What to Do When You Take the Vehicle Out of Storage

You have placed your vehicle in storage for a longer period of time. Now, you need to use it again, but you need to prepare it for service. Here is a short list of what you need to do to ensure the vehicle’s proper performance.

Undo What You Did

Firstly, you need to undo the preparations you did before the vehicle was placed in storage. It might be a good idea to keep a list of preps you have done on the vehicle before storage. In this case, when the time comes, you will be able to refer to that checklist to prepare the vehicle to be back on the road.

If you live in an area where small animals can cause an issue to standstill vehicles, be sure to check the belts, hoses and wires for any potential animal nests or damage by rodents. You should also remove the steel wool you placed in the air cleaner intake and exhaust pipe, to ensure the vehicle’s proper performance.

Windshield Wipers

The rubber on the windshield wipers can crack or brittle when the vehicle is in storage. This can be caused by weather damage, by UV light and by freezing temperatures. If the rubber of the windshield wipers is damaged, it will not wipe the windshield properly or in the worst-case scenario, it will cause hairline scratches on the glass.

Tire Pressure

Temperature changes will cause the tires to deflate. As a result, the tires need to be inflated to the recommended proper tire air pressure before the vehicle is taken on a drive.

Furthermore, the tires need to be checked for flat spotting. The combination of improper inflation and a longer period of standstill can cause flat spots on the tires, where the tire is in connection with the surface. However, proper inflation will minimize the possibility of flat spotting, but it won’t hurt to double check the tires before the vehicle is placed in use.

Fluids

All of the fluids in the vehicle should be checked before the vehicle is taken out of usage. The fuel, if fuel stabilizers are used, should still be good to use. However, taking a second look at the vehicle’s fluids will ensure the vehicle’s safer performance after it is taken out of storage.

Car Battery

It is given that a vehicle cannot even be started without a battery. Once the storage period is over, the battery should be reconnected to the vehicle. You also need to check if the battery terminals are clean before placing the battery back and reconnecting it to the vehicle. If everything is connected, try to start the vehicle and take it on a test drive. If anything seems out of the ordinary, be sure to get it looked at.

Cleanliness

If your vehicle is in storage for a longer period of time, dust can gather on it. Dust and dirt can be easily cleaned off the vehicle by either going to a car wash or cleaning it at home.