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Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
#1107878
27/09/2010 23:03
27/09/2010 23:03
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,644 Watford
MarioCirillo
OP
Ex El Presidente
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OP
Ex El Presidente
I AM a Coop
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,644
Watford
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Ok so basically im going to sorn the coupe after the AGM and store it on my drive for the next 4/5 months. This will give me time to sort out little bits and bobs on it as well as getting the seats sorted. Whats the best way to do this? Is it worth raising it off the ground - ie axel stands? It will probably be up in the air at some point as im going to remove and refurb my lower LE Front lips and undertray. Is it worth getting a cover for it? If so what one? Any advice would be great... Thanks 
Proud Owner of Rosso Speed LE041
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Re: Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
[Re: jame5]
#1107883
27/09/2010 23:27
27/09/2010 23:27
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,644 Watford
MarioCirillo
OP
Ex El Presidente
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OP
Ex El Presidente
I AM a Coop
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,644
Watford
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I have some rust - small amount in the usual places on the rear arches... im going to get it cut out and sorted after the winter... i dont supose there is anything i can do to keep it at bay during the winter? maybe treat it with something to stop it spreading?
Proud Owner of Rosso Speed LE041
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Re: Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
[Re: Kayjey]
#1107910
28/09/2010 01:27
28/09/2010 01:27
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 22,313 Aldershot
PeteP
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
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Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
Forum Fossil
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 22,313
Aldershot
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Mine lives outside and gets very little use in winter.
As Kayjey says, don't park on grass or any surface which retains moisture. The main thing is to be sure that there is sufficient ventilation around the car to dry any moisture inside and out. I leave the air vents wide open and the ski hatch down to encourage airflow through the inside of the car. Every so often on a dry but windy day I leave the windows part open for a couple of hours to ventilate it more.
Keep the external paintwork waxed so that crap does not stick to the paint and washes off easily.
If the weather is due to be particularly severe I put a breathable cover on the car, generally this is just when heavy snow is forecast which would block the vent in front of the windscreen and seems to generate heavy condensation on the insides of the windows. Make sure the car is clean before putting on a cover, otherwise the dirt will scratch the paint.
I usually use mine once every month or so in winter to get everything up to temperature and help keep the everything clear of condensation; because of this I keep the tyre pressures at standard. If I did not drive it I would over inflate them to reduce the chance of them developing a flat spot from standing in one place.
It may be worth hooking up to an automatic battery charger to keep the battery fully charged, I have never done so but I may have been lucky there.
16VT and X1/9 1500 + e208 Peugeot
We must all do our part for the planet. I unplugged a row of electric cars that nobody was using. I even unplugged my own.
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Re: Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
[Re: PeteP]
#1107955
28/09/2010 08:58
28/09/2010 08:58
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DaveM
Unregistered
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DaveM
Unregistered
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You can get a car tent - more expensive than a cover but better protection I'd have thought. Depends how much you want to spend and what space you have. Would make working on the car more civilised in the winter months 
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Re: Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
[Re: ]
#1108070
28/09/2010 13:13
28/09/2010 13:13
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hmallett
Unregistered
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hmallett
Unregistered
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Re: Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
[Re: ]
#1108077
28/09/2010 13:53
28/09/2010 13:53
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,644 Watford
MarioCirillo
OP
Ex El Presidente
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OP
Ex El Presidente
I AM a Coop
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,644
Watford
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£ 373.00 oooo tahts sooo tempting 
Proud Owner of Rosso Speed LE041
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Re: Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
[Re: stan]
#1108169
28/09/2010 18:07
28/09/2010 18:07
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couper
Unregistered
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couper
Unregistered
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Carcoons are excellent. The filter removes the moisture.
We have a 70's Jag and 90's daimler which are kept in carcoons. Opening then after months and there is not even surface rust on the brake discs. Dry as a bone!
No moisture at all!
Thats why people store very very expensive cars in them.
There are 2 versions 1 for inside and one for outside.
Perhaps the bloke with the pink chevy had an internal one outside?
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Re: Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
[Re: ]
#1108268
28/09/2010 20:33
28/09/2010 20:33
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,127 South Cambs
Barmybob
Hon Club Member: 003
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Hon Club Member: 003
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,127
South Cambs
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Laying up your car what to do before leaving a car unused for a long time
The preparation required before you put a car into storage depends to some exent on how long the vehicle will be left. Below are our recommendations for storing a car for one month, from one to three months, and for more than three months.
Read the general advice, and then see the specific items corresponding to the period for which you will be leaving your car.
General advice Check the code of any coded radio before removing a battery lead. You must also find out if any on-board computer will be affected by having the battery disconnected for a long period of time. Refer to the vehicle owner's handbook or contact the manufacturer. If you're covering the vehicle, don't allow plastic or any other moisture/condensation-inducing material to rest on the paintwork. If outside, be careful to avoid paint damage due to flapping covers. Note exactly what you've done to the vehicle and put it in the car – perhaps tied to the steering wheel – so that when the car comes out of storage, everything can be returned to how it should be, either by you or anybody else. There are commercial companies who will undertake storage and looking after your vehicle. This may be an option, though it might prove expensive.
If covering the recommended points below is impractical, you could arrange for someone to use the vehicle once or twice a month in dry weather, providing insurance, tax and MoT, etc, are current. This will help keep the engine and other systems functional. Take care when restarting after a long period. The battery must be fully charged and all the fluid levels checked. Try the brakes, and check that the handbrake and clutch are free. It may be best to arrange a full service of the car, including changing the brake fluid.
