Storing my Vibe for the winter. Tips?

[navydave]

I am going to put my Vibe in storage for the winter, and drive my old Suzuki swift while it still has life in it. It will be close by at my Dad's, in a garage, about a 20 minute drive away so I will be able to start it up every couple of weeks or so. I've been told not to disconnect the battery because it will mess up the computer and loose all the codes for the radio. I will probably put some gas stabilizer in the tank and, put a tarp down on the floor of the garage to prevent moisture. Probably some moth balls scattered around also for mice and rodents. Any other tips?Thanks, Dave

[northvibe]

when i was going to store my sable for the winter i think i heard these tips.-start it like once a week and let it run or take it for a little drive-put dryer sheets in the engine bay and in side the car to keep mice etc. out-with the gas stabalizer i think it needs to be on a close to empty tank and if your going to be running it once a week im not sure you will need it. -tarp on the floor is good, my mechanic or car nut friend said something about if its in the garage air doesnt move around the car or something, but since i had my car outside it was better as long as i kept rodents and a cover on it. im sure someone else will post on good storage tips as i remember some ppl here owning some nice "summer" cars.

[joatmon]

here's a tidbit about the AC systemhttp://www.gmtechlink.com/imag...ory14

[tnpartsguy]

if there is anyway you can put it on jackstands to get the weight off the tires, you'll be happier later. If you have the Goodyears RSA's especially, as they will flatspot sitting very quickly.

[ColonelPanic]

And it won't hurt it to disconnect the battery cable... If you have the stock stereo, it doesn't have any anti-theft codes/etc, and as far as the engine computer, it will relearn.

[Atomb]

stuff some steel wool in the exhaust pipe. A friend told me a story of a mouse using the exhaust of a stored car to bring his nuts for the winter into the engine! In the spring the car wouldn't start and after removing the cylinder head, found one of the cylinders full of nuts and grass for a nest!

[binary]

Quote, originally posted by Atomb »stuff some steel wool in the exhaust pipe. A friend told me a story of a mouse using the exhaust of a stored car to bring his nuts for the winter into the engine! In the spring the car wouldn't start and after removing the cylinder head, found one of the cylinders full of nuts and grass for a nest!That's what he gets for removing his cat convertor... nothing to catch those mice.

[northvibe]

hahhaha i totally get the joke and im semi drunk! binary i like the way you think

[navydave]

Hmm , I heard jacking it up is not good for the suspension. Is there a proper way to do this ? Thanks

[binary]

Quote, originally posted by navydave »Hmm , I heard jacking it up is not good for the suspension. Is there a proper way to do this ? ThanksI've never heard that - but you could be right. I was going to suggest 4 jackstands and a car cover.Here's a site with purty pictures and good info http://www.techguys.ca/howto/winter.html

[rubberman]

On my Civic I fill the tank and add stybil,change the oil and filter remove the battery and made up some blocks to just take the weight off the springs and tires.

[zionzr2]

this thread shold help too...http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=19313

[ToolGuy]

I do not start mine and I never use Stabil. Bad things can happen when using Stabil... Full tank of fuel is all I use.

[Baltovibe]

Quote, originally posted by MiVibe-ToolGuy »I never use Stabil. Bad things can happen when using Stabil...OK, I gotta ask ... why? What bad things can happen with Stabil??I have used Stabil in all of my power toys (4x4, power washer, motorcycle, weed wacker, lawn mower, blower, etc.) with never a problem. Am I setting myself up for big problems using Stabil?

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by Baltovibe »OK, I gotta ask ... why? What bad things can happen with Stabil??I have used Stabil in all of my power toys (4x4, power washer, motorcycle, weed wacker, lawn mower, blower, etc.) with never a problem. Am I setting myself up for big problems using Stabil?Well if it is used only for a few months than it seems to be OK. However I have met a few guys with sleds and have had issues with it clogging up things and not starting come next winter. Gumms up some carbs people have told me creating hard starts too.I just always store all my engines empty. My car just gets a full tank so no moisture sets in. Come spring it fires like I put it away yesterday.If you have not had issues than I would keep doing what you do.

[binary]

Thats a pretty common complaint that Stabil will gum up carbs. Most of the time its used wrong (too much or too little). Or if you dump it in the tank and just put it away... you need to use up the non-stabilized gas in the bowls before you put it away.The trick is to get a good accurate measurement and then run the engine for a while to cycle that stuff in. I use it in a lot of my gas powered devices... lawnmower is 6 years old, gets stabil every year because I'll run it dry before putting it away and we'll get one more nice weekend where the grass grows two feet. And then I always add too much gas...