Storing Your Car - Honda 1994 Accord Wagon Reference Owner's Manual

Storing Your Car

If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than
1 month), there are several things
you should do to prepare it for
storage. Proper preparation helps
prevent deterioration and makes
it easier to get your car back on
the road. It is best to store your
car indoors if at all possible.
Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 127).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure
the carpeting, floor mats, etc.
are completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off.
Put the transmission in
Reverse (5-speed manual) or
Park (automatic).
Block the rear wheels.
Maintenance
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open
slightly (if the car is being
stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Cover the car with a
"breathable" car cover, one
made from a porous material
such as cotton. Nonporous
materials, such as plastic
sheeting, trap moisture, which
can damage the paint.
If possible, periodically run the
engine for a while (preferably
once a month).
Support the front and rear
wiper blade arms with a folded
towel or rag so they do not
touch the windshield.
To minimize the seal sticking,
apply a silicone spray lubricant
to all door and trunk seals.
Also, apply a car body wax to
the painted surfaces that mate
with the door and trunk seals.
If you store your car for 12
months or longer, have your
Honda dealer perform the
inspections called for in the 24
months/30,000 miles (48,000 km)
maintenance schedule as soon as
you take it out of storage (see
pages 120 - 122). The replace-
ments called for in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has
actually reached that time or
mileage.