My son lost his license and the tags and insurance have been taken off his 2003 Frontier (he didn't want to sell it)
We have parked it in the garage. It's going to be hard to remember to drive it around the block every now and then.
What should we do? Disconnect the battery?
Please advise!
Never left any vehicle sitting around too long but with snowmobiles, I jack the suspension off the ground. Fog the motor. For vehicles I imagine starting it up once or twice a year with a drive around to warm up everything (tranny, diffs...) and change the oil every year.
Although the advice to sell it is pretty sound. The truck will just depreciate in value as teh years go by. Better off selling it and putting the money away in a GIC or something. At least it won't depreciate.
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2001 Frontier SE 4x4 Crew Cab
Mostly stock but always looking for mods...
How long is it out of service for? If it's six months or less I'd just disconnect the battery and pump up the tires. If it's more than six months, but less than 18 months I'd also drain the fuel, put in fresh coolant, and do an oil change before I put in away. You might also want to wash it, wax it, and put a car cover on it to avoid "hanger rash". Check it periodically to make sure that no "critters' are taking up residence inside (pack rats are a pain here in AZ) and keep the tires inflated. If it's more than 18 months I'd either sell it or prepare it for long term storage (seal and dessicate the engine). I would not run it as that just contaminates the oil without much value to the engine. I would not go through the trouble of jacking it up as the suspension is designed to have the weight of the truck on it for its entire life. I might move it once in a while or jack it up (but not leave it on jacks) to rotate the tires to avoid tire damage (sidewall cracking, delanination).
I would love to sell the truck, but it's not mine. And my son will be getting his license back next spring, so it will only be out of service for a year. I had been driving it some, but when the insurance went up, we dropped it and took the tag off. I would still be willing to drive it around my neighborhood when I remember.
I will disconnect the battery, as advised.
What do you mean, pump up the tires?
Oh, and I did wash it before I put it in the garage and I am planning on getting a cover, too. What is hanger rash???
What do you mean, pump up the tires?
Oh, and I did wash it before I put it in the garage and I am planning on getting a cover, too. What is hanger rash??? [/quote]
1) I just meant that you should inflate the tires to their specified maximum pressure.
2) "Hanger rash" is the nicks and dents that show up on airplanes from being hit by work stands, tools, etc.
I would not drive the vehicle just around the neighborhood. It's unlikely that you'll warm it up enough to let the combustion byproducts boil out of the oil. You'll just contaminate the oil and not really make a lot of difference to the drive train.
Applies a trickle voltage to the battery so it doesn't drain. Depending on the cost of it it might be better to buy a new battery when the truck hits the road again.
If the battery is going to be exposed to temperature swings it might be better to store it inside off the floor.
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2001 Frontier SE 4x4 Crew Cab
Mostly stock but always looking for mods...
Thats what i'm talking about - everyone here has recommended the battery be removed - but if you just sit it on the floor in your basement, it's gonna be dead as a door nail in 6 weeks - get a a battery tender (justa trickle charger) and that battery will last like nobodies business... When i store the car each winter, i leave everything connected and just hook up the battery tender - always fires right up...
Thats what i'm talking about - everyone here has recommended the battery be removed - but if you just sit it on the floor in your basement, it's gonna be dead as a door nail in 6 weeks - get a a battery tender (justa trickle charger) and that battery will last like nobodies business... When i store the car each winter, i leave everything connected and just hook up the battery tender - always fires right up...
I am familiar with a trickle charger. My DH has one on his motorcycle.
Hmmmm, now what do I do?
Disconnect the battery? Keep the battery connected to a trickle charger?
Start the truck every couple of weeks and drive it around my neighborhood for a while?
And the truck is parked in a garage. It gets kind of hot in the summer but not too cold in the winter. Ours are fairly mild here.
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