I charged the battery all night and tried again this AM to start it. This time, everytime I turn the key it would catch, then die. No waiting for it to "rest", though. So I decided to ease my foot into it. Sure enough it reluctantly, FINALLY, stayed running, but very poorly. I was a bit worried about damaging the engine, but figgered what the heck, it's a bimmer with 200+K on it and 21 years old. The Goodyear Eagles (which were nearly new when I stopped driving it) on it are worth more than the car.
The car finally would idle normally and I could goose the throttle and it started to sound normal. I pushed the clutch, put it in gear and drove it out of the dirt.
It sounds like it's old self again. A bit musty and rusty from sitting out, but still a nice little old-tech car (no air bags...). And it still rides like it's on rails.
Time for some fresh premium and maybe some fuel injector cleaner just to make me feel good. Then I have to figure out what to do with the car.
Even with a sun shield in all this time, there is now a crack in the nearly obligatory position in the dash. That sucks because otherwise the dash looks like new. Unlike the seats which are worn and need recovered or replaced, as does the carpet. Well, the car has had every quarter wrecked and repaired or replaced. The cheap assed clear coat that the DEALER used to repaint it is all peeling and rusting along the edges (of the hood).
But OH, is it a fun little car to throw around. Too bad it's in the same class at SCCA as the RX7, otherwise I'd make a little track day car out of it. Power to weight sucks compared to the Mazda and others. Dang smogged up E motors.
Thanks for the tips. I was ready to start tracing the old girl's troubles, but she came through in the end.. as always!
