Nissan Repair: Nissan Maxima, center bolt, nissan maxima

Question
I have a 2000 Maxima that has been sitting unstarted outdoors for 4 years in Richmond VA.  What do I need to do to restart it and recondition it.  

Answer
Hi Steve -

Outdoors 4 years in the weather is not a good thing for a car.

The first thing is to check if the engine still can turn. Obviously the battery must be dead, so try to turn it manually, best way is to get a large ratchet and socket and turn the center bolt of the damper, which is the lowest pulley for the belts. In the center is a bolt, I do not remember the size, maybe 19MM.

If the engine cannot turn, best thing to do is not even try to bring it back to life. Not worth the money or effort.

If it does turn, then take a compression test of all the cylinders and let me know how that goes.

Aloha
hope this helps -
calvin