One month If you're storing your car for up to one month, we recommend the following:
Make sure the cooling system contains a good quality, glycol based anti-freeze at a concentration of 30% to 50%. Renew the anti-freeze if it's over one year old. (This doesn't apply if the engine contains one of the modern long-life antifreeze solutions – OAT coolant.) Leave the handbrake in the off position, making sure the vehicle wheels are securely chocked. If the vehicle is in a secure garage, leave the windows partly lowered. Ensure the drain holes in the doors, sills and bulkhead/heater are not blocked. Unpainted metal parts (not rubber or trim etc) can be sprayed with a water dispersant such as WD40 to reduce corrosion.
Up to three months
If storing a car for up to three months we recommend the following in addition to the one month items above.
Hose under the wheel arches to remove accumulated mud. Wash the vehicle then polish, apply a chrome protective polish where appropriate. Let the car dry thoroughly before putting it away. Remove the battery. Be sure to check the code of any coded radio before removing a battery lead, and find out if any on-board computer will be affected by having the battery disconnected for a long period of time. Refer to the vehicle owner's handbook. Clean the battery terminals, top up if required (if it's not a sealed-for-life battery) and arrange for it to be slow/trickle-charged about every four to six weeks. Don't leave it where it may freeze. Some special chargers can be left on all the time. Raise or remove the carpets if you suspect dampness, and dry thoroughly. Make sure the wiper blades are not in contact with the front or rear screens. Empty the windscreen washer bottle. If the vehicle is not to be parked on the public highway you should consider getting a refund on your road tax by declaring Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) on the refund application form. You can read more details on the DVLA website.You may also be able to reduce your insurance cover to fire and theft only. If the car is in a garage, make sure that there's plenty of ventilation – gaps under the doors and a high-level air vent – to promote circulation. An alternative is to use a dehumidifier, in which case the garage should be sealed as far as possible. Dehumidifying is cheaper and probably better than heating a garage, though a dehumidifier will need a low-temperature shut-off thermostat as it can't work below about 4C. Corrosion is not a problem in very cold weather, provided the car is dry and free from road salt.
More than three months
If storing a car for more than three months we recommend the following, as well as all of the above 'one' and 'three' month items.
Carry out a complete lubrication service, including oil filter. Slacken the auxiliary drive belts, ie alternator, power steering, air conditioning, etc. Note: don't slacken the camshaft drive belt. Lubricate locks with a suitable lock oil. Spray under the bonnet, around the battery box, under the wings and the metal in the boot area with a water dispersant. Place the vehicle on blocks or stands (to raise the wheels clear of the ground and unstress the tyres). If you can, remove the wheels and store them flat in a cool dark place. Don't leave a vehicle resting on a hydraulic jack, as it will slowly creep down. Starting a car left unused for a long time The work required to start a car that's not been used for a long time will depend to some extent on how well the car was prepared before being put into 'storage'.
Check tyre pressures Check that nothing's nesting under the bonnet or has chewed through the pipes/hoses If any auxiliary drive belts were loosened when the car was put into storage then these must of course be re-tightened before the car is run Check all fluid levels before starting – oil should be changed once the car's running Stale fuel could be a problem – hopefully there's not too much in the tank so that fresh fuel can be added and can get through to the engine Taking the plugs out first and turning the engine over is a good idea as this will reduce the load on the engine whilst the oil is redistributed It's also important to check brake operation including the handbrake – if the car's been left with the handbrake applied then there's every chance that the brakes will have seized on. It may be possible to free them by engaging a gear and driving gently otherwise dismantling may be necessary.
It's good practice to arrange a full service once the car is running again.
Regarding the mot – the only circumstance in which a car may be driven on the highway without an mot is if it is being driven by prior arrangement to a garage for an mot to be conducted.
If you require a garage to undertake any work prior to arranging the mot then the car should be moved only by truck or trailer.
Gone Audi mad!
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Re: Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
[Re: Barmybob]
#1108336
28/09/2010 22:01
28/09/2010 22:01
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tim42
Unregistered
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tim42
Unregistered
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Coveryourcar.co.uk sell custom covers for the Coupe, even with ears for the mirrors. Not cheap, but do different qualities for different situations. Mine cost about £100 including a locking kit with padlock.
Worth looking at,
Tim
PS I'll bring the cover to the AGM for you to look at if you want.
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Re: Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
[Re: ]
#1108340
28/09/2010 22:09
28/09/2010 22:09
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,478 Both feet in Meldrew Ave
Cappo
Forum is my life
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Forum is my life
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,478
Both feet in Meldrew Ave
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Bear in mind that with a cover outside, the wind will naturally blow the cover around and you are likely to get buffing at least, wear at worst, on sharper corners of paintwork, eg the rear quarter.
I pay to rent a garage for mine - it's not been exactly cheap at £65/month but it keeps all the nasties away.
Habeus Maximus V8 Nihilum
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Re: Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
[Re: pinin_prestatyn]
#1108452
29/09/2010 01:08
29/09/2010 01:08
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jonofitzer
Unregistered
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jonofitzer
Unregistered
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an idle car will rust far worse than if it was in use. Dry store it is the only decent way
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Re: Advice on how to store the coupe outside?
[Re: barnacle]
#1108793
29/09/2010 15:47
29/09/2010 15:47
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Raulus
Unregistered
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Raulus
Unregistered
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I left mine for a while and after a few months the inside became very damp and the electrics went mental when I started it up(wipers going and lights flashing without key in ignition). I bought a couple de-humidifiers from Asda for £1 each and after a few weeks it dried up OK and now all is fine.
Last edited by Raulus; 29/09/2010 15:47.
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