winter storage

[blackbird]

I no sooner broke down & put on the hardtop (after haveing the Xcel kit put on) than winter weather has set here in MA. Other than putting a cover on it in the garage - is there anything else I should do fot winter storage? :puzzled:

[Blue Heaven]

Blackbird,
I make it a habit to put fresh oil in and change the filter for storage. Then change that oil before putting her back on the road in the spring.

You would definately want to store it with a full tank of gas to reduce condensation and add fuel stabilizer.

I would also recommend a battery minder. This unit plugs into an ordinary wall outlet and will mantain the proper charge to the battery during the winter. There are a number of places to get one of these (California Car Cover, Eastwood Automotive and Griot's Garage come to mind). I've ordered mine from Griot's.

I would also suggest elevating the tires off the garage floor (especially if it is concrete). This can be done simply by driving the car onto four squares of 3/4" or 1/2" plywood. Since concrete is so dry and porous, this helps prevent tire dry out.

Lastly, there are different schools of thought on silica packets to prevent mildew, condensation and musty smell. These can be placed inside the car, and are especially important if you have another vehicle using the garage that may be covered with snow. You can even go as far as purchasing a car capsule that the vehicle would be driven into. These units also have small fans blowing into the capsule so that there is constant air movement.

Hope this helps!
Dino

[TBird02]

I just ordered a battery charger/maintainer/conditioner today called a "BatteryMINDer". Uses "pulse" technology to charge and maintain. Supposed to add life expectancy to the battery by preventing sulperization of the plates. There is anothe "pulse" unit called "RediPulse", but as I understand it will maintain a battery, but not actually charge it.

The "Battery Tender" sold at CalCarCover is $54.95 and is a conventional charger/maintainer.
The "RediPulse" is about $49.95 - $69.95 on the net.
The "BatteryMINDer is $39.95, and has a mail in offer for a battery tester (I think it is between $5 - $10 mail in).
All prices are plus shipping.

I felt that since the Bird spends about half the year in storage, and only lightly used in the summer, the battery needs all the help it can get. Want to keep the original in the car as long as possible.

As far as storage, have decided to cover it and use a conventional low speed fan to circulate air to prevent condensation on the car (same idea as with the "bubble" units), place plastic sheet on the floor under the car, put the tires on carpet mats, and place the hardtop on the car with the anchors untightened to avoid compressing the weatherstrip (Ford recommends leaving the soft top up, but I am trying it down this winter). Agree with the things mentioned above, but also used 303 protectant on the vinyl and all gaskets, and leather conditioner on the seats and leather trim.

Had considered a bubble, but they require more space than I have, and the car jackets are just too fussy. I like the ability to get the car out for a week if we get good weather or decide to take a trip to the south. The jackets make it a lot more difficult to be "spontaneous".

Just a few of my thoughts. Good luck.

[Blue Heaven]

Well, as much as I have dreaded the day, it has finally come. I put baby away for the winter today. Fresh oil and filter, fuel stabilizer, a fresh coat of wax and leather treatment, battery minder in place and tires on pieces of MDF. I decided to keep the soft top up, so the hard top stays on the cradle.

This is going to be a tough one, not being able to drive her for another few months.:bawl::bawl::bawl: I am going to rely on all of my new Bird buddies on this site to help me through it.

Depressed in CT.
Dino

[brd4jk]

dino know what you mean ........had mine in storage but took it out decided to take trip to wixom on my hardtop issue got snow on it and i think it was mad at me ...........:lol:

very impressed how it handled got 23.9 mpg running avg 80 will be back in kc monday night back to storage tuesday :sad:

probally wont get it out till the week of world of wheels car show when it will be in then with ancestor birds

[MATBird]

Dino:
Would you share with us, please, which battery minder you use and where you got it? Have you used these before?

