Since my cars off the road for the next year...I was wondering if anyone had tips on how best to look after her. Will be doing some work on her but for insurance reasons she will remain in my yard...so i want her to be able to be kept in good mech condition and be theft proof? So is it worth starting her up once a week and running her for a bit....or just leaving it with some good lube? Cheers in advance. Mai Ki-Ki
the usual stuff comes to mind... lift the car off the floor (jackstands) and i bought some silicate (those little bags of crystals you get sometimes with a new pair of dress shoes or women's purse) threw a few bags in on the floor, it absorbs moisture. and since you realize i'm anal, i should say that i also left a battery trickle charger on the battery the whole time the car was off the road. i once read that a small amount of current 'flows' through the body and frame by way of the battery and the battery's ground cable, this helps prevent corrosion from forming, so it is said. hey, it's practically free. i already had the battery charger. so why not! all this is while the car was in a garage under a car cover. a year's not that long to where you need to start draining fluids and the like out of the car, so just the simple stuff should do it. tred.
M K-K, can you post a pic of your car for me. and tell me what the colors are from. i seem to remeber it was a factory color from a newer car right? looking at differnet purples for the wife's 55 plymouth...ken....
At Night... <img src=http://img2.photobucket.com/albums/v11/ataribaby/night.jpg> and during day... <img src=http://img2.photobucket.com/albums/v11/ataribaby/bufffffy.jpg> body is a standard toyota color...found on toyota echos here in Australia...But I've only ever seen it on one ever... Cheers Maiki
Get it up off the ground to allow airflow, but don't leave the suspension hanging. If you're going to use silica bags put them in pie plates, they'll suck a lot of moisture out of the air. If you're in a humid area you're going to want to check and drain the plates once in a while. Top up fluids, change the oil and filter and fill the gas tank. If you can't start the car once a month use gas stabilizer in the tank. Use a breathable cloth cover, plastic tarps trap moisture. Use a vapour barrier under the car. Put a piece of dryer felt under it (like they use under printing presses, check print shops I got a huge damn chunk for free). Probably more than you wanted to know.
Why's she off the road for a year MKK? I'd keep her out of the weather completely if I could. Any friends with spare shed space?
put some "stabil" in the full tank of gas,and run it enough to get the float bowl full of it.keeps your gasoline from turning to crap,and the full tank leaves less room for the tank to "sweat",and laeave a bunch of moisture in the tank. hope this helps ya' later
As mentioned, jack stands, undercover(preferably in a shed) is a big one, fill the fuel tank, and as mentioned, start regularly(every few weeks where possible) in an effort to keep all the gaskets etc moist. Similarly, if possible try and apply the brakes in the driveway every now and then... I can offer you free shed space and monthly 'checks', I'd even fly down there to bring it up here for you..... Cheers, Drewfus P.S. keep me informed on the progress of new project....
Thanks guys.... Trying to find undercover care for her atm. Backyard with tarp atm....thinking of dumpingn her real low....dropping the springs out and supporting her chassi real low...no real weight on tyres etc..and will look good as my backyard ornament. Peddro! my glug glug brm brm incident has precluded me from driving or having on-road insurance for a year... Maiki p.s - will find a shed/garge if i can...
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