Patrick_Devlin Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 I'm thinking of taking the Supe off the road until after Christmas. I need to save a bit of cash for the house and boring stuff like that and this seems like as good a time as any. Is there anything I should do before leaving it in the driveway for 4 months? I've been thinking of getting a cover and checked out the recent threads on here, but am not sure about wheels, fluids etc... All help appreciated as usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazarus Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Once a month check oil and coolant then start and run until warm. Move car up and down driveway to rotate the tyres else the sidewall banding may start to deform. If possible fit a battery conditioner/trickle charger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 its vital your 2nd decat pipe is removed and replaced by a original cat for this period....... ............i can arrange the swap no problem;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_Devlin Posted August 25, 2004 Author Share Posted August 25, 2004 Is it best to remove the battery completely? Scooter, please elaborate on the benefits for me and the car!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazarus Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Is it best to remove the battery completely? Depends what security you've got on your drive, if you take the battery off will your alarm still go off if somebody tries to nick it? Tow away theft is becoming a bigger problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Originally posted by Patrick_Devlin Scooter, please elaborate on the benefits for me and the car!!!!! ah benefits for you? i hadn't quite thought that far:) how about that great inner feeling you'd get knowing you've helped another less fortunate than yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_Devlin Posted August 25, 2004 Author Share Posted August 25, 2004 Driveway is fairly secure, but I think I'll leave the battery in. Hmmm.... 'that great inner feeling' not quite sure about that I suppose I could rent out a few bits!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 You could blow the tyres up to 60psi to prevent any flat spotting. Remove the EFI fuse, then if anyone breaks in you'll hear the "cough cough" as the engine won't turn over. Plus if someone forces the keys off you at gun/knife point you can hand them over but tell them the ECU is fried, and it won't start, that's why it's off the road. Put the metal fold out chock under the inner side of the rear wheel to make it very hard to tow away. And the car cover of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazarus Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Put the metal fold out chock under the inner side of the rear wheel This is an idea if you think it will be safe enough, leave the handbrake off. A seized handbrake is a PITA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_Devlin Posted August 25, 2004 Author Share Posted August 25, 2004 Its an Auto, so leaving the handbrake wouldnt be a problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Keeping your pride and joy fit and healthy off the road sounds just as hard as keeping it running on the road. I've heard of high maintenance girl friends but this is OTT. I have a fiat uno 45 (don't laugh) which I bought for £150 at college 8yrs ago and its never had a major problem and very few services. Its parked in my back garden on grass as an 3rd car, incase my 4x4 (everyday car) and soop have problems. Starts every single time without any love or attention and never needs water, oil and very little petrol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazarus Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 I have a fiat uno 45 (don't laugh) which I bought for £150 at college.... Agreed that perhaps £150 fiat is not worth going to all that trouble over but when you consider that £150 won't even buy 2 decent tyres for a supra I think its worth the extra effort to save any potential problems come the time to recommision the car. Remember the 6 P's:- Perfect Preparation Prevents P*ss Poor Performance Chr*st, I sound like a preacher now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 Originally posted by Lazarus Perfect Preparation Prevents P*ss Poor Performance Where have i heard that before? ..... sounds like something my girlfriend would say regarding foreplay. I only drive my car (weather permitting) on the weekends. The rest of the time its locked away in a garge under dust sheets. I always try and run the engine for 5 minutes at least every other weekend and rotate the tyres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 If you'd rather have it out of sight and out of mind I can recommend a good car storage firm, family business and very professional and secure. They looked after mine when I was working abroad and they offer various options. If not I'd go with the advice given, i.e. disconnect the battery, handbrake off, EFI relays out, increase tyre pressures, good quality car cover on and once a month get everything up to temp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 Your air con system will suffer, once a week running is advised to keep seals flexible. There have been quite a few threads about over wintering lay ups, there is some good advice there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_Devlin Posted August 26, 2004 Author Share Posted August 26, 2004 Thanks for the advice guys. I'm really reluctant to take it off the road, but I cant justify the cost of keeping it running for the possibility of driving it once a week at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 Stick it on axle stands and take the wheels off it that way no worries regards the battery comin out at all (very difficult to tow away with no wheels on) and no worries about tyre damage if theres no weight on them. Trickle charge the battery every few weeks by either bunging it back in the car and running it up or with a charger. Fiat uno wont have a problem starting up after weeks of being left there as it probably doesnt even have a clock to run the battery down. My third car is a sierra and the battery on that goes flat in 3 weeks if I don't disconnect the earth on it. One thing some people have been having problems with is the stock security system when disconnecting the battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.