General Prep for Winter

[Freebo]

Right my Cinq's gonna be tucked up in the garage over winter. Just wondering if anyone can recommend anything I should do.

Thinking of chocking it and taking the hand break off so it doesn't stick or stretch the cable or something. Also gonna clean and polish it etc Anything else I should do?

Cheers

 

[Andy Monty]

Right my Cinq's gonna be tucked up in the garage over winter. Just wondering if anyone can recommend anything I should do.

Thinking of chocking it and taking the hand break off so it doesn't stick or stretch the cable or something. Also gonna clean and polish it etc Anything else I should do?

Cheers

Fuel stabliser

smart battery charger

grease all hinges and catches



winter wheels (caravan type)
check coolant

 

[jatkinson]

Just Drive it , best form of prep

 

[Freebo]

Fuel stabliser

smart battery charger

grease all hinges and catches



winter wheels (caravan type)
check coolant

Whats a fuel stabiliser?

Just Drive it , best form of prep

Don't wanna risk ruining the car, i was gonna sorn it but insurance company said id need to cancel my insurance and then ill loose my multicar policy and NCD that ive built up so far on it.. Not work the hassle.

 

[Andy Monty]

an adative that stops fuel going stale

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Whats a fuel stabiliser?



Don't wanna risk ruining the car, i was gonna sorn it but insurance company said id need to cancel my insurance and then ill loose my multicar policy and NCD that ive built up so far on it.. Not work the hassle.

I wouldn't bother with fuel stabiliser myself, just leave it in there with as little fuel as possible, so it'll all be fresh on first fill up when you use it again.

You don't have to cancel insurance if the car is SORN, not sure why you've been advised that, you'll still want cover for FIRE/Theft/Storm damage etc when its away in your garage I take it?

 

[Freebo]

I wouldn't bother with fuel stabiliser myself, just leave it in there with as little fuel as possible, so it'll all be fresh on first fill up when you use it again.

You don't have to cancel insurance if the car is SORN, not sure why you've been advised that, you'll still want cover for FIRE/Theft/Storm damage etc when its away in your garage I take it?

yea, well thats what Admiral said. I dont mind leaving it taxed. Its due at the end of the month so may aswell just renew.

 

[ycming]

Fuel stabliser

smart battery charger

grease all hinges and catches



winter wheels (caravan type)
check coolant

what is a smart battery charger?

Thanks
Ming

 

[Andy Monty]

a battery charger that is intelligent...... Basic ones just shove a set ampage say 10 amp will take 7 hours to charge a 70ah battery but if you leave it, it will boil the battery dry and kill it... Smart ones will use a microprocessor to optimize charge rate and cut out and float charge to keep the battery topped up without managing to boil it Google ctec

 

[ycming]

Do you think i can leave a battery on a smart battery charger all the time?

cheers
Ming

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I'd call them back and question that John, ask how you get cover for theft etc if thats the case.

Do you think i can leave a battery on a smart battery charger all the time?

cheers
Ming

Yeah, thats the idea of them I believe, although I just use the solar trickle chargers

 

[Andy Monty]

i do leave a leasure battery on one nearly all winter

 

[Andy Monty]

eg

Ctek XS 0.8 12V 1.2A - 32A 6-Stage Battery Charger: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

 

[DannyCento]

I Use a cTek one like that above. you leave it on as long as you like. I keep the batteries topped up on project cars. Thoroughly recommend that brand.

 

[Andy Monty]

One more thing blather the handbrake units on the rear caliper / drums with grease

 

[cheeky cinqy]

One more thing blather the handbrake units on the rear caliper / drums with grease

this is needed a good greese will save you a lot of hassle

 

[blu73]

If your gonna leave it sat John, you need to either pump tyres up really high or take the wheels off completely to help prevent flat spots in your tyres (its a advisory on an MOT, and causes vibrations which is not only annoying but will reduce the life of wheel bearing too).

Also, even if in garage - stick some chunky bits of DRY wood under the car and they will halp draw moisture away from the underside of the car

Regarding petrol, i think everyone is being overkill - its only winter, its not years its only months.. My sei had half tank of fuel in it for nearly 2 years when i wasn't using it and it ran fine on that petrol. I would recommend actually filling the tank, it will help prevent rust forming in your tank etc.

And if other people go in said garage, get a fitted cover - save scratching the roof with some idiot putting a box on it or something.

 

[Freebo]

If your gonna leave it sat John, you need to either pump tyres up really high or take the wheels off completely to help prevent flat spots in your tyres (its a advisory on an MOT, and causes vibrations which is not only annoying but will reduce the life of wheel bearing too).

Also, even if in garage - stick some chunky bits of DRY wood under the car and they will halp draw moisture away from the underside of the car

Regarding petrol, i think everyone is being overkill - its only winter, its not years its only months.. My sei had half tank of fuel in it for nearly 2 years when i wasn't using it and it ran fine on that petrol. I would recommend actually filling the tank, it will help prevent rust forming in your tank etc.

And if other people go in said garage, get a fitted cover - save scratching the roof with some idiot putting a box on it or something.

Cheers for the reply Chris. The front tyres will be replaced straight away before i start using it again, but ill still pump them up.

The car actually sits on a rug so should help keep it off the cold floor

As for a cover, im still looking for one but cant afford it just yet. Will have to make do with something my mum put together. Hopefully I can get it all sorted next weekend!

As for the handbrake unit is this inside the drum?

 

[blu73]

i think he meant the actuator arms that stick through the rear of the drum and attached to the cable - they have a habit of seizing up whether your using the car or not.. You will come accustomed to freeing them up annually This is the one reason i bought some rear caliper brackets for mine, i'm bored of the rubbish handbrake setup now, so swap to discs and you don't have that problem.. I'm still a firm believer that cento's don't need rear discs and will stop better with well serviced drums at the back though.. Que the arguements

 

[slugworth1987]

id advise you fill her up to the brim, stops moisture build up in the tank and rust , oxford optimizer for bikes will be good enough, i use a halfords branded one (trade) @ 1.5amps maintenance charger.

wood is an awsome idea blu! or something like a bowl of rice or something even cat litter tray.

when it comes to the 1st fireup though, id get do an oil change before hand and maybe a new filter. this will also give you more oil in the top end of the engine before you fire up for the 1st time over the cold times