There are a
couple of reasons why you would want to keep your car in a self-storage unit.
You could have recently bought a new vehicle, but have no room for it at your
home. Maybe you didn't plan on taking in a relative's car while they are out of
the state or country and you need to ensure that it is kept safe. Whatever the
case may be, car self-storage is the best way to protect your automobile from
the elements and the possibility of theft. Here are a few things you should do
before you bring your vehicle in for safekeeping:
Make sure you have all the important paperwork
Before you do any transporting, take a minute to make sure that the vehicle's insurance card, title and license are all up to date.
Clean the vehicle
You don't want your car to attract any more dirt, dust or grime than it should while it is sitting in storage. Make sure the outside of the vehicle is thoroughly washed. Once the outside is taken care of, you can start cleaning the interior of the car. Food or natural fibers from plants and other biodegradable items will decay while your car sits in storage for days, weeks or months at a time, so be sure to empty your vehicle of any food remnants from long road trips or driving the kids to after-school activities.
Prep your car for storage
Make sure you have all the important paperwork
Before you do any transporting, take a minute to make sure that the vehicle's insurance card, title and license are all up to date.
Clean the vehicle
You don't want your car to attract any more dirt, dust or grime than it should while it is sitting in storage. Make sure the outside of the vehicle is thoroughly washed. Once the outside is taken care of, you can start cleaning the interior of the car. Food or natural fibers from plants and other biodegradable items will decay while your car sits in storage for days, weeks or months at a time, so be sure to empty your vehicle of any food remnants from long road trips or driving the kids to after-school activities.
Prep your car for storage
- Check your car's oil before putting
the vehicle in storage.
- Open the hood and check your oil
dipstick to see if you need new oil.
- If the car needs oil, lift it on
either jacks or ramps.
- Let the car heat up to warm the
engine oil
- Assemble your tools: new engine oil,
new filter, oil pan to catch drained oil, a socket wrench and a flash light.
Consult your owner's manual to identify the type of oil and filter your car
needs.
- Open the hood and remove the oil cap
on top of the engine.
- Find the oil pan. It's under your car
and looks like a flat metal pan, usually located closer to the engine than the
transmission. There should be a bolt or a plug toward the bottom. This is
called the oil plug. Once you remove this, dirty, used engine oil will begin to
flow.
- Place the oil pan and old newspapers
directly under the plug to catch the falling oil.
- Deposit the new engine oil.
- Keep the battery charged with an
automatic car battery charger.
- First, find the model that matches
your car battery. Check the owner's manual for this information.
- Read the charger manual to make sure
you know how to properly use it.
- Remove each battery cable, taking off
the negative (black) first and then the positive (red).
- Check that the charger is not plugged
in and its power is off.
- Connect the positive charger cable
(usually red) to the positive (+) battery terminal. Do the same with the
negative (black) cable and negative (-) terminal.
- Setting the charger low will send a
trickle charge. A high setting will quickly energize the battery.
- Do not touch the cables while the
cell is charging.
- After the battery is full, disconnect
the cables starting with the negative terminal.
Other tips:
- Fill up all the tires to prevent flat
spots.
- Place a weatherproof cover over your
car for added protection.
- Don't use the parking brake while the
car is in storage. There's a chance the rotors will fuse to the brake pads.
What kind of storage unit do you need?
While you're figuring out what storage unit to rent, you'll need to decide what size fits your needs. Outdoor units with coverings will provide your vehicle with protection from the elements. You will also need to find out what kind of unit fits your budget. Consult a rental unit service center for more information.