Ok so i recently had to move a 1997 ford thunderbird 4.6L Automatic Transmission with 240,000 miles that had been sitting for a year or 2 (dont know exactly) so i put in a battery and cranked it up. At first it didn't want to start so i gave it some gas and then boom fired up, it ran really ruff at first almost dying out if i didn't keep feeding it gas. Finally it started to idle normally so i decided to drive it around the block a few times, i got around once and the car felt good, then i heard a slight rattling under the car(sounded like a diesel engine) as i was going around again and it began to feel like i was loosing power even while hitting the gas, so i coasted home but when i got near my house the car started to accelerate normally again. So i pulled the car into a spot i can work on it and waited for it to cool down, once cooled i tried to siphon the gas out of the tank(assuming its old) using a hand pump but couldn't get it out so in a day or 2 im going to try and remove the fuel filter and drain the gas from there(going to put a new filter on after). Then i jacked it up and started banging around and heard a slight rattling from what im assuming is my 3rd catalytic converter in the center. Im in California so i cant go after market got to call a shop for that. Is it safe to drain the gas out from the filter? Have you ever done it, or do you have an easier way? Also is it safe to drive with that catalytic converter rattling like it is? I dont want to take it to a mechanic now because the computer hasn't reset properly so i dont even know if the catalytic converter is the only problem. Please help
First you will have to drain the gas tank out you might have to pay a guy with a garage who has a way to get rid of the old gasoline and change the fuel filter and pray it didn't clock everything else up
Ok got all the gas i could out of the tank, then changed the fuel filter and took it for a drive and it drove like a champ! Even the rattling in the Catalytic converter stopped, but im assuming it will come back with time. So now i just have to drive it to set the computer. Oh also thanks to one of your video's i bought a bottle AT 205 re seal, drained the transmission changed the filter and added the reseal while refilling the transmission fluid. Once i topped it off i drove for 30 min and then parked it over night and so far there is no leak from where my transmission connects to the engine. So far things are looking good for this car, appreciate everyone who posted.
You probably should have cleaned that tank and the fuel line/ rail out before you tried starting it. I did this with my '79 Pontiac Catalina after it sat for 5 years, but it has a carburetor that costs at most $500 or so and easily bolts on/off if I clog it, etc. There's no expensive electronic fuel injection stuff that's buried in the engine to clog up.
A good tip for next time you start a car that's sat for years is spray WD40 or PB Blaster down into the spark plug holes so the piston rings can get some lubrication and let it sit for a while. This will help lubricate the piston rings until the oil gets to them. You should change the oil as well. Starting an engine that sat and has no lubrication will cause wear in a hurry.
The catalytic converters aren't critical to the car's safety, California won't like you driving with one missing, but not having it can cause long term issues (running too lean can cause overheating, for example). Depending on where the fuel filter is in that car, you may be able to drain it out from the filter. Odds are it's in the fuel tank with the pump and the tank needs dropped.
Ok got all the gas i could out of the tank, then changed the fuel filter(it was located under the passenger side door) and took it for a drive and it drove like a champ! Even the rattling in the Catalytic converter stopped, but im assuming it will come back with time. So now i just have to drive it to set the computer. Also yes that is some good advice about the pb blaster, i didn't even think of that, im going to write that one down for future reference, thanks.