Storing my car

[TheIntrepid]

This is probably obvious, but I'm storing my Intrepid next week until March-ish in the garage, and are there any steps I should take?

Here's my checklist so far:
-Give it a car wash
-Fill up the tank
-Make sure all windows/sunroof/doors are closed and locked
-Change the oil

-Temporarily shut off the insurance
-Take off the license plates


Picture of the car for reference

[SVT_Power]

Disconnect the battery

[dazzleman]

How long are you storing it for?

If it's a long time, you should also drain the fluids.

Why are you storing it, BTW?

[heelntoe]

if you are filling up the tank, add fuel stabilizer to the tank.

[dazzleman]

This sounds like too much of a PITA to me.  Just drive the f*$king thing once a week to keep it going....

[Raghavan]

Don't fill up the tank, and why are you taking off the license plates?

[TheIntrepid]

Should I not fill up the tank? I still have a week or so to go before I store it, and my tank's about halfway. I can safely assume it'll be damn close to empty when I am ready to park it.

[CALL_911]

This sounds like too much of a PITA to me.  Just drive the f*$king thing once a week to keep it going....

Honestly.

Dude, the thing is not a Porsche. Just drive it once a week, and skip all this bullshit. The Subaru sits around most of the time, doesn't even get driven once a week (unless I come home for a period and take it back to school with me ), and it's just fine.

[TheIntrepid]

This sounds like too much of a PITA to me.  Just drive the f*$king thing once a week to keep it going....

Dad said that by taking off the insurance, we're saving about $1025 over 3 months. I'm not going to take it out of the garage with no insurance.

[CALL_911]

Dad said that by taking off the insurance, we're saving about $1025 over 3 months. I'm not going to take it out of the garage with no insurance.

Drive it around the block, you don't exactly need a cross-country road trip.

[TheIntrepid]

Drive it around the block, you don't exactly need a cross-country road trip.

There's always the risk of someone running into me, especially with crazy Expedition bitch living a few doors down.

[dazzleman]

Dad said that by taking off the insurance, we're saving about $1025 over 3 months. I'm not going to take it out of the garage with no insurance.

He can afford a 5,000 SF house, and he's worried about a few hundred a month for insurance?  Honestly, it's not even worth his time to go through all the effort of canceling the insurance and plates, and then reinstating them later.

BTW, that's a f*$kload of money for insurance.  Are those normal rates?

[CALL_911]

There's always the risk of someone running into me, especially with crazy Expedition bitch living a few doors down.

You're an idiot. That is all.

[TheIntrepid]

You're an idiot. That is all.

Listen here kid, this wasn't about why I should or should not store my car. The decision isn't up to you, it's up to me and my family, and it's been made. I made this thread to ask if there's anything else I can do to make sure it'll start up just fine when I am ready to take it out of storage.

[CALL_911]

Listen here kid, this wasn't about why I should or should not store my car. The decision isn't up to you, it's up to me and my family, and it's been made. I made this thread to ask if there's anything else I can do to make sure it'll start up just fine when I am ready to take it out of storage.

#1. You aren't NEARLY old enough to call me "kid".
#2. My suggestions save you a lot of trouble.
#3. Why the hell would you take off the license plates.
#4. If these precautions make you feel "hardcore", do it.

[hounddog]

Disconnect the battery

Should probably remove it all together.  But, be sure not to store it directly on concrete.  Use a buffer such as wood.

Stabil you gas as well.  It only costs a few dollars, and hurts nothing.

Do not cancel your insurance completely.  Keep your comprehensive, or storage, insurance on it in case of fire, theft, flood, etc.

[hounddog]

Drive it around the block, you don't exactly need a cross-country road trip.

That is worse than letting it set.  It gets only warm enough to create condensation in the exhaust system, and then the condensation rusts the pipes and muffler. 

[TheIntrepid]

Should probably remove it all together.  But, be sure not to store it directly on concrete.  Use a buffer such as wood.

Stabil you gas as well.  It only costs a few dollars, and hurts nothing.

Do not cancel your insurance completely.  Keep your comprehensive, or storage, insurance on it in case of fire, theft, flood, etc.

Thanks.

[hounddog]

Don't fill up the tank, and why are you taking off the license plates?

Actually, by not filling the tank, you leave space in the tank for condensation to be created.  And, there is little worse than allowing moisture in the gas.  Add plenty of stabilizer, and fill it to the top.

But, I agree, why are you cancelling the plates?

[hounddog]

Thanks.

Come to think of it, where your battery is located, just disconnect it.  You will have to remove the fender to get it out, I believe. 

You are welcome.  We store our BMW every winter, along with my dads one owner 1964 Cutlass, and their one owner 1977 Ford T-bird.  So, this happens to be a topic I do know something about.

[TheIntrepid]

Come to think of it, where your battery is located, just disconnect it.  You will have to remove the fender to get it out, I believe. 

You are welcome.  We store our BMW every winter, along with my dads one owner 1964 Cutlass, and their one owner 1977 Ford T-bird.  So, this happens to be a topic I do know something about.

You store your BMW in the winter? Aren't you using it right now?

[Colonel Cadillac]

I never really give it much thought when I go off to school and let the TSX sit for a few months. I suppose it gets driven here and there when I'm gone, but it definitely will go weeks at a time without being touched.

[hounddog]

You store your BMW in the winter? Aren't you using it right now?

We were, I put it away right after our little beer run.  In fact, we got back Sunday, and I put it away Monday morning.  I am headed up to my folks farm in the next few days, I will take a couple photos when I get up there of both the 330, and the other cars.

[r0tor]

BTW, that's a f*$kload of money for insurance.  Are those normal rates?

yea... i pay less then that for a year 

[JYODER240]

Just leave it at your house and start it up and let it run for 5min once a week.

[S204STi]

Leave the plates on it, it will make it easier for the police to find when I go up to Toronto and steal it.

[the Teuton]

Also, I agree with Jordan on just letting it run.  It does more harm to a car to run it around the block without letting it warm up than it does to take it on a short trip or something.  You want the engine to have time to warm up.

[dazzleman]

yea... i pay less then that for a year 

so do I

[The Pirate]

Like Hounddog said, don't cancel the insurance.  He listed some good reasons, and here is another one:  Depending on your province's insurance regulations, it could be considered a gap in insurance, and could have a negative impact in the future.

Others have said good stuff too.  Full tank of gas with fuel stabilizer is a must, keep the tires inflated properly, and run the car periodically (let it fully warm up).

I think you're nuts for doing this, BTW.

[The Pirate]

so do I

Not me...