We have a  2016 1.2 110bhp Mk3 Fabia Monte Carlo.

We will be away travelling for 3 months in February, March and April next year.

 

The car will be stored in a locked garage and we would appreciate advice on how to prepare the car for while we are away.

 

Apologies if this has been asked before, but I was not able to form a search term that found anything.

Thanks for reading and any advice.

 

Geoff

• Smart charger for battery or remove altogether and store in the house 
• Leave handbrake off and chock the wheels
• Check tyre pressures and inflate to max PSI for your tyres. 
• Could crack the car windows a few mm for ventilation
• SORN the car if you can and get a refund on tax
• Ask if you can 'downgrade' your insurance temporarily to 3rd Party F & T - though an admin fee or similar may negate any savings or refunds
• Give the car a good wash, removing anything particularly harmful such as tree sap and bird poo and add some level of protection
• Check and top up fluids, particularly the anti-freeze
• Do you have problems with mice or similar?  A sheltered car with really nice tasting hoses and interior goodies will be particularly appealing, especially in the in the Winter months.  Google mouse deterrents but I believe moth balls and fabric softener sheets are meant to work.  Not sure about those ultrasonic plugin devices.  
• Consider a car cover
• Check for loose change in the ashtray or down seat backs.  For 3 months of holiday/traveling it all helps 

Looks good but a few comments

• Smart charger for battery or remove altogether and store in the house

Removing the battery can sometimes cause issues when its refitted. Can you still get those chargers you stick in the garage window that use sunlight?

• Leave handbrake off and chock the wheels

No need to chock if its a manual, simply leave in gear.

• Could crack the car windows a few mm for ventilation

That can let vermin into the car who would possibly do damage. Better solution is one of those crystal dehumidifiers from B & Q 

• Ask if you can 'downgrade' your insurance temporarily to 3rd Party F & T - though an admin fee or similar may negate any savings or refunds

Tried this some years ago with Aviva and was told it was no longer worth doing. For some reason there is no cost saving.

• Consider a car cover

Only consider a breathable one and they are pretty expensive.

 

 

I'd just disconnect the battery and make sure that the petrol tank is full to minimise "sweating" during low>high temperature changes and pump up the tyres and chock them.  Sweating in the tank will cause the collection of moisture, so even although tanks are plastic nowadays so less likely to chill and cause condensation, I still try to do that if leaving cars for a while unused (my wife's car is smaller than mine so easier to keep clean in winter - that is my story and I'm sticking to it!).

 

Absolutely brilliant idea to use a smart charger if you have power in that garage, but it does not sound like you do, so for ultrasonic pest control, I don't know if they work, but since having a family of field mice taking up residence in my garage one year and enjoying some soft rubber trim, and my mechanics foam rubber mat, I fitted one of them, 6 baited traps and poison blocks - nasty little blighters, caught 2 which was probably all there was, still need to rebait and set my baits for this winter's invasion.

The only other thing I would say it to make sure you take the car for reasonably long drive before putting it away in the garage, to get the oil up to full temperature and keep it there for sometime. This will make sure there is no fuel or condensation residue present in it to turn to acid as the car lays idle The oil doesn't neutralise all acid it comes into contact with and some acid forms at the top of oil galleries away from the oil level. It's much less likely to do so if the oil is nice and hot and the impurities have evaporated away before storage. 

 

Enjoy your travel! Have a good un!

Many thanks for all your useful advice

Much appreciated

 

Geoff

One further point. Service indicator, check whether the car will be due a service during the period you will be a way. If you want to comply with service and warranty conditions you may need to get it serviced before you go away.