Dreaded time has almost arrived

[wormdoggy]

The time for storing my car is almost here and since this is my first time storing a Viper ( vs. other cars ) I want to make sure I do it right.

I am storing the vehicle in a heated garage on an insulated floor.

I plan to disconnect the battery and place it on a trickle charger.
Inflate the tires to 38 PSI and move the car once a month.
Leave the vehicle in neutral
No emergency brake
Stabilizer in the gas tank ( let run for 5 mins )
Fill the gas tank to maximum.
Wash and clean

Cover the car and say good bye....................

Am I missing anything guys? Will disconnecting the battery cause any problems for example once I close the trunk with the battery disconnected will it open again with the remote?
Thanks for your help.

 

[viperdrummer]

I would do none of the above, and drive it once or twice a month even in Winter. Then again, I suspect you are more weather challenged where you live. Anything short of snow , and I will still drive the snakes.

 

[Kai SRT10]

I would do none of the above, and drive it once or twice a month even in Winter. Then again, I suspect you are more weather challenged where you live. Anything short of snow , and I will still drive the snakes.

Me too.

Even here in Colorado, I try to drive the Viper a couple of times a month all winter long.

 

[wormdoggy]

I would love to but here in Canada ( Toronto ) unless you have 4x4 or snow shoes you are not getting anywhere between the period Jan - March. Although I would love to see how 345's handle in the snow.....................

Thanks
Patrick

 

[Finally got it !]

I do everything above except move it. You will not get flat spots. Also leave the windows down half way. Plug the exhaust tips. Moths balls on engine and in interior. You would be surprised who decides to take residence over the winter!!!

 

[Kai SRT10]

I would love to but here in Canada ( Toronto ) unless you have 4x4 or snow shoes you are not getting anywhere between the period Jan - March. Although I would love to see how 345's handle in the snow.....................

Thanks
Patrick

Too bad.

I had the "opportunity" to test out the 345's in the snow. Sunny and warm when I drove to work, but (typical of Colorado) it began to snow hard in the afternoon. I decided to drive it home. I don't live far from my work, so I figured, "how bad could it be?" Pretty bad, as it turns out. I could barely go straight on a flat surface. Any degree of incline at all, and I just slid like mad. I was lucky to get home without smashing into anything. (The experience gained driving my 1971 Dodge Challenger with drag slicks in rain and snow when I was young probably helped.)

If it happens again, I'm leaving the Viper at work, and will call my wife to come get me.

 

[nazology]

I live in Chicago and my winter plan for all of my previous cars is simply take it out whenever I want. I see no reason not to have the car out when the weather is cold. Having it out in a snow storm, or ice storm obviously not happening, but a couple days after a storm the streets are fine. Mine will definitely be on the prowl.

 

[wormdoggy]

Kai.............I figured as much.

Although it would be very hard to drive in the winter time with 345's I can't imagine the salt damage to the car during the first winter snow fall in Canada. We use a lot of salt up here..............I'm suprised our great lakes aren't salt water yet.

Thanks Naz for your help....................

Patrick

 

[GR8_ASP]

I have always stored mine for the winter. Not a big deal. I put a battery tender (NOT a trickle charger) on. No need to disconnect the battery. You can put it into sleep mode though. I change the fluids (or for some like the differential do it over the winter), wash, polish and park. I increase tire pressure to about 45 lbs. And then park and cover and put the lift at the top position.

So far I have always worked on it during the winter months. This year should be no different. This is in a dry heated garage so I am not worried about moisture and the like. Make sure you drive a short distance after washing to get the water off things before parking (like brake rors, exhaust, etc.). That is about all I do. Oh, and treat the leather also. I have sometimes propped up the wiper blades to protect them.

 

[Turbo63]

I live in PA and intend to drive my car on nice days all winter long - that clearly means no ice on the roads and no major rock salt deposits. Life is to damn short to put the snake away - lower the air pressure in the tires about and be practical regarding accelerator stomp on cold streets - to much snow dont drive it - simple stuff. I couldnt simply unplug my car for any period of time - I would go crazy!

 

[SRTRICKY]

My plan to store my car was simply that I would just start it up every 2 weeks for about 20 minutes pull it out of the garage and back to move around what area the tires sit on. Anything wrong with this? Do I really need to inflate them to 38 psi? I don't think it will snow here (maybe 1 or 2 days) so it won't be too cold. Is it necessary to actually go for a drive or will leaving it start for long enough do the trick? Storing from lets say september to march.

