Storing Your Car - Honda Accord 4D 2003-2006 Owner's Manual

03/09/03 15:10:37 32SEA610_435

Storing Your Car

If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than one
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. If
possible, store your car indoors.
Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 362 on petrol models
and page 366 on diesel models).
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
(manual) or Park (automatic).
432
Maintenance
Block the rear wheels.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tyres are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front wiper blade
arms with a folded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windscreen.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and boot seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted
surfaces that mate with the door
and boot seals.
Cover the car with a ''breathable''
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, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once
a month).
On Diesel models only
After you parked the vehicle for
an extended period, water stays in
the fuel system and the engine will
not start. In this case, the fuel
filter may be needed to drain off
water (see Draining Water
page 393 ).
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