conserve a merc for 6 months

[poseidon]

Colleagues,

I will be in North America for six months and noone will be driving my c220D untill January.

It is 12 year old car but we decided not to sell it. I hope noone on the forum picks on this point, since it might be unsane decision.

What do I do to conserve the car? I have a nice garage and plan is just to leave it locked. What to change on return? I will certainly change the engine oil before I crank it in January. Any other hints are welcome.

Regards,
Pose

 

[jberks]

If it's going to be locked in a garage then it should be ok. It will be away from moisture and damage.

The only comments I can think of are
1) leave the handbrake off and the gearbox in neutral.(Not Park in case it won't release for some reason - at least the car will still move)
2) Disconnect the battery (ensure you can still get at it to reconnect though)
3) I'd give it a good wash, dry and polish before parking up.
4) Over-inflate the tyres - this should ease any flattting that can occur ande compensate for any pressure loss over time. Or better, park the car on axle stands taking the weight off the tyres and suspension altogether.

Assuming the oil is fairly recent and good quality I don't believe it would be necessary to change before starting up again.

 

[tromppost]

As above jberks is spot on, maybe a new battery when you get back.

 

[Myros]

get one of those solar chargers

disconnect your battery and hook it up to that. You might save on a new battery that way.

 

[jberks]

Its a good thought - hook up to some form of trickle charger - though to be fair, by the time you've bought and run one, you may be as well buying a new battery. I think I'd probably just dis the existing one, bang it on a trickle charger for a few hours when I got back and reconnect it. If it worked then great, otherwise, I'd pop out and buy a new battery.

 

[outsmartsmart]

Do the above things and there shouldn't be any issue on return. Think of the thousands of fair weather bikers (I'm one) who park their 'bikes up over winter for 3-4 months and then get them out that first ray of sunshine.

On my bike when I lay it up I put it on axle stands, battery onto an 'optimate' conditioner and turn the fuel off and run till the carbs are clear (I don't empty the tank like 'professional' layer-uppers do). I don't start it up whilst 'resting' as IMO unless you run it for a good 20-30 minutes it does more harm than good (think condensation in the exhaust system mainly). Come the 'better weather' (a euphanism in the UK) I roll her out, wash her and this one this year (a 1993 Suzuki RF900) started 2nd prod of the button, coughed (stale fuel) and ran fine after. I then do an oil/filter change and enjoy.

I would suggest keeping the fuel low in your car and charging the system with fresh fuel on return.

 

[Juddian]

Very good advice above, the only thing i'd add to that it to make sure the winter salt has been hosed off really well before leaving the vehicle.

Could be worth nipping the brake pads out and lightly oiling the discs.

Maybe leave a little crack open at the top of the windows, leather doesn't like being too stifled i have found to my cost.

 

[poseidon]

disconnect battery?

Thanks to all. I learned a lot.

There is still some confusion in my mind about the battery.

Option 1. Disconnect battery. This will preserve battery but it might starve some components of power. The processor in the dash board have its own small battery which I presume must be charged from the main battery. Am I risking erasing memory? Can ECU or ASR show fault if power starved for a long period?

Option 2. Leave battery connected. I risk depleting battery. If a new battery is the worst case then it seems reasonable solution. I will likely need a new battery in any case after a winter without charge in a cold garage.

I am still thinking if it is worth keeping any insurance for a car locked in a garage. I am inclined to cancell the insurance alltogether and put a fat hasp on the garage door.

I look forward to reasonable petrol parices in America (while they are still reasonable).

REgards,
Pose

 

[outsmartsmart]

Dunno about the battery side of things and maybe being away without any human intervention leaving it on a trickle charger isn't such a good idea......

However insurance - I wouldn't cancel it for following reasons;

1) I presume its all paid for so unless you're desperate for a few quid....
2) You'll only get a fraction of what you paid for it back as they charge a lot to cancel and often after about 6 months you get nowt back
3) Being away for six months means you'll not be having any driving accidents so may help towards another years NCB?
4) depending on your insurance company they may alter your policy to cover specific garage storage as a lower risk and extend the time till it runs out due to money saving element (I doubt it this day and age though)
5) Imagine you get a call saying there's been an electrical fault identified to your car and your house has burnt down because of it......wonder what a home insurer would make of that.....

