Had a few folks in the workshop lately asking about the best way to leave their car sitting for a while – could be off on a big OE, maybe just got a new company car, or maybe you’ve ended up with an extra car now the kids’ Mazda 3 is parked up at home in Te Awamutu. Whatever the reason, letting a car sit in the wrong spot for too long round Hamilton (with all our lovely wet winters and then a summer that’ll bake the paint off your roof) can wreck a good set of wheels. So here’s some solid advice for storing your car so it’s ready to hit SH1, or even just cruise over the Waikato River Bridge, when you’re back in action.
Pick a Dry, Safe Spot for Your Car
Biggest one first: where you park up matters. Round here, a lot of folks have an old Corolla or that trusty Suzuki Swift sitting outside, half on the grass off Victoria Street. Not ideal. Best option is always somewhere dry and out of the weather – a closed-off garage (mate out in Matangi has a big shed he uses) is perfect. If you’ve only got a carport or the driveway, just know that foggy Hamilton mornings – like what you get heading towards Flagstaff – are a recipe for rust. If you need access because the car will still get a quick run to the shops or out Cambridge way, just keep it close and easy to get to.
A car left sitting with rust.
Also, if you’ve got something with older or euro electrics – we’re seeing more Peugeot 308s and Audi A3s around town – a climate-controlled garage is brilliant, but honestly, just keeping it dry is key for Hamilton’s damp climate.
Deal to Your Fluids
Before you park it up, get an oil change sorted, especially if the car’s going to sit a few months. We see heaps of Toyotas and even the odd Isuzu Bighorn come in after sitting through the winter out in Tamahere – old, dirty oil just turns to sludge and makes it tough to get things moving again once you’re back. Here’s some more on Hamilton oil changes if you want the details.
And if you reckon you’ll be away longer (like a couple of months or more), brim that fuel tank all the way. Stops rust starting up inside. Some folks use a petrol stabiliser, which is handy. Nip over to this fuel stabiliser guide for the mix ratios if you’re keen.
Wheels, Tyres, and Flat Spots
Seen plenty of flat-spot tyres come in after cars have sat for months (especially on Epsom Road potholes). Chucked a little Mazda Demio up the other week, all four tyres oval-shaped! If you’ve got tyre jacks or some old stands, get the weight off them. If not, at least pump your tyres to the upper PSI – it’ll help a bit at least.
Clean Before You Leave
If your old CR-V or Hyundai Santa Fe is dirty before storage, all that muck just builds up and eats into the paint. We always tell people: give it a good wash and a wax – job sorted. Same inside; get rid of those old pie wrappers and muddy shoes (our techs have cleared entire backseats worth of forgotten lunchboxes out of a Jazz before, not kidding). Food bits mean mould or even a cheeky rat nest when you get back.
Don’t Store It Wet, Watch For Rust
After washing, especially the wheels and under the guards, don’t just shove it away wet. Give it a good 10-minute drive, get the brakes dry. Keeps rust off the rotors and stops the handbrake seizing on. Actually, if you can, park up and leave the handbrake off – stick it in park instead.
Keep Critters Out
Had a customer in from Chartwell last month, Suzuki Splash with more rat mess under the bonnet than I’ve seen in ages. Rodents love the quiet warmth of a sitting car – and they’ll chew through the wires in a flash. Put traps round the car, especially if you’re parking outside, or even get the cat to patrol if you’re rural.
Look After Your Battery
If it’s a push-button start Subaru Outback or a classic manual Honda Accord, batteries don’t love sitting around. If you’re away for a while, disconnect the battery so it doesn’t leak acid or go flat from your alarm or electric bits. But remember, when you reconnect, your radio and clock might need to be set up again. If you want the nitty-gritty on battery issues, we’ve got more there.
Cover Her Up
Even if you’ve got the car in a decent spot (like a garage in Rototuna), throw a car cover over it. Protects from dust, random scratches, and keeps the paint looking better than most cars doing daily runs down Kahikatea Drive.
Time to Get Back on the Road? Give Us a Bell
When you bring your car out of storage in Hamilton, things aren’t always exactly as you left them – could be rust, seized bits, or other weird stuff. Drop into Grimmer Motors, and one of our crew can give your car a full check over before you head out onto Ruakura Road or off to Raglan for a surf. For no-stress WOF Hamilton checks, car services, or anything in between, just give us a shout!