General Your recommendations for winter lay-up

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General Your recommendations for winter lay-up

Joined
Aug 17, 2020
Messages
45
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65
Location
Devon, UK
I am about to buy and then lay up my first and beautiful 1998 Barchetta, probably till April 2021. I wonder if anyone has time to offer advice please? I am considering:-
1. Dry when put away;
2. Off-ground on axle stands;
3. Full car cover although in car-port;
4. Disconnect battery, but will I then have radio security code problems?
5. Run engine say monthly.
Have I missed anything? Thanks. Geoff.
 
Get a can of acf 50 to spray around wheel arches brake lines ect before covering up for the winter
It does a great to leave a protective layer
Chris - thanks for the ACF-50 recommendation - it is a new product to me but on YouTube it looks great. Will definitely use from here on. Thanks again, Geoff.
 
Hi Geoff.

The body computer should recognise its own radio.. unlikely to need a code

All sounds good :)

My X1/9 was left on its wheels..as it got a 30 minute drive on dry days..

But your set.up sounds fine

Charlie
Thanks for the reassurance Charlie - I'll take a chance on the battery disconnect and radio turn back on! Geoff.
 
Hi, a few suggestions for thought..
If leaving the car in one position think about increasing the tyre pressures alround to say 40psi to help stop flat spots.
If you run the engine let it thoroughly warm up to eliminate condensation in the exhaust which will promote rust.
If you have a mohair hood consider placing a non fluffy sheet between the hood and the car cover to prevent marking/rubbing of the hood.
Consider a moisture/humidity coolector sac in the cabin and the windows slightly open if safe to do so.
Clean the rubber seals and apply a silicon spray to the rubber. Similarly grease the hinges and lubricate the bonnet,boot release cables.
If you disconnect the battery you may experience some initial different running of the engine until the ECU relearns its settings to your running environment. My Barchetta usually takes up to 5 miles to sttle down after a battery reconnection.
I am lucky enough to be able torun my Barchetta all year and have a garage.
Good luck
SteveD
 
Hi, a few suggestions for thought..
If leaving the car in one position think about increasing the tyre pressures alround to say 40psi to help stop flat spots.
If you run the engine let it thoroughly warm up to eliminate condensation in the exhaust which will promote rust.
If you have a mohair hood consider placing a non fluffy sheet between the hood and the car cover to prevent marking/rubbing of the hood.
Consider a moisture/humidity coolector sac in the cabin and the windows slightly open if safe to do so.
Clean the rubber seals and apply a silicon spray to the rubber. Similarly grease the hinges and lubricate the bonnet,boot release cables.
If you disconnect the battery you may experience some initial different running of the engine until the ECU relearns its settings to your running environment. My Barchetta usually takes up to 5 miles to sttle down after a battery reconnection.
I am lucky enough to be able torun my Barchetta all year and have a garage.
Good luck
SteveD
Thanks StevePD - really good layup advice. I collect my new Barchetta next Thursday - see my Barchetta smile! Thanks again, Geoff.
 
I'd suggest an alternative approach....

Leave it under cover, but drive it on dry weekends. Yes its cold out, but the B has a great heater and in my opinion there are not many better things than a nice drive on a crisp autumn/winter/spring day with the roof down, heater on full blast and a coffee.

At least it keeps the air moving in/under the car, helping fight moisture build up.

Yes, there is salt on the road sometimes, but we have underseal for that, right?

My car is left outside, although under a car cover, and gets run all year round, albeit it much, much less during the colder months.

As soon as I have a garage though it'll living in there like it should be :)
 
I personally think that a car driven in the winter is asking for trouble. Even if the roads are dry there will still be salt dust on the road. This dust will get everywhere! Then when the car isn't used the salt dust will attract moisture and assist corrosion particularly on alloy parts, brake components etc.
On the subject of running the engine once a month, I dont do it. I don't think the exhaust will get hot enough at tickover to dry out the condensation. Also will the engine be hot enough for long enough to clear internal condensation?
I've never experienced problems with disconnecting the battery for 6 months at a time and it certainly stops the ecu, radio and remote locking systems draining the battery.
If its under cover but outside I would spray the cam cover with WD40 to stop it from going "furry" like alloy tends to do.
 
I personally think that a car driven in the winter is asking for trouble. Even if the roads are dry there will still be salt dust on the road. This dust will get everywhere! Then when the car isn't used the salt dust will attract moisture and assist corrosion particularly on alloy parts, brake components etc.
On the subject of running the engine once a month, I dont do it. I don't think the exhaust will get hot enough at tickover to dry out the condensation. Also will the engine be hot enough for long enough to clear internal condensation?
I've never experienced problems with disconnecting the battery for 6 months at a time and it certainly stops the ecu, radio and remote locking systems draining the battery.
If its under cover but outside I would spray the cam cover with WD40 to stop it from going "furry" like alloy tends to do.
Hi Dave Fridge - thanks for observations. I had forgotten that when you buy a new car and tax it you have to take a minimum 6 months period, so I now have a lovely car that is insured for a year and taxed for 6 months. It is stored in Devon and when I am next there it will be hard not to take it out for a run on a dry day!. Now I must put a photo of it on my profile. Thanks for comments. Geoff.
 
Can't you make a SORN and get a refund of the unused months of tax?
Hi Gar075 - thanks for this. I had assumed that because the new owner function lead to taxation and would only allow 6 or 12 months cover, that a SORN was not an option. So, I have just tried to enter a SORN and although part of the gov.uk system isn't working right now, it looks as though it might be possible. That would save me a chuck of my cash!! I will try again tomorrow / before month-end. Thanks for the observation. Geoff.
 
Just Sorn mine after only 2 months on the road.
Below is the confirmation of the return of unused Road tax, expecting it to take at least 4-6 weeks for the refund.
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED EMAIL - PLEASE DO NOT REPLY AS EMAILS
RECEIVED AT THIS ADDRESS CANNOT BE RESPONDED TO.

Confirmation of Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)

Thank you for using DVLA Vehicle Licensing Online.
Your SORN has been successful.

The SORN will be valid until you tax, sell, permanently export or scrap the vehicle.

Any refund of vehicle tax due will be automatically issued to the name and address on our records.* If you pay by Direct Debit your Direct Debit will be cancelled.
 
Hi Gar075 - thanks for this. I had assumed that because the new owner function lead to taxation and would only allow 6 or 12 months cover, that a SORN was not an option. So, I have just tried to enter a SORN and although part of the gov.uk system isn't working right now, it looks as though it might be possible. That would save me a chuck of my cash!! I will try again tomorrow / before month-end. Thanks for the observation. Geoff.

Happy to help! I'm about to do the same with my Murena. I taxed it when I bought it 3 weeks ago, but I don't intend to keep it on the road over the winter. The MOT's due at the end of October, and as soon as that's done, I'll tuck it up in the barn with the B.
 
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