Point 3 & 5 would be the drivers for me on insurance

 

[poseidon]

insurance

I discussed options with direct line insurance.
They will happily put insurance on hold for 6 months at no extra charge (same happends is you are without a car for any other reason).
They will refund all unused period.
I have over 20 years of no claims bonus so I do not have much wories about extra 6 months.

The garage is 20m away from the house (It is not very expensive property and I am not welthy, just happens to be garage location at the end of property).

Perhaps leave battery connected but do not arm alarm. The alarm is probably most risky for potential electrical fault. There is immobiliser anyway.

Pose.

 

[A210AMG]

Have you no close freind who cold drive it and look after it while your away?

Nothing worse for a car than not using it, that's when they seem to get problems...

Have a good trip however

 

[keith100]

Don't set the Handbrake On

I left a car for 4 weeks at an airport once and returned to a rusted and locked-on handbrake.

On my m/c I just charge the batt and pull the fuse. If the Merc needs a battery, I think I'd charge it and leave. A good battery should hold for 6 mos - if not, you're better off with a new one, to face the January weather.

And I'd park with whichever end has the battery nearest to the garage door. Then, if you do need a boost in Jan, at least the jumper cables will reach!


HTH

 

[Ashley H]

I'm sure all of the advice is sound - I would suggest you pay particular attention to the tyre advice to avoid flat spots - but would also suggest that you not worry too much

A couple of years ago I left my 250TD (15 years old at the time with 450,000 kms) in a "park and ride" car park in Prague for four months and it was fine when I eventually retrieved it - turned the key, filled-up with diesel and drove it straight back to the UK...

 

[poseidon]

problems with battery

Colleagues,

I am flying tomorrow. I just tried to disconnect the battery (with unlocked car) but the alrm went off.
The alarm is not armed, however as soon I disconnected the negative pole, the alarm sounded. I left it but it would not stop for 5 minutes.
How do I disconnect the battery? Where is the alarm getting power from?
Should I disconnect the alarm (somehow)?

Regards,
Pose.

 

[Juddian]

Always the last minute when things go hiccup isn't it.

Is it a scorpion type alarm, should be a black box under bonnet, and you hopefully have a key, which will look like a small cylinder with a serated end.
You should find a rubber cover over the keyhole that this key fits, and hopefully if you give it a quarter turn, will disengage the alarm.

I hope.

 

[The German Flower Pot]

have a good time, where abouts you going

id love to go but id get shot

 

[poseidon]

Colleagues,
Thanks to all. I managed to disconnect the battery. In the process I discovered the purpose of the small key which has been seeting on the key ring. They key diseables the alarm box in the engine compartment, as Juddian adviced.

No mention at all about this key in the manual or in the haynes.

I will be in Montreal and in Pittsburgh. I hope the step down to a rented ford taurus will not be huge dissapointment.
Regards,
Pose

 

[English Teacher]

Hi

Not sure you need any more advice, but I left my C200 fior three months whilst i was abroad recently, outsidewith no preparation other than a healthy battery and checking tyre pressures were at least normal. When I returned the car started and drove as if i had left it for 5 minutes, even the handbrake was ok. Whilst I was away, my biggest worry was about the alarm system draining the battery to a point where it triggered some internal battery fed sounder within it, causing disturbance to my neighbours. My tyre pressures didn't move a square inch. Given that you can keep the car inside, you have an opportunity perhaps to leave the car unlocked and the alarm off, or at least turn off the cabin space alarm detector, therefore saving power. With me having a new battery before leaving, I knew how many Killowatt hours it had and I guessed how many amps the car alarm drew, so I kind off new I would be ok. Disconnecting batteries should be avoided as much as possible, I think.

 

[The German Flower Pot]

can you post us back some petrol at crazy usa prices?