Storing my Zed over winter - help needed please

[twobears]

Despite having a good look round the site I still couldn't figure out where to put this so please could one of the mods move it for me if it is not appropriate here? Thank you

 

I had put my lovely Roadster up for sale but when I got a serious enquiry about him I found that I simply couldn't go through with it I did tell the potential purchaser straight away and he was fine about it. Because I am off to Madrid soon I have SORNed Mr Zedders from the start of next month but I am not sure what I need to do to ensure that he remains in good condition when I get him out of storage next summer? I am not technically or mechanically minded in the slightest, to my shame, but if anyone has any advice I would be grateful I was thinking I would give him a really good clean and then store him under cover with his own car cover on but do I need to remove his battery? Or keep it on trickle charge? Or get my friend to start him up from time to time and let him run? And is there anything else I should/should not do? All advice, no matter how obvious to everyone else, would be very welcome. Thanks

[aidan]

Fill the tank, give car a good clean, disconnect the battery. Try and get discs nice and dry after cleaning - will stop them rusting up. Just drive a few miles should be fine (providing its not raining). Leave in gear when stored, leave handbrake off. Assume its getting stored in garage?.

 

.job done

 

Oh and I normally treat the roof....but forgot this time!!!

Edited September 27, 2013 by aidan

[gareth29]

Its would be advisable to inflate the tyres over and above 35psi - or put it on body jacks. Also an oil change? My vw grew a nice selection of fungi on the carpet and seats over the winter, so a periodic wipe might be a good idea.

[twobears]

Thank you both

[aidan]

To be fair, you'll not need an oil change.....and even if you did you'd do it after the storage period.

3-4 months is nothing....brand new cars sit in compounds for months before they get delivered.

[Ridz]

You may wish to consider a dust cover!

[glrnet]

Trickle chargers are a good idea, have a look here:-

 

http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/?gclid=COeYuuG27LkCFeXMtAod3wgACA

[ATTAK Z]

Bring him to me Annie ... I'll look after him and give him a drive now and then ... I'll keep him in good order until you need him back ... I'll even take you to the airport

Edited September 27, 2013 by ATTAK Z

[glrnet]

:clap: I love this place.

[Ekona]

Or give him to me and I'll rag the arse off him every chance I get, just like every good Zed deserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, best give him to Hugh I reckon.

[glrnet]

I love this place

[ATTAK Z]

Or give him to me and I'll rag the arse off him every chance I get, just like every good Zed deserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, best give him to Hugh I reckon.

 

Dan, don't forget we're booked in for the Nuremberg next Feb

[glrnet]

Nuremberg, are there trials

[ATTAK Z]

sorry ... my bad

Nürburgring

[scobie140]

Fill the tank, give car a good clean, disconnect the battery. Try and get discs nice and dry after cleaning - will stop them rusting up. Just drive a few miles should be fine (providing its not raining). Leave in gear when stored, leave handbrake off. Assume its getting stored in garage?.

 

.job done

 

Oh and I normally treat the roof....but forgot this time!!!

Your better off not filling it up then leaving it for months on end. Best to run it low as possible then store it for winter and when you want to take it out of storage chuck in a jerry can full of fresh fuel to get you to a garage to fill up proper. Same with the oil if left for months without any movment any moisture will settle out at the bottom of the sump although its very likely to be next to none.

[aidan]

Modern additives in petrol mean it stores much longer....an empty tank will corrode. Each to there own.

[Ekona]

Nuremberg, are there trials

Goddammit you stole my line

[glrnet]

Nuremberg, are there trials

Goddammit you stole my line

[jumping350]

I put mine away today for winter...sad times :0(

heres what i did

layed the entire garage floor with foam square things,took battery out,wiped down leather, washed it, pumped tyres upto 40psi,3/4 full tank,left handbrake off and put it in first,took everything out i needed, sprayed a hell of lot of things with wd40, removed all carpets, locked doors manually , cover loosely on shut garage door and cried lol

when she come out will be full service and clutch plus some new mods for next year.

[gort]

I had a lot of trouble trying to start mine after I'd disconnected the battery for 2 months while I was in OZ, I finely got it to fire up, then it went into limp mode.

 

got told you need to reset the ECU, seems to be a bit of a ball ache (see below) so haven't done it since.

 

350Z ECU Resetting Procedures

 

Please read all instructions and be familiar with them before any attempts.

A stop watch or an analog clock with a second’s needle will be useful.

 

ECU Resetting Procedures

 

Timing is extremely critical. If it is NOT DONE within the specify time, the ECU will not reset and the Check Engine Light (CEL) will continue to remain ON.

A stop watch or an analog clock with a second’s needle will be useful.

 

Operations Procedures

 

1. Confirm that accelerator pedal is fully released, turn ignition switch “ON†and wait 3 seconds.

2. Repeat the following steps (2a and 2b) procedures quickly five times within 5 seconds.

2a. Fully depress the accelerator pedal (HARD).

