My daughter is moving from the East Coast to the West Coast of the USA to take a new job. Job starts in February. She will be here in Washington State this weekend with a RAV 4 loaded with stuff. I pretty much plan on leaving it alone, but in the meantime the car will be sitting for about 75 days. Is there some sort of schedule I should follow of "things," so it will be fine and start right up when she returns? I can't store it inside a garage, but I can store it under an open carport. Leaving it hooked up to a battery tender all the time would be a bit problematic as I have not outside electrical outlets nearby and would have to run a cord some 90 feet, with part of that run being in the "open" where myself or the dogs could trip over it. So, open to suggestions...
Maybe start it up once per week and go for a 10 to 20 mile trip to -make sure the car and engine remain in good condition - driving will cause the tire to rotate and keep from developing flat spots.
If doing the things for storage would be problematic, best to just use the car. Maybe hook it up to a battery charger a couple times during storage.
It doesn't need to be hooked up full time. How about putting the battery tender on it, but running the cord over just one day or night every several weeks? Also, will her stuff be left loaded in the car? If so, is your neighborhood and yard a safe place to park such car-prowl attractions? With the growing thievery and expanding homeless problem, such practices are becoming increasingly risky in much of this region. If practical, haul her stuff into the house.
Have the coolant tested and brought to a non-freezing state. Bring the 12V battery into the house and optional, connect to a charger from time to time. Protect the catalytic converter. Bob Wilson
Thanks all. You all have mentioned some things to consider. Not too worried about theft. I live in a rural area a bit northeast of Seattle and luckily rural crime has not reached the region -- yet. Also have two 90-pound "somewhat friendly only if they know you" scary-looking dogs and a property gate I lock which makes approaching the house a bit problematic because if locked, you are parked on the county road. Am considering Bob's pulling the battery, but that would make it a pain to drive the car -- and I do want to move it now and again just to keep the tires happy, although, it would not take much just to push it a foot or so every week,,,,have to think on that issue, Never thought about the coolant, Have to dig out my old Prestone hydrometer
In the Puget Sound lowlands, if the coolant is anything even resembling antifreeze, it ought to be fine. Mostly make sure it didn't somehow get changed to straight water. On top or east of the Cascades, a check with that old Prestone meter would be much more important.
Probably want to do something about keeping the little furry ones out of the vehicle; in a rural area for sure.
Your primary issue is to prevent the 12v and hybrid batteries from dying due to Prius not being driven. Your secondary issue is to prevent brake pads, rotors, etc. from getting seized due to rust and to avoid the electrical components in the Prius from failing. Tires are not really a problem for 75 days. I will ensure to drive for at least an hour on an interstate, once every 3 weeks. Your cost will be a gallon or two in gas price, every three weeks (5 to 6 gallons, for 75 days), but that should keep the car in a restartable and functional condition when your daughter returns.
Does it really matter what make, model, and year of the car it is, in as far as my advice goes, Professor?
Just taking it for a good spin once or twice every weekend or so should keep all of the slippery bits and the battery happy. Check the tire pressure every now and then, too. The PNW weather will keep it looking clean...
Asked and answered. Good catch on the rodents…..especially with the car being used as a POD, but if your baby girl’s car isn’t reliable enough to sit outside with a trip or two every week or so to keep things moving then you need to tell her to sell the car and advise her to get something more reliable. Get a jump pack - something you/she should already have living in the PNW, and if the battery is more than about 3-4 years old maybe swap it out with a newer one. The coolant should be no factor in the PNW because it really doesn’t get all that cold there, but checking it doesn’t cost anything and is probably worth the effort. Other than that? Make sure that filters, other fluids and rubber are attended to in the post trip checks. Luck to both.
The best course of action is to drive around at least once in 3 to 4 weeks. There is no substitution in keeping the car in a good condition than driving around, as driving around will keep all components of the car in good order, which was already suggested by the forum members to the OP. My take on the subject is that, if the car is reliable enough to drive from East Coast to West Coast (and that's easily over 2,500 miles of driving distance, depending on the starting point and ending point), it is also reliable enough to sit idle for a month or two. It suggests that it is a car in a good condition; maybe, the car can be considered to be in a great condition. Such a car should start without a problem and all the car components should work as they should, even if the car sits idle in a garage or on the street for a month or two. I have had the experience of cars that I owned and sat in a garage (without starting) for a couple of months, and they started without a fuss and performed just fine, after sitting idle in my garage for a couple of months. Having said that, it is in the best interests of the car, that is already in a good condition, to drive around at least once a month. You can buy and keep a jump starter, jumper cable, and all other car tools in the trunk, but all of that becomes secondary.
When giving advice about hybrid batteries, yes it does. On top of that, Toyota hybrid batteries don't die from a mere 75 days of being parked.
I love it when fathers look out for their daughters. You have a lot of good advice here, other than my rodent comment I have nothing special to add, other than I miss my dad. -- Oh and I bought the NOCO Genius 2 on Amazon today for $35. It is a 2 amp maintainer. Never know when I will need something to get my heart started, kris
