Storing car for 3 weeks, any special preparation?

[lh59]

I'm going off for a 3 weeks vacation and won't be driving my Yaris. Any special preparation for the car beside parking it in the garage and pump up the tires a bit?:smile:

[tuckevalastin]

nope

[bigjimmysrock]

change oil when you get back...

[thebarber]

wouldnt think so...

[lilredrocket]

Battery may not like you when you get back. A trickle charger might help. Not sure how long it would take to drain the battery

[06silveryaris]

make sure the lights are turned off

[tuckevalastin]

a battery should be more than fine for 3 weeks

[MadMax]

Three weeks? I wouldn't even bother pumping up the tires for that short amount of time...

And unless your battery is over three years old, it shouldn't be a problem either.

I park my cars for several weeks all the time due to work travel. My 10-yr-old Passat handled it fine, and I expect my Yaris would do likewise.

Cheers! M2

[thebarber]

i had the aveo parked for a couple months in winter (think -20c) and the battery was still fine

left the car sitting for almost 10months and everything else was fine...

i dont think parking for 3weeks youll really have to do anything at all, except lock the doors

[earljail]

If you have a fancy car alarm, it could run down your battery, so you might want to charge it when you get back.

[PetersRedYaris]

Disconnect the battery, it's not nessasary but it may stop a dumb thief while your away...

[Rich k]

only one preperation, prepare for the possiblity of a little whif of that new car smell coming back again when you first open the door. Happened to me after a week of non use afer owning the car for a year and a half. Nice littls surprise.

[YAR1S]

prepare for the excitement when you set yours eyes on your like-new again yaris... it will miss you im sure and you... it.

:p

[Shroomster]

if it's indoors: (yes I would say some of this is extreme but some people are just over cautious)

make sure all windows are rolled up and doors are shut

plug the exhaust tip with something or rubber band a rag or two over it

put the car on jack stands to avoid flat spotting the tires

remove the negative battery cable and wrap it in a rag or two and shove it down where it will not come in contact with metal

plug the intake tube or wrap rags around it

some people add fuel stabilizer it's really up to you

when you get back:

check the psi of all tires including spare

REMEMBER TO REMOVE PLUGS FROM INTAKE AND EXHAUST

run the car for about 5 minutes just idle in park to run fuel through the lines

when you first drive it again drive it w/o hard acceleration as the fuel maps will need to be relearned by ECM/PCM

[cali yaris]

put the car on jack stands to avoid flat spotting the tires

for three weeks?

I agree with disconnecting the battery, but that is all I do, and I store cars all the time for way longer than that.

[YAR1S]

definately make sure every opening is closed... dont want any critters taking up home.

[MadMax]

for three weeks?

I agree with disconnecting the battery, but that is all I do, and I store cars all the time for way longer than that.

Yeah, that's way too extreme! I wouldn't do that list unless I was going to be gone for six months or a year.

Three weeks is nothing, and even a heavy alarm system shouldn't draw enough power during that time to drain the battery...

[Shroomster]

for three weeks?

I agree with disconnecting the battery, but that is all I do, and I store cars all the time for way longer than that.

notice I never said I did it :wink: but some people are that crazy.....

[cali yaris]

ok that's true, you didn't say you actually did all that. :respekt:

[blacksandiegovitz]

Really 3 weeks???
You dont need to do shit mane... I mean drain all fluids out of the motor , unplug your battery, add "stable" to the gas tank, jack the car up and put it on jack stand so you dont get flat spots on the tires , plug one of those "high pitch " mouse deternt things in so you dont get mice making nest in the engine bay , tape off all door seems with blue 3-m tape to keep dust out other than that I think you're good.

[lh59]

Thanks for all the informative advices:thumbup: Now I don't have to worry much about my Yaris and enjoy my holi!:biggrin:

[MUSKOKA800]

Only three weeks.
Park it way from overhead wires and trees (to avoid bird drops), close the windows, lock the doors, enjoy your trip.

[lita_g]

Wash it before you leave.

[lh59]

I'm on holiday in tropical Singapore now:w00t:! This is what I've done for my Yaris before I leave.
1. Wash the car inside out
2. Pump the tires to 38PSI
3. Drove 30km to rid the engine oil of moisture and fuel
4. Park it in the garage
5. Threw a bag of fragant bag of dry leaves which is a Xmas gift from my neighbour on the dashboard:wink:

Looking to reunite with my Yaris once I'm back:wub:

[Shroomster]

HAVE FUN!!!