Hello, All.
I will be out of town for three months so leave my MINI in my parking lot.
I think I'd better to unplug cables from the battery..

Is there anything else I have to do? and
Is it really ok to leave a car without driving for three months?
(even do not turn on the engine)....

Thank you!

 

i sure as hell wouldnt leave it out unattended in a lot

 

Goo. Anything over two months, you must re-coat with cosmoline inside and out.

Wax: Seriously, I would ensure it had a nice wax/sealant job, sun-shade in the front window, and 303/Nero all the black plastic inside that's going to get hit by the sun every day. (All n/a if you're in a covered lot.) For tire and battery health, the ideal might be to have a friend drive the car around the block a few times once or twice a month.

Birds: Within the parking lot, make sure to stay away from any trees that may harbor poop-birds since you won't be there to tidy-up. By the time you're back, the turd will have eaten through the skin and into the engine block. It will look like the molecular-acid scene in "Alien".

Endurance: In 1990 my B-52 crew and I were sent overseas for a "two week show of force". Left my Dodge Raider in the parking lot waiting for me. When we returned seven months later, I needed a jump and a new battery, but other than that the truck was 100%. The truck had been ignored through the last month of nasty humid summer, and several months of northern-Maine blizzards.

 

I say sell it... take the $$... then place your order 1 month later.... and drive home a new mini when you come back

 

Leave it in gear and don't put the handbrake on - the brake will bind over time.

I left my old BMW Z4 for just over a year while I worked in Germany. I did have it on a trickle charger - started first time. It ran a bit lumpy probably because of the old fuel - but I traded it in the very next day so I dont know how that worked out...

 

Honestly, I'd try and find a garage if I were you... if it costs 20-30 bucks a month, it's well worth it, imo..

and here's a great thread from a Subaru board... obviously different car, but it's just general instructions...

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1235024

 

That's a funny story...

 

Well...there's was a little catch. My pleasure of it starting first time after a year was short-lived as the garage door had jammed shut so I couldn't get the car out - luckily I managed to get someone over later in the day to fix that.

 

My advice is to drink heavily....that usually helps me with most troubles

 

you can also leave it with me and i'll drive it for 3 months for you

 

First i have to ask -
If you're going that long and aren't flying overseas - Why not drive it there

Where are you going to park it ?
Where else could you park in indoors with a trickle charger connected.
Get your Grandma to start it up... while your gone - if you can't trust her.. who can you trust !

 

well, I cannot drive from LA to NYC...(so far :p)
I will park in my parking lot inside of APT..

 

Wow! I don't know if I would leave any car in a parking lot for three months.
Can't you find a parking garage someplace? It maybe worth what ever the price is. Unfortunately, if you must leave it in the airport, I guess you do not have a choice. Do you have a friend or relative that can keep an eye on it while you are away?

 

I'll drive it to LA for you. $1,000 good driving record.

 

Surfblue says: First off... surely you have some friends. You can't find someone that will allow you to stuff that little box in their garage while you're gone? I'd rent a space in a secure garage if I had to. Leaving a shiney bright little mini unattended and unmoved for three months is just like hanging raw meat at the lion's cage. Somebody is gonna F with your car! Sitting there unmoved, it's toooo obvious. Spend the money and STORE IT!
Now, if that didn't bring you to your senses, you at least fill the gas tank with the proper fuel, then buy a bottle of fuel stabilizer at Kragens or Pep Boys and put a DOUBLE DOSE in the tank and RUN IT into the entire system. Give the battery a FULL CHARGE (I mean a 12 volt 10 amp charger, not driving it for an hour). A battery sitting for three months is 60 days too long. Your battery should be brought to full charge every 30 days. Sounds like there's no way around that. Just put the charger back on it when you return. Put a 36 lbs in each tire. The extra three pounds won't hurt anything. Good idea on leaving the parking brake off.
Now, go make the calls, find the storage and sleep better knowing your car isn't vandalized, broken into, stolen or all three.

 

I'd find somebody you trust to drive it occasionally. Even once a week for 10-15 minutes would be good. If you can't find a garage, get a car cover, park on the very end and ask a neighbor to look after it. I've left a car for a year. Had a friend park it in his garage and drive it occasionally. He drove it a grand total of 400 miles in a year, but enough to keep everything running nice. If someone is driving it for you have them switch parking spots occasionally as well so there is the appearance someone is there using it.

 

Find somewhere secure to park it inside, lock it up, and don't worry about a thing. It'll be fine in three months, the tires will not rot off, the gas will not turn bad, the battery -- probably -- will be OK. In an ideal world you would attach a battery tender charger to the battery and have no worries. Disconnecting the battery might help, you only need to disconnect the negative cable.
Fresh oil, full gas with stabilizer are a couple thoughts for longer storage. Mouse proofing is another issue altogether.
Good luck.

 

I've had to leave my CRX behind a couple of times.
WOW, I just realized how old I am.
I also left my MG behind too.

I don't know your family or friend situation.

Ideally, you would have someone REALLY trustworthy drive
it a day per week, keep it at their house, wash it off, etc. etc.
They would keep it at their house.

Maybe that is too much to ask in the new world order.

Short of that I would put it in a rental cube and disconnect
the battery.