Storing Your Car - Honda 1995 Civic Owner's Manual

If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. It is
best to store your car indoors if at all
possible.
Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 125).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic).
Block the rear wheels.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch the
windshield.
Apply a silicone spray lubricant to
all door and hatch/tailgate seals.
Also, apply wax to the painted
surfaces that mate with the door
and hatch/tailgate seals.

Storing Your Car

Cover the car with a "breathable"
car cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once
a month).
If you store your car for 12 months
or longer, have your Honda dealer
perform the inspections called for in
the 24 months/48,000 km (30,000
miles) maintenance schedule
(Normal Conditions) as soon as you
take it out of storage (see page
The replacements called for in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.
Maintenance
116 ).