the pump. no sounds no gas. nothing.

i tested the wireharness. i'm getting 12v out of one of the pins when i crank the engine. hopefully thats a good sign.

i wonder if auto part stores would let me return a new pump if i find a dont need it.

[mazdaguy]

No return on electrical parts. But believe me. You need it.

[fucdemas]

changed the fuel pump!

yay!

i've got gas comming out of the fuel filter

but it doesnt start!

i have spark, the plugs look to be in good conditions. slightly any deposits and only a tiny amount of rust.

the engine turns over beautifuly.

i'm trying to start from my ford taurus which has plenty of juice (or so it seems).

will carb/choke cleaner do the trick? a little sprayed right into the injector?

[mazdaguy]

Yea a car that hasnt started in 3 years will take some nursing to start. The injecters are probably stuck. Starting fluid might get it going or carb cleaner. Once you get it running just keep it going and it should start running better after awhile. Watch the temp guage because the T-stat might stick. Throw a bottle of Techron in it too. ( Chevron/Walmart sell it ) Your still going to need a pressure regulator but it will start with a bad one on it.

[fucdemas]

mazdaguy,

thanks again, dude. your advice is very helpful.

i think you're right about the injectors. when i went to replace the pump the return pipe was clogged so badly that i couldnt get air through it. i had to use a guitar string to uncolg it and when i did i got 3 inches of solidified black mass out of it. i'm pretty sure that's what the injectors look like right now.

the car will sputter a shitload once a put a healthy amount of starter fluid in it. it functioned for about 10 seconds until i gave it alittle gas and it cut out. it seems to me the fuel to air mixture is severly screwed cuz the car sounds like it did when i had a major timing problem.

how difficult would it be to clean the fuel in jectors? i would imaging it wouldnt be difficult to take the entire unit off but im sure there's hundered of little parts that make it up.

im also pretty sure that my "guitar string" unclogging method will probably not work with the injectors.

how much does something like injectors go for from a junk yard?