If you are going for a long trip or leaving a town for a while for some reason, a storage unit for car remains a good idea. But whether the car storage solutions are not suitable for your vehicle, you will likely bring a car more harm than benefit. Once you are moving a car with an auto transport company, they will recommend storing your automobile. Today, we’ll discover a few most common mistakes people make while keeping their cars and how to avoid them.
5 common taking car out of storage mistakes
1. Selecting the wrong type of storage
You need to understand that not all car storage solutions are designed equally. The least expensive way to store your car is outdoor storage in a parking facility lot. Since your vehicle will be exposed to a range of external factors, like rain, snow, wind, and sun, this option is not recommended for valuable or luxury cars, as well as it won’t suit extreme climates. Once you decide to store your vehicle outside, especially for a long time, it would be better to get a cover for your car to achieve extra protection. On the other hand, there are indoor car storage options. The most common mistake remains to choose too small units for cars. This way, before you make a reservation, visit the facility to ensure your car will fit the storage place.
2. Keeping the battery connected
Another widespread mistake in car storage is a connected battery. If you don’t disconnect it, it can slowly drain even if your car is off. Try to disconnect the negative terminal while your car is in storage. Besides, you can utilize a trickle charger that will apply slight current to a battery and keep it charged until you pick up a vehicle.
3. Not filling up a gas tank
An empty gas tank tends to accumulate excessive moisture, leading to rust formation. You can prevent yourself from getting rust into the engine by topping off a gas tank.
4. Putting on the parking brake
Turning on a parking brake seems a good idea for many car owners, but it is wrong. While leaving the parking brake switched on for too long, it might turn out to cause brake pads to fuse to the rotors that are not recommended at all. Instead of a parking brake, get several chocks under each wheel to keep your vehicle away from any possible rolling.
5. Not checking a car after an extended storage
Before you want to start your car:
- Make sure you have inspected your vehicle correctly. You should visually evaluate the state of your car inside and outside, check engine fluids, tire pressure, the presence of pests in the exhaust, and so on.
- Don’t forget to test your brakes before high-speed driving.
- If you notice any breakdowns, don’t procrastinate, and go to a mechanic to fix any car problems.