As my Fabia is off the Road for about 6-8 weeks.

(because of a story involving my arm a window and lots of blood)

Should I do anything to the car to make sure all is fine when i use it again?

I have a trickle charger if needed as unsure if I should disconnect battery or not

Anything else likely to seize up? liquids? brakes rust up?

It's a shame I can't cancel the tax and save

I'd turn the engine over every 2-3 days and just drive it up and down my drive to move it and use the brakes etc...

I'd turn the engine over every 2-3 days and just drive it up and down my drive to move it and use the brakes etc...

:iagree:

Also, allow Becky to take it for a drive round the block every so often.

the car isn't insured for anyone else and I'm not insured while my arm is in a splint

also my drive is quite short

the car isn't insured for anyone else and I'm not insured while my arm is in a splint

also my drive is quite short

I'd be covered third party, let me come and take the car off your hands for 6 weeks!!

Use chocks on the wheels and keep the handbrake off (if possible)

oh and dont try to put your hand thru glass windows

don't leave it for any length of time with the handbrake on, it may seize..

hey! if mine brakes down again, can I hire it off you?!?! (I'd move my insurance over!) lol....

Yeah, choc it rather than handbrake. It'll be fine for a couple of months but you might want to disconnect the battery or it might need a charge before starting. The disks will be well and truly minging but this is normal - take it steady for a couple of miles before you drive it enthusiastically.

I reckon that as long as you start it up and let it run for about 5 mins every 4 days you'll be ok. Maybe release the handbreak and reapply too...

As already mentioned, choc the wheels and dont worry about starting it to often, once every week or two should be enough. Let the engine run till warm if possible.

Colleague at work has a car that has been laid up since november last year, he had to use it last week and it run fine, despite 9 months off road.

I wouldn't worry too much about starting it up that often myself. I left mine for just over three weeks last year while I was on holiday, and it started up first time and ran fine when I got back.

Would also agree on not using the handbrake though.

Steve

Yeah, starting every 4 days and not running will result in condensation and premature corrosion of the exhaust etc - I'd disconnect the battery and take it for a gentle run when you're up and running. You'll need to reset the windows but everything else should be fine.

As a general rule of thumb if you're not going to run it until guage warm then don't start it at all.

I left my old 405 (diesel) on the drive for a year, starting it around once every two months. The only thing I would advise is to not leave the handbrake on. Don't worry about starting the car every few days, that will actually do more harm than good (ie. diesel engines need to be worked hard, not sat idling on a driveway).

I left mine for 4 months connected to a smart CTEK charger, and chocked with the handbrake off during the winter. When i returned, it started and ran like i had never been away. Those chargers are brilliant.

My car has been off the road for 8monthes and 2 weeks (banned) and I have been starting the car about once a week for 5mins.

It has always started first time.

My dad often leaves his H-reg 200kMile Merc on the drive for a month at a time, everytime he just turns the key and its fine. Doesn't bother with a battery charger or any preventative measures. Brakes are a bit rough but soon wear clean.

I had my fabia off the road for 10days last year. Just left it parked. Got back in let it idle for a minute then drove it steady for a while. No problem at all

If you are going to start it, run the revs to at least 1100 rpm, otherwise the battery won't charge.