[rlstonejr]

or, you could move to Florida! :biggrin:

[Gobird]

:naughty:NO GUTS, NO GLORY, My wife will be driving our Bird all winter here in Pa. Guess I'll have to let you know how it handles in the SNOW.:smokin: Just so she or someone else doesn't wreak it.:lol:

[FUN X 3]

I'm with you Gobird, my Bird's gonna love the snow! I'm glad I decided to make it the daily driver...I would hate to say goodbye for the winter. Also, what a pain in the a** all this winterization stuff! Not to say they're wrong...if I lived in Michigan or Connecticut, it would be bye bye birdie until springtime.

[brd4jk]

just to let you all know drove from kansas city to wixom ran in to snow east of chicago to wixom was great.



and yes wixom does recommend to store with the softtop up, can stored with down will have to work with when you put it back up to strecth it .

[FordMan7]

Gobird....

I agree - I'll be driving mine all winter, unless the weather is too bad.....I'll let you know how the car is in the snow tomorrow - as the weathermen are predicting 4-6 inches for northern NJ:bawl:

It just seems like a few days ago I was out and about with the top down:bawl:

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[YLO BRD]

For those of you that have put battery minders on, how did you route the power cord out of the trunk? Do you leave the trunk open, or go thru some access hole in the trunk?
If you leave the trunk open, do you disconnect the light?

[Blue Heaven]

George,
I bought the battery minder from Griot's garage. I've never used these before, but have been told they are all pretty much the same and very reliable.

Joanne,
I am just running the cables out of the trunk, and have disconnected the light. This will work fine.

[YLO BRD]

Blue Heaven, Thanks for the info, I got a fully automatic maintainer at our local auto store "Murrays" for $34. We were planning on doing the same as you are, just was looking to see if there were any other ideas on how to keep the trunk shut. Still can't bear to put it away, maybe in a few weeks, especially before the street salting starts.

[MATBird]

Thanks Dino (Blue Heaven) for the info, including running the wires. That's helpful

[TBird02]

FYI - Battery chargers & maintainers warn against using in closed spaces. Perhaps a carry over from vented battery case days. With the new sealed maintenance-free batteries, I am not certain if they still vent. A battery specialist I spoke to says not, but I was still concerned, since the manufacturer still includes a warning with the chargers. I made a spacer to hold the light plunger down, and left the trunk lid cracked.

The pulse charger I mentioned in an earlier post completed its cycle in 24 hrs, and shows a maintenance status now. Anyone else have experience with this type of maintainer?

[Blue Heaven]

TBird02,
You are correct, I would definately take the precaution of leaving the trunk ajar. I am just using a small prop rod.

[bluebird]

You don't have to remove the bulb, when the car's computers go to sleep in about a half hour, the light will go out.

[DavidA]

Why worry about leaving the trunk ajar. If the battery does go dead, you can still get into it by using the key slot behind the driver's seat.:rolleyes:

[FordMan7]

Gobird...

The car is great in the snow - I had the first "test" this morning - we received about three inches of snow - the car drove through without any problems, the traction control only came on once, going uphill.:thumbsup:

Yet another good quality for a great car!

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[Blue Heaven]

DavidA,
The reason for leaving the trunk ajar is for ventilation of the battery and the minder itself. It is never a good idea to have a charging battery in a confined space with little air movement.

[Blue Heaven]

I am wondering what any of you that are storing your Birds for the winter are doing about starting or not starting the car periodically. I have heard conflicting schools of thought on this...

First: If you do start it say every few weeks and you live in a very cold climate (like we do here in New England) then you can cause condensation buildup from the rapid changes in temperatures.

Second: If you do not start it periodically, the oil will drain back from the engine's gallies and such leaving unprotected surfaces when the car is started after storage.

Your input would be greatly appreciated!!

[yelobird2002]

Yes you should start it every few weeks, and yes the temperature change will build condensation. But if you let the engine run long enough the condensation will turn to steam and eventually all will come out. What is bad is starting the car and letting it run 10 minutes and then shutting it off. This leaves the condensation in the engine. Should start the engine and let it run a minimum of thirty minutes and as long as an hour. Look at the tailpipes and when you don't see any moisture dripping anymore and no more steam coming out of the tailpipes you have evaporated all the moisture.