 

[wormdoggy]

My plan to store my car was simply that I would just start it up every 2 weeks for about 20 minutes pull it out of the garage and back to move around what area the tires sit on. Anything wrong with this? Do I really need to inflate them to 38 psi? I don't think it will snow here (maybe 1 or 2 days) so it won't be too cold. Is it necessary to actually go for a drive or will leaving it start for long enough do the trick? Storing from lets say september to march.

From what I have read and understand , starting the car is NO good and should be left alone until you are ready to take it out. I have stored my Porsche with the above method and have never had a problem................

PLEASE...............Again can someone please tell me if disconnecting the battery will cause any problems such as opening the trunk once its closed. I can't find a battery tender here in Canada...............seems like we are behind in alot of things up here.

 

[nazology]

The only problem I see with having a car sit, and then just starting it and letting the engine warm up for 20 minutes is this. The Engine is the only thing warming up, the tranny, brakes, everything else is still cold. So besides the motor nothing is really happening.

 

[Inferno]

The time for storing my car is almost here and since this is my first time storing a Viper ( vs. other cars ) I want to make sure I do it right.

I am storing the vehicle in a heated garage on an insulated floor.

I plan to disconnect the battery and place it on a trickle charger.
Inflate the tires to 38 PSI and move the car once a month.
Leave the vehicle in neutral
No emergency brake
Stabilizer in the gas tank ( let run for 5 mins )
Fill the gas tank to maximum.
Wash and clean

Cover the car and say good bye....................

Am I missing anything guys? Will disconnecting the battery cause any problems for example once I close the trunk with the battery disconnected will it open again with the remote?
Thanks for your help.

I live in Toronto too, I do most of the above, but I do not disconnect the battery, I just hook it up to a trickle charger from wallmart. They do the same job as a battery tender. Do not do your windows all the way up and when I had a rag-top vette, I greased all the weather stripping to keep them from drying out. I used a product from gm for that purpose, can't remember what it was called. Treating your leather with something is a good idea too. Man, I am not looking forward to this. I am going to try and keep mine on the road till the end of November.

 

[Gerald]

Man, that must SURELY ****.... It's still 90+ here...

G

 

[29OUTLAW]

I’ve been a boat owner for many years and I’ve had to lay up many boats for the winter. One of the things boaters do is to pull the spark plugs out and spray fogging oil into each cylinder and then reinstall the plugs. The fogging oil will coat the inside of the cylinders and prevent rust from forming during winter layup. The last thing you want to do is start your car in the spring and have your piston rings scrape against rusty cylinder walls.

If you fogged your engine in the fall and then start it in the spring, you’ll blow a bit of smoke as the oil burns off. Once it does, just replace the plugs with new ones. Fogging oil can be bought at boating places and comes in a spray can like carb cleaner.

 

[wormdoggy]

I’ve been a boat owner for many years and I’ve had to lay up many boats for the winter. One of the things boaters do is to pull the spark plugs out and spray fogging oil into each cylinder and then reinstall the plugs. The fogging oil will coat the inside of the cylinders and prevent rust from forming during winter layup. The last thing you want to do is start your car in the spring and have your piston rings scrape against rusty cylinder walls.

If you fogged your engine in the fall and then start it in the spring, you’ll blow a bit of smoke as the oil burns off. Once it does, just replace the plugs with new ones. Fogging oil can be bought at boating places and comes in a spray can like carb cleaner.

I have heard this is a good practice but I am far from being mechanically inclined...................I mean how difficult is it to remove the plugs and what special tools are required? Oh God...........let me come back a mechanic.

PATRICK

 

[wormdoggy]

The manual says to do the following procedures when the vehicle will be stored for more then 30 days.

Disconnect the battery
Place on battery charge
Place the vehcile in battery save mode
Insert key in the ignition and follow steps 2-5 for battery save mode.

NOTE: THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY AND PASSENGER EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT WORK WITH THE BATTERY SAVE FEATURE...........:

Does this mean I need to keep the trunk opened the entire time during storage?

 

[GR8_ASP]

Huh?

First, you do not disconnect the battery. A battery saver mode works only when one is connected.

Second have you looked at your trunk? There is a key lock back there. And why would you replace the battery on a 2004?

And regarding the battery save mode. I believe the DRIVERS door handle still works.

Geez!

 

[wormdoggy]

Over worked .......not enough driving time and most of all not enough play..........makes for some ridiculous questions. I feel like " rain man".

Sorry guys!!!!

 

[GR8_ASP]

Don't take it too hard. It did make me laugh out loud reading through it.

 

[Ricksnake1]

Put the car away? I`ll be driving the snake all winter long. Wait a minute! I live in Florida!