12 week lay-up advice needed

Believe it or not, in 45 years on the road I've never had need to store a car for more than a week(ish).

Wor Lass has been told that due to her medical conditions she has to do the 12 week Covid-19 self-isolation thing. So the Picasso won't be getting used, it will just sit in the garage.

I did a full service on it last weekend (just before she got the news), but what other precautions should I take? I'll continue checking the tyres once a week, as I always do, and it's only done less than 20 (dry) miles since I washed it. What about the battery? I suppose it will go flat if left that long, and taking the car for a run every few days is a no-no during the lockdown. I'm loathe to disconnect it, unless the consensus here is that I should.

Any advice gratefully accepted. And is there anything I've not thought of?

Best regards, and everyone stay safe!
Stuart.

StuBeeDoo wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2020 6:23 pm Believe it or not, in 45 years on the road I've never had need to store a car for more than a week(ish).

Wor Lass has been told that due to her medical conditions she has to do the 12 week Covid-19 self-isolation thing. So the Picasso won't be getting used, it will just sit in the garage.

I did a full service on it last weekend (just before she got the news), but what other precautions should I take? I'll continue checking the tyres once a week, as I always do, and it's only done less than 20 (dry) miles since I washed it. What about the battery? I suppose it will go flat if left that long, and taking the car for a run every few days is a no-no during the lockdown. I'm loathe to disconnect it, unless the consensus here is that I should.

Any advice gratefully accepted. And is there anything I've not thought of?

Best regards, and everyone stay safe!
Stuart.

Just park it up and leave it

Start it up after 12 weeks and drive away, (after doing you regular checks that the tyres are ok and there is oil in the engine etc).

Arfur Dent wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2020 6:44 pmJust park it up and leave it

Start it up after 12 weeks and drive away, (after doing you regular checks that the tyres are ok and there is oil in the engine etc).

Do you reckon the battery will be alright for 12 weeks, then? I don't know how old it is, potentially it could be from mid-2012.

If the battery was bought in 2012, it's closer to the end of its life than the beginning.

I would bank on buying a new battery (eventually) anyway however I'm not saying you should rush out and get a new one or that the battery wont last the 12 weeks.

You could disconnect the battery but you will loose your radio stations and time, not a big deal but the car shuts down all but necessary items anyway and those items don't consume much power at all.

While I'm not afraid, jump starting the car is not recommended. However you could jump charge the battery. Do you even have jumper leads? Can you charge the battery to keep it topped up? Is buying a charger an option? Can you start and idle the car in the intervening period? Can you get your hands on a new battery if so required?

What is it that you are worried about? The battery will go flat in 12 weeks? The battery will be damaged by 12 weeks inactivity? Either of these scenarios are unlikely but like a good boy scout, you should be prepared. As I said the battery is not exactly a spring chicken. So think of your worst-case-scenario and plan for that.

Depending on where it is parked, it may be a good idea to park it in gear with the handbrake off. If it has disc brakes, it is possible for the pads to stick to the discs. If they do it can be difficult to get the car moving again.