I'm putting my CRX in for sleep during the winter but perhaps even longer due to the fact that I want to finish university which i've negelected so much the past two years and I overspent too much time and money on the car.. besides I want to find my own place (parents are starting to annoy me) and I won't be able to do modifications for a while..

-what precautions should I take besides removing the battery?

 

you might want to put the car up on jackstands so the tires don't dry rot out.

the only other thing i would worry about is getting water in the gas. i would run down the gas pretty low and just drain the tank before you start her back up.

 

I aways heard that you fill the tank all the way to the top before you put it away.

Are you going to keep it in the garage or outside?

 

i was thinking that too so the tank doesn't rust on the inside. i just figured it might be easier to run the tank low and drain the gas before starting the car back up....

 

keep some baking soda under the hood to absorb moister.

 

Yes the car is going to be parked in a large dry farmbarn (however you spell it) under a large piece of industrial plastic.. the soda is a good idea

 

im assuming your from vt. I have kinda a strange question for you. Did you drive you rex in the winter? Did anything bad happen to it because of the salt on the roads and what not? Im from NH and i just got my rex, its really nice, but i wanna know if driving it in the winter will hurt it, as long as i wash it once a week and what not. Tell me what you think. Thank you.

 

VT is like Vermont?

No I'm from Holland, Europe but we got some salty winters here as well.. During wintertime I always parked my car into my aprent's garage and drove their Stratus most of the time.. simply because it is better insured and does not have as much power and is simply "more drivable" under slippery conditions (not to mention GREAT ventilation system). When I had to drive my car and salt did come on the CRX I waited till it stopped freezing and I hosed everything of , especially inside the fenders and under the car where it is most vunrable!

Now I use a civic as daily driver, I do not mind as much

 

You car isn't going to be sitting on dirt is it??

That would be bad. Because the moisture would just seep up under the car and rust out the bottom.

 

cover the exhaust tip with a bag and the air intake so no moisture gets into the engine. i have stored my car with both a full tank and a empty tank, had very bad results with the full tank, and make sure your coolent has a higher mix so there will be no chance of the coolent freezing. Just incase there is a huge coldsnap, but I live in Canada so it happens alot where I live.

 

best bet is to top of your tank and when you go to drive your car again, drain it and refill it with new fuel. don't drive it with the old cruddy gas. sealing intake and exhaust is also highly recommended. change your oil and tranny fluid as soon as it comes out of storage. best to store it with fresh oil. replace all hoses and belts when you take it out of storage. store with high concentrate of coolant/antifreeze. as for your tires, if you can put them in your house, do it. dry rotting is common with cars that sit, even if there is no weight on them. baking soda under the hood and even inside the car should help as well. good luck
-Erik

 

Start here once a month ? BTW is the plastic such a great idea ? aren't you getting condense-water because of the plastic and warm/cold temp... better go for some old bedsheets...

 

For the gas i'd get a fuel stabilizer...one of the good ones is Stabil, it should be available at autoparts stores. oh and put out mouse traps and rat traps so they don't infest under the hood and chew through wires.

 

GroundZero: I would park it during the winter if you possibly can. The problem with the CRX is that salty water gets behind the bumper cover and rots the car out from there. In addition, the Si has sunroof drain tubes that tend to clog and then rust out, dumping water all over the inside of the quarter panels. If you drive it during the winter i'd pay special attention to making sure the sunroof drains are unclogged (if you have an Si) and to keeping salt off of the rear fenderwells. Washing it once a week will go a long way to preventing rust. Also, make sure your car has a good coat of undercoat on it before winter begins.

 

also u can spray wd40 into the cylinders to prevent the rings from sticking when u start it back up..

 

Give it a kiss so the car doesnt think you are going to cheat with another.

 

here is a complete list i got from "Popular Machanics"

Putting it in Storage

-STORE IT INDOORS
-The cleaner the vehicle the better
--Wash, Wax, and polish
-Fill up tank
--Add Gasoline Stabalizer
--Drive the car around long enough to mix the stabalizer with the Gas. Make sure the car gets really warm. At least 30-40 miles
-Remove dirt from the underbody, Particulary from the wheel wells
-Really, Really, Really clean the interior and truck (or hatch)
-Allow car to air dry
-When parking on Contrete make a vapor barrier
--Use plastic sheets or traps
-Remove the spark plugs and spay some oil into the cylinders to prevent rust and corrosion
--Turn the crankshaft (with socket and rachet wrench on the crank pulley bolt) about for the six times
-Reinstall spark plugs and wires
-Disconnect battery cables (ground first) and remove battery from car
--Clean top and sides of battery
--Place in a dry spot and and connect to a float charger
-Lubricate the hood latch, door hinges, and hood hinges
-Flush and fill brake fluid
-Check freezing point on engine coolent
-Stuff thick clean rags into the tailpipe, engine air intake, and the fresh air intake in front of the windsheild
--if you know you have mice in the area, use foil instead
-if leaving car longer then 6 months, set the car up on four jackstands
-stuff clean rags between the wiper arms and windsheild to hold them back off the glass (or remove the blades)
-Empty large box of moth ***** around and under the car to discourage critters

Taking it back out

-In addition to unpakcing , refitting the battery and so forth, sand most of the rust off the brake rotors with some 100-grit sandpaper on a rubber block, and change the engine oil and filter.
-Take your baby out for a roll, Not some thing to just warm up the engine. Really work her and let her know how much you her. Use the brakes, gas, turning, A/C, heater, shift though all the gears. Take it on at least a 30 mile drive.
-Have fun and good luck

 

Thanks!

 

damn good post.... I have my civic si in storage in my garage and i don't even do half of what's on that list. I will do it today.
i take my civic out maybe once a month but only for like 2 miles.... I'll start driving her more often. This is why I love honda-tech.