Danny 350Z Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I need some advice on storage for the Zed. I'm off to....well, a pretty crappy dusty country bordered by Pakistan, Iran, China, etc, for 6 months. I either need to a). Find someone to look after the Zed (Not a fan of allowing a non-Zed owner looking after my baby) or . Store it. If it's the latter what will I need to do to store it without it dying and the ECU kicking off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 there are storgae companys about but they are quite/very expensive... to stop it dying i think i remember hearing it needs to but run once a week for about 10 minutes... but theres also a heap of things to do when storing your car, like, make sure it has a full tank of fuel, dont leave the hand brake on, if standing for a long while jack the wheels off the floor, best option would be to find some-one willing to rent you their garage or a space in there barn etc and let them take it for a drive once a week....i used to know a bunch of guys in suffolk who id trust to help you out but ive lost contact with most of them.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Taken from www.Torquecars.com Rust is your biggest enemy so you need to avoid damp - heated garage or put car inside a sealed cover. TorqueCars recommend that when you put a car into storage you first of all wash it thoroughly and ensure that all brake dust is removed from the wheels. Then you need to ensure the car is completely dry - a hot day is best. When the car is dry you need to apply a protective layer of wax which will help to keep out corrosion. When a car is standing you still have to worry about corrosion inside the engine. We recommend that you spray some oil into each of the cylinders. The easiest way to do this is by removing the spark plugs. To ensure the oil coats the cylinder walls you will need to crank the engine for a single revolution (short burst) with the plugs removed to prevent combustion. Doing this will protect the internal areas of the engine from corrosion. (Any fuel sprayed in will quickly evaporate away.) Lay a plastic sheet on the ground to help keep the damp from rising up into the car itself. If you can get a dehumidifyer installed that would be good as this will also help to keep the damp air away from the car. Don't let mice/rats nest in your exhaust - stuff some rags in the end. (Put a notice in the car reminding you to remove the rags). The same applies to the air intake in the engine. Small rodents love to find little tubes and pipes to nest in so don't take chances. After a while the brakes will bind on that is stick to the disks, so avoid leaving the handbrake engaged. Instead of the handbrake leave the car in gear and chock the wheels. If you are leaving the car for a long time it would usually be best to raise it up and leave it on axle stands. (Please note that axle stands are not always sturdy and you should always use caution around a car on axle stands.) This will reduce pressure and wear on the tyres and suspension. Ensure that you fully inflate the tyres and keep them topped up. Soft tyres will quickly start to deteriorate and they will always lose pressure over time so you will need to keep them topped up. Wiper blades can stick to the glass over time so put some rags underneath them to prevent this. Lubricate all hinges with white grease and this will help protect them from siezing up. Keep the battery charged and topped up. It is best to remove the battery from the car when you are storing it. Car alarms, electrical circuits and even the clock will eventually drain the battery and batteries last longer with a charge in them so avoid letting the battery go flat. Check antifreeze strength before winter. Even if the car is in a cosy garage you still risk freezing when the cold weather comes. DO NOT DRAIN THE CAR COOLANT. The moisture inside will mix with the air and rust will start to appear in the waterways. Regular maintainence regimen of a stored car. Rotate all of the wheels, especially if it is not on axle stands. This keeps the bearings from sticking as well as changing the pressure point on the tyre. Some recommend starting the car briefly if you are storing the car for longer periods of over 6 months to 12 months. Do not idle the engine and allow it to come up to temperature but rather hold the revs and allow the car to warm up quickly. Ideally the car should be driven for 15 miles every 60 days allowing the engine to get up to temperature. This is not always practical due to insurance and legal issues if the car has been registered out of use. Just starting the engine for short periods can cause major problems and is a great way to accelerate the wear and tear due to corrosion especially in the exhaust. Always allow the car to fully get up to temperature before shutting the engine off. Whilst you have the engine running you should also breifly run the airconditioning compressor/heater fan for a short while on both hot and cold settings. When you have finished running the engine you will need once more to redo the previous steps such as oil in the engine and reinsert the rodent protectors. Also the windows should be periodically wound up and down to keep them free running. This is especially important on cars with electric windows as a siezed window can burn out the motor. Turn the steering fully from lock to lock to prevent the steering rack/power steering pump from siezing up. This can be done with the car on axle stands. Hopefully your car survives its storage in perfect condition, sadly there are no guarantees here but at least you have taken every precaution. When you go to put it back on the road make sure it has been thoroughly serviced. You should also ensure that the car is safe to drive. Rubber suspension bushes, brakes and steering