short term winter storage

[Pancho]

I normally drive my car all winter, except this winter, as I am going to be away for 8 weeks. I live in house with no garage, but rent an underground condo space nearby, unfortunatly there is no available electric supply for a trickle charger or maintainer. I have just had a new battery installed (died in downtown Toronto a couple of weeks ago!). I have no one to move my car while I am away. During the winter, when the snow is too deep to drive, or icy, if I am not driving for a few days, I hook up a small solar charger to my cigarette lighter .... but doubt this will help underground under flourescent light???

Has anyone any suggestions as to how I can save my new battery? the dealership told me that if I allow the battery to go flat, and then recharge it, it will never recover?

and.. should I inflate my tires? put something under them to avoid contact with the cement floor? fill the gas tank?

What can I do? all suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

[avaporsche]

I normally drive my car all winter, except this winter, as I am going to be away for 8 weeks. I live in house with no garage, but rent an underground condo space nearby, unfortunatly there is no available electric supply for a trickle charger or maintainer. I have just had a new battery installed (died in downtown Toronto a couple of weeks ago!). I have no one to move my car while I am away. During the winter, when the snow is too deep to drive, or icy, if I am not driving for a few days, I hook up a small solar charger to my cigarette lighter .... but doubt this will help underground under flourescent light???

Has anyone any suggestions as to how I can save my new battery? the dealership told me that if I allow the battery to go flat, and then recharge it, it will never recover?

and.. should I inflate my tires? put something under them to avoid contact with the cement floor? fill the gas tank?

What can I do? all suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

Mines sitting till winter is over.

1. Change oil and filter

2. 45-50 psi in tires and put the car on old or scrap carpet. Put the car on jack stands would be better.

3. take out the battery and store it on a 2x6 (or a piece of wood)indoors where it will not freeze.

4. wipe down leather w/a good protectant

5. cover car with a dust cover.

When you take it out of storage, you will have to reset the engines computer at a dealer or someone with a scan tool.

[1schoir]

I normally drive my car all winter, except this winter, as I am going to be away for 8 weeks. I live in house with no garage, but rent an underground condo space nearby, unfortunatly there is no available electric supply for a trickle charger or maintainer. I have just had a new battery installed (died in downtown Toronto a couple of weeks ago!). I have no one to move my car while I am away. During the winter, when the snow is too deep to drive, or icy, if I am not driving for a few days, I hook up a small solar charger to my cigarette lighter .... but doubt this will help underground under flourescent light???

Has anyone any suggestions as to how I can save my new battery? the dealership told me that if I allow the battery to go flat, and then recharge it, it will never recover?

and.. should I inflate my tires? put something under them to avoid contact with the cement floor? fill the gas tank?

What can I do? all suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

Pancho:

Definitely fill the gas tank as that will minimize condensation inside the tank.

Also, it would be a good idea to treat the gas (just before you fill it before storage) with either StarTron by Starbrite or Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer for ethanol-laced gas. . Those products will help to prevent any breakdown and separation of the gas. (Note that I am assuming that you have the curse of ethanol in Canada).

Before you disconnect the battery, read the article in a recent issue of Excellence magazine about the possible ill effects of doing so that some have experienced.

+1 for inflating the tires and putting them up on scraps of carpet.

Regards, Maurice.

Edited December 21, 2010 by 1schoir

[Pancho]

I normally drive my car all winter, except this winter, as I am going to be away for 8 weeks. I live in house with no garage, but rent an underground condo space nearby, unfortunatly there is no available electric supply for a trickle charger or maintainer. I have just had a new battery installed (died in downtown Toronto a couple of weeks ago!). I have no one to move my car while I am away. During the winter, when the snow is too deep to drive, or icy, if I am not driving for a few days, I hook up a small solar charger to my cigarette lighter .... but doubt this will help underground under flourescent light???

Has anyone any suggestions as to how I can save my new battery? the dealership told me that if I allow the battery to go flat, and then recharge it, it will never recover?

and.. should I inflate my tires? put something under them to avoid contact with the cement floor? fill the gas tank?

What can I do? all suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

Pancho:

Definitely fill the gas tank as that will minimize condensation inside the tank.

Also, it would be a good idea to treat the gas (just before you fill it before storage) with either StarTron by Starbrite or Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer for ethanol-laced gas. . Those products will help to prevent any breakdown and separation of the gas. (Note that I am assuming that you have the curse of ethanol in Canada).

Before you disconnect the battery, read the article in a recent issue of Excellence magazine about the possible ill effects of doing so that some have experienced.

+1 for inflating the tires and putting them up on scraps of carpet.

Regards, Maurice.

[Pancho]

thank you all for your advice!

[Dharn55]

No need to the computer, heck I have had the engine out of my car a couple of times and have not had to reset the computer. The ECU will have to "relearn" certain settings, but it does this on its own. I am facing a similar challenge, have to have shoulder surgery and they say I have to be in a sling for 4 weeks, no stick shift for at least 8 weeks. Bummer! In my case I will get my wife to drive the car at least every week or two.