Lockdown storage and maintenance

[Redline]

Thought I'd start a thread to elicit advice, guidance and discussions, do's and don'ts regarding how to store and maintain our cars while we're unable to use them (or at least, most of us) during the lockdown.
Am sure this is something many of us are thinking about.
Some of us store our cars over winter anyway, but, we're now talking potentially a much longer period of forced inactivity even for cars that are usually used year round.

There's bound to be many questions for different conditions that we may face.

Guides for indoor and outdoor storage. On-street and off-street.
How to keep the battery in good condition (or at least serviceable) - with and without a charger/conditioner permanently connected. If you disconnect the battery and potential consequences.
How to maintain tyres if the car isn't moved.
Running up and turning over.
Preventing condensation and smells inside.
Air-con.
Brakes and brake discs - prevention of corrosion, binding brakes etc
Fuelling.
There's bound to be many things to take note of.

Few of us will have ideal conditions for keeping our cars in tip-top condition. Corners may need to be cut where we don't have facilities, so, what is most important and where can you do without.

Am sure there will be many things, all with pro's and con's.

OK - Over to you!

 

[Mark Gutteridge]

Just taken mine out of storage for 6 months,

Did nothing but keep it on charge.

Went through the mot without any advisories.

 

[Grumps]

Zed isn't a problem, tucked away in the Garage, Jues Kuga has to be used on occasions (shopping for elderly family) so that's fine, mine however is parked on the street so not quite sure other than dropping the handbrake and disconnecting the battery, not a deal else I can do really.

 

[Redline]

Just taken mine out of storage for 6 months,

Did nothing but keep it on charge.

Went through the mot without any advisories.

Storage? I suspect that's the easiest situation to be in.

I have four cars littering the place including my Z4 on a neighbours drive. Only one car is in regular use (once per week) now. Many have or will SORN their car where they might not have done so. We don't all necessarily have a nice garage to keep our pride and joys hence the wide ranging situations and solutions.
Just seeking information to allow people to choose the most effective solutions for themselves.

 

[Redline]

Zed isn't a problem, tucked away in the Garage, Jues Kuga has to be used on occasions (shopping for elderly family) so that's fine, mine however is parked on the street so not quite sure other than dropping the handbrake and disconnecting the battery, not a deal else I can do really.

Thats just the kind of situation I was thinking about Dave. Disconnecting the battery seems a good idea, but, does that risk alarms going off for no reason etc. What's likely to happen with electronics on newer or older cars when you reconnect after several weeks. Lots of unknowns.

 

[Grumps]

Thats just the kind of situation I was thinking about Dave. Disconnecting the battery seems a good idea, but, does that risk alarms going off for no reason etc. What's likely to happen with electronics on newer or older cars when you reconnect after several weeks. Lots of unknowns.

Dunno mate, it's a basic car, 62 plate Focus, not many gizmos so I'd have thought it would have a better chance of surviving. Problem is it has a start stop battery which I'm told are expensive to replace so don't really want to ruin it by living it to go flat for potentially a long period of time.

 

[Redline]

Dunno mate, it's a basic car, 62 plate Focus, not many gizmos so I'd have thought it would have a better chance of surviving. Problem is it has a start stop battery which I'm told are expensive to replace so don't really want to ruin it by living it to go flat for potentially a long period of time.

Just the kind of situation we’re having to face. So, what are the consequences of simply disconnecting the battery? It used to be simple but cars are no longer that. They are designed to be used.

 

[Bampz]

Dunno mate, it's a basic car, 62 plate Focus, not many gizmos so I'd have thought it would have a better chance of surviving. Problem is it has a start stop battery which I'm told are expensive to replace so don't really want to ruin it by living it to go flat for potentially a long period of time.

Could you not put the battery in the garage on a trickle charger ? If you don't have one I think they are only about £15 and could save the battery

 

[t-tony]

First thing to do is increase tyre pressures by 10 psi which will reduce the chance of tyres going out of shape or developing "flat" spots.

Tony.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Good tip, I'd honestly forgotten that one

 

[Grumps]

Could you not put the battery in the garage on a trickle charger ? If you don't have one I think they are only about £15 and could save the battery

I have got a trickle charger thanks to @Lazzzydog but have no direct power in the garage. I have to run an extension up from the house.

 

[Grumps]

Just the kind of situation we’re having to face. So, what are the consequences of simply disconnecting the battery? It used to be simple but cars are no longer that. They are designed to be used.

To be fair with it being a basic spec car I can't see there being a deal to harm. I think it'll be the easiest option. I will see what they say at the end of the week regarding lockdown extensions, if we are extended which is most likely I'll "put it to bed" drop the handbrake, disconnect the battery and take @t-tony advise and chuck some more sky in me rounds

 

[Stevo7682]

If the car is in a garage put some sort of carpet or similar under the tyres to stop the cold from the concrete below causing perishing to the area it sits on .

 

[Redline]

I have got a trickle charger thanks to @Lazzzydog but have no direct power in the garage. I have to run an extension up from the house.

Will put Gail's E89 on a CTEK in the garage. Will simply disconnect the battery on the KA. That seems pretty robust as far as battery drain goes lasting for may weeks before problems occur.

It's mine on the next-door-but-one neighbours drive that I'm not sure what to do. The residual drain flattens the battery in about 10-14 days so it needs running or recharging/running often. Running an extension 60 feet across three properties for a CTEK isn't an option. Can't ask to plug in to where the car is parked - that's just taking the Micheal.

If you disconnect the battery in the Z4, is there any possibility that the alarm that might decide to have a hissy-fit at 3am? I know Z3's occasionally have a problem with the alarm in various circumstances. I don't recall any such issue on the Z4, but any advice would be helpful. Likewise, any potential problems reconnecting the battery many weeks later? Does everything come back up OK?
Appreciate there's no warranty to any advice.

 

[g8jka]

I have got a trickle charger thanks to @Lazzzydog but have no direct power in the garage. I have to run an extension up from the house.

Take the battery in the house where you can plug the trickle charger in and connect it to the battery

 

[GZed]

Will put Gail's E89 on a CTEK in the garage. Will simply disconnect the battery on the KA. That seems pretty robust as far as battery drain goes lasting for may weeks before problems occur.

It's mine on the next-door-but-one neighbours drive that I'm not sure what to do. The residual drain flattens the battery in about 10-14 days so it needs running or recharging/running often. Running an extension 60 feet across three properties for a CTEK isn't an option. Can't ask to plug in to where the car is parked - that's just taking the Micheal.

If you disconnect the battery in the Z4, is there any possibility that the alarm that might decide to have a hissy-fit at 3am? I know Z3's occasionally have a problem with the alarm in various circumstances. I don't recall any such issue on the Z4, but any advice would be helpful. Likewise, any potential problems reconnecting the battery many weeks later? Does everything come back up OK?
Appreciate there's no warranty to any advice.

There are some very good solar chargers around now. Some can even be placed inside the car on top of the dash if you're worried about them being stolen. Campervan stockists/websites are a good place to look.

 

[Redline]

There are some very good solar chargers around now. Some can even be placed inside the car on top of the dash if you're worried about them being stolen. Campervan stockists/websites are a good place to look.

Never thought of that. It faces south into good light at the moment. Will take a look. Thanks