How to prep an FRS that’s been sitting for a year
 

My FRS has been sitting in the garage for over a year, mainly because we had a baby but is 1.5 years old now! I haven’t needed it since we have another car, plus it needs smog and it’s tuned so I procrastinated.

Should I just start it up? It may be difficult to pull out of the garage since the space is tight. Maybe put in a half quart of oil to make sure it has enough? The dip stick reads low, but it’s been sitting.

Dipstick shouldn't read low if it's sitting, should be higher since everything has had more time to drain to the pan. Either way, not a big deal. I'd want to change the oil on something sitting that long so I don't think I would add any as long as it is showing up on the dipstick now. Check battery first. If it looks good i'd just start it. If you want you can prime the oiling system a bit by holding the gas pedal all the way down and crank for a bit.

Fill the oil, check the exhaust, under the hood and in the intake for rodent nests and fire her up.
Sitting a year is nothing. Unless of course it is a carbureted car sitting outside with the hood missing, air filter cover off and no sparkplugs in it.

My concerns would be battery, old gas, flat spotted/decaying tires, mice ate the wiring, and mice in the intake/exhaust in that order.

If the gas tank is full, just go easy on it until you can get fresh gas in. If it's half or less, just drive it to get some fresh gas first.

If it was left on summer tires well below freezing, you might want to replace them. If all seasons or temperate year round, then it's probably fine but check for cracks etc. Will likely need some amount of air.

Everything else is pretty obvious to figure out I think.

He is in the bay area. Winter lows get down to the 50s. Burrrr!

LOL! :lol:

Thank you everyone for their advice! Oil was low, took a full quart, but it could have been low a year ago. Coolant was also below the low mark so added to full. No rodents or giant spider webs, no rust or anything noticeable under the hood or near the exhaust. Tires were at 30 psi, originally 40 psi I think, so held up well and filled them back up. I changed the battery the other day and all the lights came on. I drove it around a bit today, and didn't have any issues with fuel delivery, although I should probably get the fuel filter changed as well as oil and coolant flush. Cleaned the tires while she was out, also.

Thanks for everyone's help! All in all, it wasn't a big ordeal, just needed to fill up on oil and coolant. If anyone has the same issue, if it's garaged it seems to be pretty easy to get it going again. Rear needs less camber ever since it was lowered, but never bothered. Will do soon with some inexpensive SPC LCAs and toe links.
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No fuel filter to change. Just fill with fresh gas. Fluid changes never hurt, and I would do brake fluid while your at it.

Nice to see it out in the sun again, congrats.

Recommended/factory tire pressures are listed on the sticker inside the driver's side door jam.

@mike_ekim1024 What exhaust do you have? Can't remember.

The Perrin resonated car-back. It’s just enough to not sound stock, maybe a little drone when idling. I think my very first mod was the clear side markers. I was like oh yeah, I’m a modder! :lol:

Maybe one of these days I’ll go on a ride again. I can’t believe I’ve had the car for 10 years now. I haven’t sat in it for a year and forgot how low the seat is, heh, like having a new, but familiar car.

There is zero reason to worry about summer tires sitting in freezing conditions. Driving in freezing weather yes. Sitting no.

Next up you should schedule a trans/diff fluid change and brake service