4 Tips For Keeping Your Unused Car In Good Condition

30 December 2014
 Categories: Automotive, Blog

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Sometimes, you may have to be far away from home for an extended period, and you may have to leave your car unused for several months. Whenever this happens, you will want to make sure that the car is in the best condition possible when you get back and are ready to drive it again. Here are some simple tips you can use to keep your vehicle in good shape, if you plan to leave your car unused for longer than three months.

Extend battery life

Not using your car for a long period of time may cause the battery in the car to become drained. This is especially true if the battery is not new. In order to prevent your battery from dying, you can invest in a smart charger. Smart chargers are good for extending your battery life, because they will automatically detect the voltage and also the resistance from the battery. The smart charger will then continuously give the battery the right amount of voltage to keep the battery alive.

Proper ventilation

It is always best to leave the car parked in a secure garage or storage area, because the interior of a car that is left unused for a long period needs proper ventilation. In order to properly ventilate the car's interior, you will need to crack the windows open to at least a quarter of the way down. This will prevent the interior of the car, especially the seating, from suffering any form of dry rotting.

Remove the wheels of the vehicle

Wheels can be prone to cracks when left unused and unattended for long periods. This is because only one area of each wheel will be under constant pressure when the vehicle is parked for a long time. This is why you should consider removing the wheels and laying them flat in a secure area, to prevent stress damage. You can get a friend or even a mechanic from a place like Larry Harker's Auto Repair to help you hoist the vehicle unto blocks or stands.

Consider getting a car sitter

If you can find a trusted family member, a friend or someone who comes highly recommended to access the vehicle, use it and get it serviced while you are gone, this will be helpful in keeping the vehicle in good working order. A car sitter is often one of the best ways to make sure that your vehicle is not only secure but fully functional when you return.