Help reviving a neglected Reatta

[nadareatta]

Hi. I own an '88 Reatta that has unfortunately been sitting neglected for about 5 years. It hasn't been started at all during that time and has had some gas sitting in the tank. Before I had to leave her the engine was fine but I needed to replace the motor mounts.

So, I guess my question is what generally is going to need to be done to get it up and running ie draining the gas etc. and in general what it would cost (ballpark) for a car in this condition. I know it's hard to generalize but ANY info or feedback would be greatly apreciated.

I don't know much about the mechanical side of cars but I am trying to learn. (I do know more than most of the other women I know hehehe)

[Guest EDBS0]

Welcome to the forum. You are in for a ride!!!

If any group of people can help a tired Reatta it would be us.

Most are particularly happy to help a lady. A Texas member (unnaimed) and I have mused that it would be interesting to reregister as Betty Boob or something similar but I digress.

5 years is a long and short time much COULD have happened but it may not have.

1st I would change the oil and filter. I am particular to synthetic and recently have been using Pennzoil Platinum 5 W30 in everything from the former Reatta to Cadi, Mercedes Cosworth and Matrix (current play toy). And mpg champ record hidh 42.43 mpg at 65 mph, soon to be beaten!

Next you have to decide about the transmission. Simple barometric pumping can pull lots of condensation and water into a transmission.

Or your transmission could be OK or full of water. In the past I have used Wal-Mart's synthetic transmission fluid. Not as good as the best but 90% as good. The Cadi got Red Line and the Matrix got Amsoil. You could get lucky and have a little water in the bottom of the pan which will boil off with an extended road trip and cause no problems. Or you could have enough water to destroy the lubrication properties of the transmission fluid and kill the transmission.

Every Carlisle show and sale that I have been to has a number of cars that have been purchased and when the new owner tried to drive them home they didn't make it. They are littered along the road. Message here. Don't travel far from home the first few trips.

Gas these days is pretty amazing. If the cap is tight the gas could be tired but OK. Perhaps 10 ounces of methyl hydrate to neutralize the water that may have gotten in.

Being a risk taker try the old gas. If OK your Reatta will start if not throw a cap or two of gas into the throttle body and if it sputters then a drain and refill is in order. The methyl hydrate will work in an hour or two. If it runs get a can of Redline Fuel system cleaner or Techron into the tank.

Now for the brakes. Do the infamous bra...lue crap is in This is what it should say ... Now for the brakes. Do the infamous brake tests. Then flush your brake fluid. Everyone here knows that I like ATE Super Blue. When you flush with blue fluid it (yes colored BLUE) is easy to tell when the old crap is out and the fresh blue crap is in. (I always leave an opening for the spelling and grammmer polize on the forum).

Brake calipers could seize or they could be fine. Just drive it and if it doesn't coast you have seized pistons. Likely not.

Then put air in the tires, put it in Park and turn it over and hope it runs. If stored outside they could be tired due to infrared radiation (aka the sun).

The AC will be toast, hell I couldn't get mine through a season let alone 5 years.

PS!!! We are all freaks...information freaks!! The more information you can supply about a problem the faster you will have the required fix recommended.

Your new best friend will be Jim Finn. ...tropical areas. (AGAIN this is what I wrote ...Your new best friend will be Jim Finn. He can get you any part for any Reatta ever made. He has scowered the earth from the North Pole to the deepest mid Atlantic rift. He prefers to search in tropical areas. This is Jim in Key West and Syracuse looking for Reattas ;-) I Know Syracuse, who would have thought but he found about 20 in one place.

) This is Jim in Key West and Syracuse looking for Reattas ;-) I Know Syracuse, who would have thought but he found about 20 in one place.

Jim went missing for 90 days after that...might have had something to do with the car in the foreground or not?

Me helping Jim at almost 12,000 feet on the Bear Tooth Highway. I think there is a Reatta around the corner.

When you get a reply from padget, nic walker, greg ross, F14crazy, <span style="font-weight: bold">Master & Grand POOBA </span><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Barney Eaton</span></span>, NY BobP and Jim you are getting it from the best of the best.

replies from the following should be ignored...sorry out of time TBC?

If I can leave you with one thought...the more information you can supply the better. AND if it can be fixed this group of people can do it. DO NOT take you Reatta to the GM dealer...they will only say that they don't work on the foreign exotics types of car. You can then have fun and ask why does it say BUICK on the rear?

I have a feeling the you will soon be a contributing member. Have fun and safe driving.

Where do you and your Reatta reside? Me ...You can find me here at my summer place where I am throwing a July 1st party for 250,000 of my closest friends, join me?

[Guest F14CRAZY]

Hmm...has your Reatta been outside?

Depending on if its been outside, and your geographical location, I would say that you wouldn't have to drain the gas because modern fuel injection can be stale gas and a tank full of new gas with a bottle of fuel system cleaner will get everything back in commission as far as that goes, but the thing to consider is moisture and if any significant amount has accumulated in the tank. Another factor would be how much gas has been in there since less empty space would leave less area for moisture to accumulate. Ehh...throw in a bottle of Heet too with a full tank, it'll burn

Though again, depending on where its been, hopefully the motor hasn't seized.

Before trying to start it I would at least change the engine oil and do the trans (complete fluid and filter change, and power steering again to get the moisture out. Drain the ABS resevoir, refill, drain again, refill, and bleed the lines, and do the brake tests at Reatta.net to be sure the system is working properly...I'm willing to bet you'll need at least a new accumulator. Flush the cooling system too.

Inspect the tires. Any cracking, dry rotting, or otherwise damage isn't particularly safe to drive on. If they're okay they may have flat spots which may or may not go away with driving. You'll probably have some other little things to replace such as the serpentine belt.

That's about all I can think of right now. It will take a little effort but not much as long as no damage has occurred from sitting.