2b. Fully release the accelerator pedal.

3. Wait 7 seconds, fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for approx. 10 seconds until the CEL starts blinking.

4. Fully release the accelerator pedal (while the CEL is still blinking)

5. Wait about 10 second.

6. Fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for more than 10 seconds.

7. Fully release the accelerator pedal (The CEL light will continue to blink).

8. Turn ignition switch to “OFF†position and now you can start the car. The CEL light should be gone.

 

If the CEL light continues to remain ON, repeat the above steps. Timing is EXTREMELY critical to resetting the ECU.

 

 

Accelerator Pedal Release Position Learning

 

Operation Procedure

1. Make sure that the accelerator pedal is fully released.

2. Turn ignition switch “ON†and wait at least 2 seconds.

3. Turn ignition switch “OFF†wait at least 10 seconds.

4. Turn ignition switch “ON†and wait at least 2 seconds.

5. Turn ignition switch “OFF†wait at least 10 seconds.

 

 

Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning

 

Operation Procedures

1. Make sure that accelerator pedal is fully released.

2. Turn ignition switch is “ONâ€.

3. Turn ignition switch is “OFF†wait at least 10 seconds.

Make sure that the throttle valve moves during above 10 seconds by confirming the operating sound.

 

 

Idle Air Volume Learning (Throttle Position Learning)

It is better to count the time accurately with a clock.

 

Operation Procedures

1. Perform “Accelerator Pedal Released Position Learningâ€.

2. Perform “Throttle Valve Closed Position Learningâ€.

3. Start engine and warm it up to normal operating temperature.

4. Turn ignition switch “OFF†and wait at least 10 seconds.

5. Conform that accelerator pedal is fully released, turn ignition switch “ON†and wait 3 seconds.

6. Repeat the following (steps 7a, 7b) procedures quickly five times within 5 seconds.

7a. Fully depress the accelerator pedal (HARD)

7b. Fully release the accelerator pedal.

8. Wait 7 seconds, fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for approx. 20 seconds until the Check Engine Light (CEL) stops blinking and turned ON.

9. Fully release the accelerator pedal within 3 seconds after the CEL is ON.

10. Start engine and let it idle.

11. Wait 20 seconds.

12. Rev up the engine two or three times and make sure the idle speed and ignition timing are within the specifications.

 

The Easy Method:

 

After experimenting with different timing, and reading posts by other members, I've come up with a condensed method of doing this reset. This method works EVERY time, even w/o a stopwatch. I've used this method successfully a dozen times, or so, now w/o a watch. After a few times, you won't need a watch or instructions. You'll get so darn good at it, you'll find yourself doing it while waiting at a traffic light.

 

Timing is not as critical with this method...no stop watch needed. Just count in your head...one-one thousand, two-one thousand, etc, or use stop watch. The most critical step is step #3....wait 10 sec, instead of 7.

 

1. Ignition "ON", count to 3.

2. Depress/Release pedal 5 times...hard and fast.

3. Count to 10 (not 7!) and fully depress pedal

4. Count to 12 (SES should be blinking), release pedal

5. Count to 10, depress pedal

6. Count to 10, release pedal.

7. Turn off ignition, then start engine. Done!

 

Accelerator Pedal Release Position Learning

 

Operation Procedure

 

1. Make sure that the accelerator pedal is fully released.

2. Turn ignition switch “ON†and wait at least 2 seconds.

3. Turn ignition switch “OFF†wait at least 10 seconds.

4. Turn ignition switch “ON†and wait at least 2 seconds.

5. Turn ignition switch “OFF†wait at least 10 seconds.

 

Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning

 

Operation Procedures

 

1. Make sure that accelerator pedal is fully released.

2. Turn ignition switch is “ONâ€.

3. Turn ignition switch is “OFF†wait at least 10 seconds.

Make sure that the throttle valve moves during above 10 seconds by confirming the operating sound.

 

Idle Air Volume Learning (Throttle Position Learning)

 

It is better to count the time accurately with a clock.

 

Operation Procedures

 

1. Perform “Accelerator Pedal Released Position Learningâ€.

2. Perform “Throttle Valve Closed Position Learningâ€.

3. Start engine and warm it up to normal operating temperature.

4. Turn ignition switch “OFF†and wait at least 10 seconds.

5. Conform that accelerator pedal is fully released, turn ignition switch “ON†and wait 3 seconds.

6. Repeat the following (steps 7a, 7b) procedures quickly five times within 5 seconds.

7a. Fully depress the accelerator pedal (HARD)

7b. Fully release the accelerator pedal.

8. Wait 7 seconds, fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for approx. 20 seconds until the Check Engine Light (CEL) stops blinking and turned ON.

9. Fully release the accelerator pedal within 3 seconds after the CEL is ON.

10. Start engine and let it idle.

11. Wait 20 seconds.

12. Rev up the engine two or three times and make sure the idle speed and ignition timing are within the specifications.

__________________