Winter: storing the car for the real person

gheba_nsx

gheba_nsx

Legendary Member
Joined
23 October 2001
Messages
3,888
Location
Zürich, Switzerland
Since for the first time in the last three years I will be NSX-less during the winter (I got a beater in Spring this year) I face for the first time this "problem".
I've searched the FAQ and the Forums and I've seen that many advices make sense but are not realisable for the average person.

Def.: "average persone"(=me
wink.gif
) - not mechanically inclined, do not own a racing team nor a professional garage. Lives in a condo and put his car in an underground garage where other 15 cars are parked. Cannot use a lift nor lift the car in any way. Cannot put electrical cable from a the electrical lines to the battery. Cannot do "strange" things in the garage like taking the oil away (he's also not able to take the oil and fluids away).

Now, would it be sufficent to disconnect the battery and park the car?
Moving the car every month of a few meters only to have another tire-part contacting the ground?
Changing the oil (was done last time 2000 km ago) right after the winter finishes?

I am planning to store the car for 3-4 months.
 
Originally posted by gheba_nsx:
Since for the first time in the last three years I will be NSX-less during the winter (I got a beater in Spring this year) I face for the first time this "problem".
I've searched the FAQ and the Forums and I've seen that many advices make sense but are not realisable for the average person.

Def.: "average persone"(=me
wink.gif
) - not mechanically inclined, do not own a racing team nor a professional garage. Lives in a condo and put his car in an underground garage where other 15 cars are parked. Cannot use a lift nor lift the car in any way. Cannot put electrical cable from a the electrical lines to the battery. Cannot do "strange" things in the garage like taking the oil away (he's also not able to take the oil and fluids away).

Now, would it be sufficent to disconnect the battery and park the car?
Moving the car every month of a few meters only to have another tire-part contacting the ground?
Changing the oil (was done last time 2000 km ago) right after the winter finishes?

I am planning to store the car for 3-4 months.
Click to expand...

Send it over and I'll drive it for ya...
biggrin.gif
 
Hi Gheba,

If you do disconnect the battery, it is OK. My only caution is that if you do this the alarm is disabled if you have one.

I have a good friend that did this and the car was stolen!!!!!!!!!!!! Since the alrm was disabled.

If there is any way you can get an old set of tires to store the car with it is better.

I have found that the NSX seems to hold up well in storage. I know my Porsches of the past did not like this at all. In general it is better to drive it as most describe, but I have had my car in the garage all winter, with just the battery charger, and it was fine in the spring season.

HTH,
LarryB
 
Over inflate the tires slightly, 50ish psi, disconnect the battery, and cover the car (after a thourough cleaning and sufficient time to dry completely, of course). Make sure you have a FULL tank of premium fuel. Let the car sit, don't be tempted to start it, or drive it, just let it sit (strating the car, and not driving it for a relatively long period of time, like a half hour is way worse that not starting it at all. plus you need to start the process all over again!!). If you have the room, once every few weeks, you may want to roll the car forward a foot or so, then the next few weeks back a foot or so, this, in addition to the over inflated tires will assist in limiting any flat spotting of the tires (any minimal flat spotting that does occur will round itself out in the first few miles of driving in spring).
I store 130 cars a winter, and we lose about 10% of the batterys, and have no other problems, (most of those batterys are Porsches, thier batteries SUCK!!)

When spring comes, jump for joy, then readjust the tire pressure, slowwly charge the battery, 2 amp for 24 hrs., and drive her away!!

Its easy, and it will work!!

Steve

------------------
Steve
91 NSX
01 MDX
02 M3 SMG
 
Not knowing what the weather is like in your locale....another option is to drive it occasionally.

In my area, we get nice sunny days without salt or snow on the roads pretty often. And on days like that I drive my NSX.

If that's not an option then the aforementioned advice is good.

-Jim

------------------
1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html
 
Gheba,
I'm more or less facing the same. After my small accident a couple of weeks ago I decided definitely to easy up on the NSX driving during the winter months. However, I do plan to use the car if the weather and road conditions allow it. I had the car parked for three weeks when on holiday and it started without problems even though the alarm was on all the time. I think if you drive the car one a week it should keep up fine.
 
Don't worry about fluids, or moving the car, or starting the car. Just do something about the battery (disconnect it unless you can run an electrical line to a charger). And when you start it in spring, remember to adjust the tire pressures. My tires lose about 1 psi per month when the car just sits.
 
Hi Gheba,

My storage procedure is almost exactly the same than SJJ28 except the fact that I can't stay 4 months without starting the car !
biggrin.gif


I start the car once per month and let it idle for 30-45 minutes.

For the tires, I mount my black "track" wheels inflated at 3.5bar and for the battery I have a battery kill switch.

For the fluids, I change all fluids every springs when my NSX hits the road again.

