looking at a 100 that is in good shape and has been driven a few thousand miles since, but it sat for a five years and was driven about 500mi a year during that time. Other than tires/dry rot type stuff, should i worry about anything in particular? I would do a baseline of all fluids and such, but still. Is buying an “it sat around” car bad like buying a flood car/etc?
What goes wrong on a vehicle that sits for a long time?
- Thread starter Pyrenees
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
How long did it actually sat without being driven for?
If they drove it at least once a month to get fluids churning then it should be okay. Just change oil and flush out coolant and inspect hoses for cracks and stuff.
If they drove it at least once a month to get fluids churning then it should be okay. Just change oil and flush out coolant and inspect hoses for cracks and stuff.
From my experience, and somewhere here on someone's signature, they say that a vehicle will suffer more problems from disuse than misuse. I'm a tech at a Toyota dealership, and have seen more leaking head gaskets on older Corollas (i.e. 10 years old) with under 50k miles than I have on any other. Toyota's do not like to sit. Or any car for that matter...lol Will you have unusual problems if you buy this one? Depends. Was it stored inside during that time? Or let to sit in the rain, snow, sun, etc. The elements will corrode and seize things up that you wouldn't expect. However, I would not personally be afraid of buying an "it sat around" vehicle. While I have seen more 2uz head gasket issues this year than all previous years combined, I think these have specifically been due to overheating, not sitting or disuse. If the vehicle in question has been driven 500 miles a year, I don't think that's too bad personally. Shoot, I daily drive my LX450 and have only put on 700 miles since January. But I also change the oil every 6-8 months. You are going to have to replace certain things if you take the plunge, but for the most part, in my humble opinion, it's not going to be too bad. Not like a flood car at all. I hope this helps....
Rodents can do a number on quite a few things, that would be my biggest concern - especially if it sat in a barn or something. Blower motor/ductwork, make sure there are no funky electrical issues from mice chewing wires, etc. Just something to keep in mind during inspection.
It's called "lot rot", this get rusty from the moisture in the air, seals dry out and leak because the oil/coolant/whatever was never splashed around to keep them moist.
Alternator brushes corrod. A/C compressor's leak. Brake calipers rust and seize. Tons of stuff. BUT I would not let that stop me from buying a car in great shape just because it sat.
Alternator brushes corrod. A/C compressor's leak. Brake calipers rust and seize. Tons of stuff. BUT I would not let that stop me from buying a car in great shape just because it sat.
My 100 sat for a year at a dealership before I got it, and then drove it home like 300 miles without a problem. Door hinges and stuff a little stiff, needed lube, and plastic handle for rear glass broke off cuz mechanism was rusty and plastic old. When I finally got rear locker engaged it got stuck in locked position, had to take it out and fiddle with it. Guess that’s why they say to operate those mechanisms periodically. I kinda bet it was never used in its first 17 years of life.
Edit: brake pedal had trouble returning, acted likes brakes were sticking. Just needed some lube on pedal hinge itself.
Edit: brake pedal had trouble returning, acted likes brakes were sticking. Just needed some lube on pedal hinge itself.
Last edited:
Seals and rubbers go bad from not getting lubed up. Watch for leaks!
I just picked un an SC300 that had been sitting for a year - replaced distributor cap, rotor, coil, plugs, wires and all fluids just to have a baseline where I knew that things were fresh - car ran fine beofre i did all this. The only surprise was plug seals that were leaking oil into a couple cylinders. Overall, I would not be afraid of a 100 that hasn't been driven alot. I would check for rust and rodent infestation. Unless you find either of those issues, you should be in good shape.
I snagged a Prius 2 years ago that was an 05 with 4000 original miles!
It had less then 300 miles a year until I got it.
Before selling the older couple who were the original owners took it to a dealer and had it "Baselined" as much as the dealer could get out of them at least which was essentially all fluids changed and most rubber gaskets on the body replaced and new tires of course.
The thing drove great and I had no issues with that part of it at all but sold it as it was just so impractical for my use.
A friends uncle bought it and put 20k of trouble free miles on it mostly driving distance between our towns.
A Prius is both both more and less complicated than a 100 probably too.
I saw no ill effects at all and have to wonder how anyone could liken one that just sat with one that sat in a flood ?
Not even remotely the same thing?
It had less then 300 miles a year until I got it.
Before selling the older couple who were the original owners took it to a dealer and had it "Baselined" as much as the dealer could get out of them at least which was essentially all fluids changed and most rubber gaskets on the body replaced and new tires of course.
The thing drove great and I had no issues with that part of it at all but sold it as it was just so impractical for my use.
A friends uncle bought it and put 20k of trouble free miles on it mostly driving distance between our towns.
A Prius is both both more and less complicated than a 100 probably too.
I saw no ill effects at all and have to wonder how anyone could liken one that just sat with one that sat in a flood ?
Not even remotely the same thing?
- Thread starter
- #10
Well good then. I was trying to make sure that it wouldn’t be as catastrophic. Asked since I wasn’t sure.
Odds are nothing catastrophic will happen.
The worse thing will be the stale gas in the tank, which case I'd top off with premium as a can of SeaFoam and then not worry about it from there other than changing the fuel filter after you get it home and again in 3 months because all of the varnish and stuff may clog it.
The worse thing will be the stale gas in the tank, which case I'd top off with premium as a can of SeaFoam and then not worry about it from there other than changing the fuel filter after you get it home and again in 3 months because all of the varnish and stuff may clog it.
