My 2006 Charger has been dormant for ten years. Needless to say, the battery is deader than a doornail.

I believe I read online somewhere that you can't just slam a new battery in there; there will be problems with the stored electronic info having fled the machine.

What do I need to do to get this thing up and running again? I already pumped up the tires, which were flatter than flat.

Is there a problem with any old gasoline that may be in the tank having gone bad in some way? If so, what do I need to do about that?

 

You want to drain and flush the fuel system, change the oil, put a battery in it, and fire it up. Let it warm up, and relearn how to run the engine, then I would be changing ALL the fluids in it, and flushing the cooling system.

 

I can't speak for the electrical system other than to make sure all the battery connections are clean. Computers change so much in vehicles every couple of years, I just don't know. Let's treat it like a 1966 Charger as the basic mechanics are pretty similar. I would remove the spark plugs and spray fogging oil into the cylinders. I'd then crank the engine by hand a couple of times to prevent scoring on the cylinder walls from lack of oil. It may all have slid off the surfaces inside the cylinders. Drain the engine oil and put fresh in it. New filter too. Drain the fuel system too to get the varnish from old fuel out. Before starting it, I'd also change the coolant. The anti-freeze never goes away but the anti-corrosion breaks down after 5 years or so. You'll need a new battery of course.

On the body, oil all the hinges. Hood, trunk and doors. Do NOT use WD-40. It is good stuff but it's also a cutting oil. Use 3 in 1 motor oil. Everything will work smoothly afterwards. WD-40 will destroy the hinges over time when grit gets into it and grinds away inside the bushings.If the interior is leather, use some leather conditioner before you sit on the seats a lot so you don't crack it. Do NOT use Armor-All as it has silicone and that shortens the life of leather. Both real leather and faux leather. You want something with lanolin. Plus, when you get done, your hands will be kissy soft.

Lastly, use those old rotten tires to drive to the tire shop once you get the car up and running again. Between age and sitting bent, it will ride like a log wagon and you're looking at catastrophic tire failure. I assure you, they are totally shot. If it were me, I'd put the car on jacks and throw the whole set in my truck and take them in for new tires, they are that dangerous.