David
 
Originally posted by Enzo:
For the fluids, I change all fluids every springs when my NSX hits the road again.
Click to expand...

I do too, and this is a good idea. My previous "don't worry about fluids" comment was intended only for prepping the car prior to the winter, not its servicing immediately after the winter.
 
My storage will be the same, except I have one of the car capusle bubbles
smile.gif
One question though, after disconnecting the battery, is there anything special I will need to have reset??
TIA
Aaron
 
Enzo,


I'm another one of those poor suckers who has to store his car for five months of the year....when you say "change all fluids" in spring, which ones? I'm used to performing an oil change as mandatory first thing in the spring, but am I missing something?

I just put the car away last week--I'm still suffering the separation anxiety
smile.gif
!
 
Originally posted by AaronR:
after disconnecting the battery, is there anything special I will need to have reset??
Click to expand...

No. But after reconnecting the battery in the spring, you will need to reset the clock and the radio pre-select buttons.

Originally posted by bonzo:
when you say "change all fluids" in spring, which ones? I'm used to performing an oil change as mandatory first thing in the spring, but am I missing something?
Click to expand...

The maintenance schedule says to change other fluids (coolant, transmission fluids, and brake fluid) every 30K miles or 2 years, whichever comes first. Spring would be a good time to perform this service. Also, if you drive your car on a racetrack (or drive your car as though you were on a racetrack), you should flush your brake fluid every spring, to keep it fresh and keep its boiling point high. (Over time, brake fluid absorbs moisture which reduces its boiling point.)
 
Originally posted by Joel:
Gheba,

A more simple solution: Move out here to L.A.! You save the hassle of storage and drive it 365 days a year!
wink.gif


Just kidding.
Click to expand...

Or Live in LA and AZ this way when it gets hot you can commute 5 hours away to you other home.
smile.gif

We'll all gather up some $$$LUTE$$ and buy ya' the two houses.

C'mon Guys help out a friend in need!!
I'll put up the 1st 50k
WWW.MYNSX.COM



[This message has been edited by MYNSX (edited 21 October 2002).]
 
Originally posted by MYNSX:
Or Live in LA and AZ this way when it gets hot you can commute 5 hours away to you other home.
smile.gif
Click to expand...

Or just live in L.A. this way you can commute and spend almost that long every day stuck in traffic on the 405.
biggrin.gif
 
Originally posted by bonzo:

I just put the car away last week--I'm still suffering the separation anxiety
smile.gif
!
Click to expand...

Mine is being put away as well. For the most part my ?'s have been answered, but I wanted to give mine a serious detail (clay bar, etc.). Time does not afford me a whole Sat & Sun to do what I want in addition to brake bleeding and other prev. maint & service. I was thinking about putting the car and jack stands for a few weeks to get it all done over a period of time. Is this of any concern w/anything, I wouldn't think so but wanted to ask. I know this sounds nuts, but thats the way it is w/my time and I figure about 3 or 4 weekends and just want to leave it on jack stands untill done. Thanks in advance.... Signed WINTER SUCKS !
 
Originally posted by NyC NsX:
would it hurt the car to store in up on jack stands ?
Click to expand...

It's better to just inflate the tires to max and leave the car as it is.
I don't even bother to over-inflate the tires and have never had a problem. The tires can sit for 6 months on the same spot.
 
I just put the car away last week--I'm still suffering the separation anxiety !


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get Grand Torismo and Need for speed on
sony playstation (It helps)
....I'm Gonna take my factory seats and
build a seating station in the livingroom.
She'll love this!! LOL WWW.MYNSX.COM
 
At least you guys get to see the car in person.

I'll be out of the country on vacation (in the Philippines--YIKES!) for a month... my cousin will be taking care of the house and the car... during that time...

I'm going to setup a webcam.

The FIRST thing I do when I get home...

Grab the keys, take the top off, and go for a spin.
biggrin.gif
I'll be returning in mid-December.
biggrin.gif
 
Thanks a lot to everybody for all the useful hints! I knew I was not alone in this quest...
smile.gif


Now I have still one doubt: SJJ28's or Enzo's way? Let it sit alone or let it idle for 45 minutes in the garage? Wouldn't the gaskets suffer by not being oiled for 4 months (sitting)?

Resume for me: inflate the tires 3,5 bars, full tank, clean interior and esterior, let it dry well, disconnect the battery, put cover... and wait!
frown.gif


PS: in some place I found out (also in the FAQ) that you shoul raise the wipers... does this make sense?
 
I would believe SJJ28 (steve). He is a the one who stores all of Michael Jordan's exotics, and he is not kidding when he says he stores 200 cars, and most of them are worth BIG money. If Steve says no staring, my car will not be started. I too was under the impression that starting it to let it run was going to be better, but if Steve says leave it that's what I'll do and I would suggest you do the same. There is no substitute for experience. JMO
Aaron
 

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