Preparing Your Honda for Long-Term Storage: Maintenance Tips

Tips for Preparing Your Honda for Long-Term Storage

Give it a Good Cleaning

Dirt, grease, bird droppings, and other debris can cause damage over time. A thorough wash and waxing will prevent paint damage and corrosion. If you have leather or vinyl seats, wipe them down with a conditioner to prevent cracking. You should also clean out any trash and vacuum the interior; crumbs can attract pests.

Keep Unwanted Guests Out

A parked car is a tempting shelter for rodents. Mice can sneak in through the air intake and exhaust pipe, so plug those openings with steel wool to keep them out. You can also try a natural deterrent, such as peppermint oil or cayenne.

Making sure the area around your car is clean can help prevent a rodent infestation. If your Honda is parked in a garage, a few traps around the room can give you additional peace of mind.

Prevent Corrosion

Before parking your Honda for a month or more, fill up the gas tank. Condensation can build up in an empty tank, leading to rust. For further protection, add a fuel stabilizer. Change the oil as well; contaminants in used oil can corrode your engine.

Park it Properly

Don’t use your parking brake for long-term storage. When the parking brake is engaged for too long, the brake pads can fuse to the rotors. Wheel chocks can make sure your car stays put.

However, if your Honda is going to be parked for more than 30 days, consider taking off the wheels and putting it on jack stands instead. Tires can go flat or even warp if allowed to sit in one place too long. Taking the time to put your car on jack stands can save you the cost of a new set of tires.

Keep the Battery Charged

Even if no one is driving the car, the battery will drain over time. To avoid coming home to a dead battery, you can simply disconnect it while your car is in storage. Another option is to use a battery maintainer to keep your battery charged and ready to go.

Protect it From the Elements

The best place to store your Honda is a climate-controlled garage, but if that’s not an option, there are other ways to shield it from the weather. Lubricate latches and hinges to prevent rust and freezing. Wrap your wiper blades in plastic to prevent them from sticking to your windshield. Finally, cover the vehicle with a breathable, water-repellant car cover.

Thorough preparation can save you a lot of hassle and expense when you and your Honda are reunited. If you need a tune-up before putting your Honda in storage, contact Coeur d’Alene Honda in Coeur d’Alene, ID today to schedule service.

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