Store car

I have recently purchased a 15 year old 1996 P Jaguar XJ Executive from an elderly gent who has decided to hang up his driving gloves. The car has full service history and is in excellent condition (a few minor marks on the bodywork) and has less than 30,000 genuine miles recorded. It will spend the winter months in my garage and will only be driven during the summer. What is the best way to store it? The garage has no heating apart from a small electric radiator that might (at a push) keep the frost off. The garage is clean and painted and the cars rear wheels stand on a carpet. It is also covered over with dustsheets but on fine days I intend to put it out on the drive for a while. Please advise. Can you also advise on cam / timing belt changes. I cannot find anything on the Internet.

Asked on 5 October 2011 by AT, Woodbridge

Answered by Honest John
It's a timing chain engine. There is a FAQ about storing a car here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/storing-a-car/ ALWAYS switch off the radio and all electrical components such as the interior light BEFORE switching off the ignition whenever leaving a car standing for a week or more. Most battery draindowns are through the radio. Have the oil and filter changed. Make sure the coolant corrosion inhibitors have not degraded (they usually have after 3 - 4 years, so have the coolant changed). If the car has ABS, make sure the brake fluid has been changed within the past two years or the ABS pump could suffer internal corrosion from moisture absorbed by the fluid. Clean and polish the car. Take it for a reasonable length dry run to thoroughly heat through all systems and evaporate off any condensation. Overpressure the tyres to 40+psi help prevent them flatspotting, then put it in the garage still hot from the run. Connect up to a trickle charger, which monitors the battery and keeps it to a constant 13.5 volts without damaging the electronics. Leave one window open a crack to keep the interior ventilated, but not open enough to allow mice to get in. Cover with a cotton sheet. Pushing it in one direction to complete circumference of the tyres will help prevent flat-spotting of tyres. Pushing it backwards and forwards will help keep brakes freed off. Nothing you can do about the a/c unless you take the car for a run. You might preserve the a/c seals by starting the engine, but it will create a lot of condensation and lube oil dilution.
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