Mother-in-law is giving me Ford Focus Zx3, year: 2000.
Has been garaged for almost three years, less than 500 miles on it.
It has not been driven.
What precautions should I observe before adding gas and starting car for the
first time?
Walt
Los Angeles, California USA
Tim \(Remove NOSPAM. - 16 Sep 2004 11:08 GMT
> Mother-in-law is giving me Ford Focus Zx3, year: 2000.
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> What precautions should I observe before adding gas and starting car for the
> first time?
Drain sump oil and refill with fresh of correct grade and a new filter-
filled with as much oil as you can without it running down your arm etc...
Plugs out, tablespoon of fresh oil into cylinders, disconnect coil pack and
pull fuel pump fuse, then with a fresh fully charged battery spin the engine
over on the starter until oil pressure warning lamp extinguishes.
Install plugs, fuse and coil pack multiplug, allow engine to start and
remain at idle for 2-3 minutes.
Clutch may be stuck to flywheel, brakes may also be seized, so be ready for
this if its been stored with handbrake applied. If clutch is stuck, allow
engine to get nicely hot, push car to open ground and start in 1st gear.
Acouple of fierce on-off-on of power with the pedal depressed will usually
free it.
Beware the tyres may have flat spotted / decayed so check very carefully
before you do any high speed driving.
Tim..
Dave Gower - 16 Sep 2004 16:35 GMT
> Mother-in-law is giving me Ford Focus Zx3, year: 2000.
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> the
> first time?
First make sure the engine will turn before engaging starter. You don't say
if it's an automatic or manual. If the latter, try leaving it in 5th gear
and loosen the nuts on one front wheel, then jack it up, remove wheel then
replace nuts and try turning wheel by prying on the studs against the nuts
(not the threads).
If it's an automatic, the only way to turn the engine is by torquing the
crankshaft. I don't have a Zetec so can't tell you what the best way is to
do that.
I agree with Tim that squirting oil down the spark plug holes is a good idea
regardless of whether the engine turns, but if it doesn't you will want
penetrating oil rather than engine oil. But it can be seized for reasons
other than the cylinders (for example water pump).
I suspect it won't be too hard to start once it turns over. A tank of gas
with cleaner in it should clean it out, but then you want to check for leaks
after driving for a while. And as Tim said, be suspicious of the brakes.
Probably not a bad idea to have them examined.
Once it's running, go talk to your dealer about the recalls pending on it.
They're not a big deal, but should be done. Good luck and enjoy your brand
new 2000 Focus.
Stephen F. - 17 Sep 2004 07:29 GMT
> First make sure the engine will turn before engaging starter. You don't
> say if it's an automatic or manual. If the latter, try leaving it in 5th
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> crankshaft. I don't have a Zetec so can't tell you what the best way is to
> do that.
Seems like a lot of work to see if the engine is seized or not. Just bump
the starter. If it doesn't turn over, it doesn't really matter if you burn
out the starter in the process...
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Dave Gower - 17 Sep 2004 15:32 GMT
> Seems like a lot of work to see if the engine is seized or not. Just bump
> the starter. If it doesn't turn over, it doesn't really matter if you
> burn out the starter in the process...
You can easily break a tooth on the flywheel, or force the engine to turn
when one piston ring is binding and damage a piston or cylinder wall. If the
engine is seized there are lots of things you can do. One is disconnect all
belts to see if an accessory is binding. Two is soak the cylinders in
penetrating oil. For someone to follow your advice could be unnecessarily
expensive.
Paul Giverin - 16 Sep 2004 18:17 GMT
>Mother-in-law is giving me Ford Focus Zx3, year: 2000.
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>What precautions should I observe before adding gas and starting car for the
>first time?
Just to add to the other good advice, petrol (why do you lot call it
gas? ;) can deteriorate after a while. Get as much fresh gas into the
tank before running the engine.

Signature
Paul Giverin
British Jet Engine Website http://www.britjet.co.uk
vince candline - 18 Sep 2004 23:37 GMT
>>Mother-in-law is giving me Ford Focus Zx3, year: 2000.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> call it gas? ;) can deteriorate after a while. Get as much
> fresh gas into the tank before running the engine.
Paul we call it "gas" because it is the quick way to say gasoline
http://science.howstuffworks.com/gasoline1.htm While we are on the
subject, why would you call a car hood a bonnet? or trunk a boot?
Zweef? - 19 Sep 2004 00:00 GMT
> > Just to add to the other good advice, petrol (why do you lot
> > call it gas? ;) can deteriorate after a while. Get as much
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> http://science.howstuffworks.com/gasoline1.htm While we are on the
> subject, why would you call a car hood a bonnet? or trunk a boot?
Oh lord.........
Please don't go there guys!

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Bezit en wijsheid zijn illusies
Mojo JoJo - 19 Sep 2004 02:32 GMT
Or chips and knickers as well!;-)
Mojo
> > > Just to add to the other good advice, petrol (why do you lot
> > > call it gas? ;) can deteriorate after a while. Get as much
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Please don't go there guys!
Paul Giverin - 19 Sep 2004 09:01 GMT
>> > Just to add to the other good advice, petrol (why do you lot
>> > call it gas? ;) can deteriorate after a while. Get as much
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>Please don't go there guys!
I did put a smiley on my original post.
Mind you, don't get me started on the Dutch ;)

Signature
Paul Giverin
British Jet Engine Website http://www.britjet.co.uk
Zweef? - 19 Sep 2004 12:03 GMT
> Mind you, don't get me started on the Dutch ;)
Hehehe.... ;-)

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Bezit en wijsheid zijn illusies
Paul Giverin - 19 Sep 2004 12:48 GMT
>> Mind you, don't get me started on the Dutch ;)
>>
>Hehehe.... ;-)
They are very, very nice people...... until you find yourself working
for them ;)

Signature
Paul Giverin
British Jet Engine Website http://www.britjet.co.uk
Andy Lee - 19 Sep 2004 09:43 GMT
>Paul we call it "gas" because it is the quick way to say gasoline
> http://science.howstuffworks.com/gasoline1.htm While we are on the
>subject, why would you call a car hood a bonnet? or trunk a boot?
Hood/Bonnet, both words used to describe a piece of clothing worn to
cover your head. Now think about the function of the bonnet or hood on
your car....
Trunk is obvious in the early days of motor vehicles the trunk was not
integrated into the main body work it was just that a trunk strapped
onto the back end of the car. Boot ISTR is a term used in connection
with the forerunner to cars, the horse and coach and was just
transferred to the new vehicle.
Regards
Andy Lee

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It matters not whether you win or lose; what matters is whether I win or lose.
per - 16 Sep 2004 22:45 GMT
All good advises, but the first thing to do is to check tyre pressure.
/per
> Mother-in-law is giving me Ford Focus Zx3, year: 2000.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Walt
> Los Angeles, California USA