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CAR STORAGE TIPS
American Pride Automotive • May 27, 2014
If you’re going to be out of town for more than a couple of weeks or if you will simply not be driving your car or truck for an extended period of time, it’s a good idea to take some precautions to ensure the vehicle is in good working order when you need it again.
The best solution is to have someone drive the car for a least 15 minutes every couple of weeks. This keeps the battery charged, the engine lubricated, and prevents flat spots from developing on the tires. If you’re not able to leave the car with someone who can drive it regularly, here are some tips to make sure it’s in drivable condition when you return.
1) Keep the battery charged. If the car will not be driven while it is in storage, disconnect the negative battery cable, or connect it to a trickle charger. Of course, using a trickle charger requires a nearby power source, so it’s only an option if you’ll be able to keep the vehicle in a garage.
2) Clean it first. Anything that’s on the paint can cause damage over time, so it’s best to give the vehicle a wash before putting it in storage.
3) Keep it covered. Obviously a climate controlled garage is best, but if that’s not an option, invest in a cover. Covers vary a great deal in price and level of protection. If you’ll only be storing your car for a couple of weeks, and you don’t plan on doing so again, you may decide that a $30 cover from a big-box store is good enough. But if you’re storing the car for 6 months (or you store it frequently for short periods of time), the $250 all-weather UV-resistant custom cover may be worth it.
4) Get the oil changed. Used engine oil has contaminants that if left sitting could damage the engine over time. This is more of a concern for long-term storage (a month or more).
5) Don’t use the parking brake. Instead, use a piece of wood or a tire chock to make sure the car can’t move. Leaving the parking brake on leaves the brake pads in contact with the rotors which can fuse together over time.
6) Talk to your insurance company. If the car or truck is in storage, you may be eligible to have your insurance bill reduced, though this is usually only possible if it will be a month or more.
If you have any questions about car care tips, or if you need help getting your car back in working order, give us a call at American Pride orcontact us online. With locations in Toano, Williamsburg, Newport News and Newport News, we’re ready to help you.
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You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
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