Firing up the old girl after 4 years...advice please.

Hi all.

Gosh, I haven’t been here for a long time. I have a 1981 Cabby 1.8.

Probably the same story as most. Kids came along and after the second, the cabby got parked up and covered over and not driven, or started since 2014.

I now want to dig her out and spend a bit of money sorting her out, getting the old 3 point belts installed etc.

So first off, before I even put a key in the ignition, what should I check/change/replace? Fluids, parts etc.

How much petrol was left in the tank and has it been moved or started since it was off the road?

mark1gls said

How much petrol was left in the tank and has it been moved or started since it was off the road?

I can’t remember how much petrol, but not empty. No, it hasn’t been moved or started. I left the handbrake off and chocked it instead.


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When we first tried to start ours after it being stood for 10 years. We had a fully charged Battery and fresh Petrol, it didn't start, Petrol pumps had seized ! Replaced both In Tank and under body pumps, then she fired up. Then we replaced Plugs, Dizzy cap and Rotor Arm. Then new Brake Discs, Pads and Rear Linings, replaced Brake Fluid, Clutch and Cable, Timing Belt, WaterPump and Alternator Belt. Oil and Filters changed.Then took her for MOT.

greavsy said

When we first tried to start ours after it being stood for 10 years. We had a fully charged Battery and fresh Petrol, it didn't start, Petrol pumps had seized ! Replaced both In Tank and under body pumps, then she fired up. Then we replaced Plugs, Dizzy cap and Rotor Arm. Then new Brake Discs, Pads and Rear Linings, replaced Brake Fluid, Clutch and Cable, Timing Belt, WaterPump and Alternator Belt. Oil and Filters changed.Then took her for MOT.

Wow! Good heads up! So you didn’t replace the body and engine…!


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Haha. Fortunately no !  Our's is an 87 Cabby, It's not in bad nick for it's age. It does have a bit of rust here and there but overall not bad.  I had some work done on the Screen surround last year. More to do when funds allow.

Is your car fuel injection or carb?

1.8 injection


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Ok you need to be more careful with whats in the petrol tank, the last thing you want is sucking up the cr*p in the tank and it getting into the fuel injection system.

If you can remove the fuel sender on top of the fuel tank and have a good look in the tank, shine a tourch in there and check for dirt and rust and make sure a filter of some sort is on the fuel pick up, not sure if you have a lift pump in your fuel tank or on older style smaller fuel tank with a rubber swirl pot which can decay, turn to glop and block everything up especially with the extra ethanol in today's petrol.

Try and drain out as much petrol as possible and stick some fresh super unleaded in.

Don't start it yet as more check to be on the safe side.

Post them up later as got to go now.   

Thank you. I have time. I won’t be attempting to start for a few weeks, but wanted to reach out and put everything into place before it becomes a reality.


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That's good as simple checks now can save alot of headaches later down the line, the fuel system does not like any dirt etc in there and spare parts are now getting expensive and some things are getting harder to find, some of the Mk1 Golf stuff some people are selling they are adding "a scene tax" to the price so some things are now selling for silly money as people keep paying it…..