I'm looking for a vehicle that my grandson can use to commute to college this Fall. I came upon a 2003 Dodge Neon that has - wait for it - 5000 original miles. The car is in the hands of the original owner, who bought it as a 2nd car for his wife to use in an emergency. For a variety of reasons, the car just sat in the garage for many years.
I know that rubber parts like tires, radiator hoses, belts and brake hoses will deteriorate with the passage of time. So they will probably need replacing. And all the fluids will need replacing, including the gas in the tank. The battery will start the car, but...
How about the timing belt? This particular Neon has an engine design that will cause the valves to hit the pistons if the belt breaks.
Any other maintenance items you'd recommend on an old vehicle with low miles?
I know that rubber parts like tires, radiator hoses, belts and brake hoses will deteriorate with the passage of time. So they will probably need replacing. And all the fluids will need replacing, including the gas in the tank. The battery will start the car, but...
How about the timing belt? This particular Neon has an engine design that will cause the valves to hit the pistons if the belt breaks.
Any other maintenance items you'd recommend on an old vehicle with low miles?