Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: PA Pagoda on August 23, 2013, 14:52:17
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Can anyone point me to some good advice - hopefully specific to 1971 280SL auto - about measures to take after car has not been run in 2+ years and was not prepared in any way for storage?
I would expect to drain fuel and fluids, etc., but haven't done this before. Help!
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Charge battery and turn key. Don't overthink the issue. Two years is not that long a time - if everything was working when it was parked you should be OK.
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I agree, and check the oil level. You might even disconnect the coil wire and crank it a bit just on the starter to get oil moving through and turn things slowly. Then reconnect the wire and let her fire up. Once she's running, top off with some fresh gas to mix in.
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Check the brake system before your first drive; depending on the storage conditions, the pistons may have gotten stuck in the calipers. I would replace the brake fluid while you're at it. Make sure the brakes work well and the pads let go of the disks (corrosion on those?). After driving for the first 10 or so miles, pull over to make sure nothing is sticking or overheating at each wheel. Plus what the other guys said!
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I recently bought a car (a 116) that had been sat in a garage for 12 years. New battery, pumped the tyres up and drove it out!
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Thanks to all for the advice - I'll report back.
I once bought a 1960 190SL that "needed a valve job" and was running on only 3 cylinders (paid $375 in 1971 - the good old days!).
I drove it 75+ miles at 60mph on the Garden Sate Parkway to bring it home and drove around for awhile until I finally did the valve job.
Owned and drove it for 10 more years after that.
Sounds like the 113 is just as tough!! :)