Getting Your Car Ready to Go into Storage
Cars are designed to be out on the road, getting you where you need to go. And yet there can come a time when your car will be out of service for a while. There might not necessarily be anything wrong with the vehicle, and it might be that you're going on an extended holiday or simply don't have enough space on your property to safely store the vehicle. Putting a car into storage can be a simple solution, and it can almost seem logical. After all, many storage units resemble garages. There are a few things to do to make sure that your car leaves the storage unit running as well as the day it went inside.
Choosing a Storage Facility
The chosen storage facility should have sufficient maneuvering space directly outside the unit for you to easily drive the vehicle inside. Enquire about their security too. While it can be difficult for someone to enter the unit and drive away in your vehicle, it's not impossible. Find out whether there are security cameras and if there will be someone staffing the storage facility at all times.
Prior to Storage
Before going into the storage unit, your car needs a thorough clean, inside and out. Take it to a car wash to remove any dirt or grime on its exterior. Pay careful attention to bird droppings which might damage the paintwork. Remove any rubbish from the inside of the car and thoroughly vacuum the interior. You don't want to inadvertently make your vehicle a target for vermin. A dust cover can be a wise idea for when the vehicle is inside the unit.
Keeping the Vehicle Immobilised
Invest in a pair of wooden wedges (known as chocks) to be placed under the tires while the car is in storage. This is preferable to leaving the parking brake on, as this can cause the brake pads to deteriorate if the vehicle is in storage for a longer period of time.
Maintenance While in Storage
There should be some petrol in the tank to prevent this component of the vehicle from drying out, potentially damaging the seals. There needs to be enough to get you back to a petrol station when the vehicle comes out of storage, and there should also be enough so that someone can periodically visit the car and activate its engine so that the battery remains operative. Arrange for someone to do this on your behalf if you're away, and of course the door to the storage unit needs to be wide open to prevent the accumulation of carbon monoxide.
It requires a small amount of effort to ready your vehicle for storage, but you're going to need it again before too long, so the effort is certainly worthwhile.
Share