Storing Your Car - Honda 1996 Accord Wagon Owner's Manual

Storing Your Car

If you need to park your car for
an extended period (more than
one month), you should do
several things to prepare it for
storage. Proper preparation
helps prevent deterioration and
makes it easier to get your car
back on the road. If possible,
store your car indoors.
Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and
filter (see page 119).
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 110 - 113). The
replacements called for in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has
actually reached that time or
mileage.