should all be carefully checked before using the car on the roads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 i'll look after her seriously though: if it was weeks it would possible but unfortunately i will prob end up moving house in that time and i have no idea if i'd have room for her, sorry bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 i have a single space garage, but if i stuck your car in it i can't get mine in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 350Z Posted December 19, 2009 Author Share Posted December 19, 2009 Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeebus, RT! I think I'm gonna have to go down the route of someone looking after her. Cheers anyway, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeebus, RT! I think I'm gonna have to go down the route of someone looking after her. Cheers anyway, John my honest opinion is thats a bit overkill, i got it off an american site that look to deal mainly with old retro muscle cars and pickups. me personally i probably wouldn't oil the cylinders, but i'd have someone pop round once a fortnight to turn the car over for a while to get it up to temp. i'd stick the battery on to a trickle charger. i'd probably leave it still connected to the car. stick her up on axle stands and do the whole wash and wax routine before hand, and a brief drive to dry her off before bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boycey Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Where abouts are u based? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 350Z Posted December 19, 2009 Author Share Posted December 19, 2009 Where abouts are u based? North Yorkshire, mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisS Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Sent you a PM Danny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Where abouts are u based? North Yorkshire, mate. i'll keep an eye out for you, i'll be in malton on monday/tuesday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carbon Coops Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 i Have pmd you ref looking after her for you, 5 mins down the road and have a spare garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I could look after it for you. I have a cupboard full of megs products to smother her in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Can't the Mrs have it? I thought she liked driving it.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 350Z Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 Can't the Mrs have it? I thought she liked driving it.......... She's going wih me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 350Z Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 I could look after it for you. I have a cupboard full of megs products to smother her in Cheers for the offer, Sarnie but I've got Coops literally 5 mins away who's offered to garage and nanny her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisS Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Glad it's sorted Danny. Might even have extra Carbon bits on it when you come back !!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I could look after it for you. I have a cupboard full of megs products to smother her in Cheers for the offer, Sarnie but I've got Coops literally 5 mins away who's offered to garage and nanny her. Great result - thats why this forum goes from strength to strength - there is always help round the corner - nice one Coops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrenz123 Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I'm an Armourer at Brize Norton (where im sure you'll be flying from) and work at the airfield side where is is very quiet, if you get stuck id be more than happy to look after her for you too, plus there car will be here for wheny you get back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 350Z Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 I could look after it for you. I have a cupboard full of megs products to smother her in Cheers for the offer, Sarnie but I've got Coops literally 5 mins away who's offered to garage and nanny her. Great result - thats why this forum goes from strength to strength - there is always help round the corner - nice one Coops TBH I've had nothing but fantastic offers, whether they come fom Wales from Chris, offers from Sarnie, Husky, Coops and so on. Cheers guys; I can actually say I'd leave my Zed with anyone of you. It's weird that I'd quite happily leave my car with people I've never met; That's the strength and faith I have in the forum (Well unless I come back to a Zed body shell on bricks)! Once again, Coops you're my babysitter if you don't mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 don't leave it with R35LEE he'll strip it for parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 350Z Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 don't leave it with R35LEE he'll strip it for parts I've heard that...... He'll quite easily take back the 350 boot mat he sold me I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carbon Coops Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 No prob mate she will be safe with me I'll have her so you can eat of her when you come back, you needin a lift back to camp etc ? My number is on my signature if you dont have it Must resist temptation to carbonise........... Only jokin Coops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 If you had left it with me, it would have had a set of Volks on it when you came back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carbon Coops Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 sarnie fancy lookin after mine for a week or so ? coops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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