Taking Your Car Out of Winter Storage
by: Terra.L.Fletcher
Posted on: Monday, August 25th, 2008 at 9:03 pm by: Terra.L.Fletcher
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The days are getting longer, the birds have returned from their southern vacation, and everyone is shedding the winter coats and spending more time out of doors. You are itching to get your car outdoors and do a little cruising. But if you live in a climate where that car hasn’t been driven for six months, don’t start it up just yet.
Take off the car cover and do a thorough visual inspection. You’ll want to look for evidence of inhabitation by critters, so be sure to look under the hood as well. If there are nesting debris you’ll want to employ the use of your shop vac. As you proceed in your visual inspection, look for any signs of leaking fluids. Bend down and take a look under your vehicle.
If the tires are off, inspect the brakes for rust, leaks, and frayed hoses. If the tires are on the car, take them off to do a thorough examination. Check over the tires for bulges, wires, irregularities, or other damages that would compromise their integrity. When the tires are back on the car, check the air pressure.
Before you reattach the battery spend a minute inspecting under the hood. Charge the battery. Take a look at your belts, hoses, and wiring. Look for any obvious signs of wear or loose connections. Pump the brake pedal and check again for leaks.
When it comes to the car’s fluids, the longer your car has been stored the more likely it is that fluids need to be replaced. Think about how much time has passed, allowing fluids to break down, settle, thicken, or otherwise fluctuate. At a minimum you should replace the oil and oil filter.
You may or not deem it necessary to do a full tune up. You should, at a minimum, take a look at your spark plugs. Check for moisture and note the gap.
When you are satisfied with your initial inspections, reattach the battery. Turn your key just to the accessory level, if possible. Check for any signs of wiring problems notice if there is a “hot” smell, indicating an electrical problem. Also make sure that there are no fuel leaks.
Ok, the moment you’ve been waiting for! Go ahead and turn over the engine. Allow engine to warm up. Shut it off (sorry) and check the fluid levels. Inspect your fuel lines, carburetor, clutch and shifter for proper movement and absence of binding.
If your car doesn’t start up right away, don’t be overly concerned. After an attempt or two, give it a rest. You can try squirting a little fresh gas into the carburetor. (Never do this while the car is running or while cranking the engine.) When you do get the car going, allow the engine to warm up to operating temperature and then rev it up a little. Hold it at about 2200rpm for 30-60 seconds to insure proper lubrication. Let it idle down and shut the car off. Follow up with one more inspection. Restart and check all the options, accessories, lights, and controls.
Take your car up and down the driveway a few times. Now you are ready for a quick spin around the block. Pay close attention on your first outing. The good news is that if there are any problems these will manifest themselves quickly. Keep your test drive short at first, in case you need to push your car back home.
You know your car better than most people do. If everything sounds and feels the way it should, it’s time for a real test drive. Do a little cruising around town and be sure to head out on the highway. Your patience and thorough checks will ensure your car is ready for summer.
