Odor Eaters Chances are...
Odor Eaters
Chances are the interior will pick up some kind of odor. There are thousands of air-freshener products to try, and a few more potent ones that work off of heated oils. Aside from those, here are a few low-tech tips to help remove odors: dryer sheets placed in the Pontiac when it's packed up, baking soda, dry soap in a bowl, or even an open can of coffee. The last one my grandmother swore by-but you must really like the smell of coffee because its aroma will hang around for a while, so choose your favorite brand. I'm not sure how the mice feel about the coffee smell, however. For cloth interiors, Febreze for Autos is another option, but make sure it's completely dry before you pack up your Pontiac.
20 Humane Critter-Control Choice
For a more humane approach, try Homeless Mouse at www.homelessmouse.com. According to the site, the product is "a combination of multiple organic oils and unique mineral-based ingredients that create an intolerable environment to mice." It's said to be "nontoxic and virtually odorless and colorless to humans." We haven't tried it, but it may be worth a look.
21 A Critter-Control Don't
Mousetraps and poison placed in your Pontiac will kill mice, but the smell won't be pleasing come spring. Even if you say you'll regularly check the poison or traps, you'll have to remove the car cover to do it each time and then wrap your Pontiac up again. It's not really practical.
22 Another Critter-Control Don't
Mothballs have been used for years in an effort to keep rodents out of cars in storage, but wow, do they smell bad, and that odor doesn't leave quickly. Unless you want your Pontiac to smell like your attic, at least temporarily, I would try some of the other methods mentioned to rid your Pontiac of rodents first.
24 Plastic Fantastic
Place a large piece of heavy plastic under your car that extends out a couple of feet on all sides. The plastic acts as a vapor barrier to slow the oxidization of undercarriage parts due to moisture rising from the floor. It will also protect the floor from fluid leakage. Kitty litter works too, but it's messy.
25 Don't Brake It
Leave the emergency brake off. The shoes or pads may rust to the drums or rotors, creating problems in the spring.
26 De-Blade It
Either wrap the wiper blades in a soft cloth to keep them from sticking to the windshield, or remove the wiper arms completely and store them separately.
27 Oil Down
Remove the spark plugs, and put just enough heavy oil in each cylinder to coat the top of the pistons. Turn the engine over by hand to coat the cylinder walls (have a helper wipe up any overflow from each cylinder as the piston reaches top dead center), and then reinstall the plugs. This procedure will keep the rings from sticking and the cylinder walls from rusting.
Cover Up Car covers are...
Cover Up
Car covers are a story unto themselves. They can be had in a myriad of materials, and many are made to breathe so moisture doesn't get trapped beneath them. Prices range from as little as $20 to nearly $900. If your Pontiac will be stored outside, car-cover quality is even more important. If $600 for a high-quality cover has you quaking, consider the cost to repaint your Pontiac should the weather and/or a cheap cover ruin the paint. Covers from companies such as the one shown here from Covercraft (www.cover craft.com) have many varieties in various price ranges. When purchasing a cover, regardless of the material, make sure it's not so loose it flaps in the breeze or so tight that you have to excessively stretch it to fit. Both scenarios can damage the finish.
28 Tend To It
A battery trickle charger, such as the Battery Tender www.batterytender.com, will keep your battery charged thoughout the winter. Remove the battery from the Pontiac, and store and charge it in a well-ventilated area to avoid hydrogen gas buildup, a byproduct of the charging process. With the battery out of the way, clean the tray and surrounding area to remove any possible electrolyte leakage.
29 Get Lifted
By mounting your Pontiac on jackstands, the chance of temporary flat-spotting of the tires (thump, thump when you drive down the road) while in storage is eliminated. Place the jackstands safely under the front control arms and in the rear under the axlehousing so the suspension is not sitting at full droop. Hanging suspension may put undue stress on shocks and other chassis components.
30 Pump It Up
Increase tire pressure 10 psi over the normal cold setting to ensure that even if the tires lose pressure over the storage time, they won't go completely flat. This is important should you decide not to store your Pontiac on jackstands.
31 Convertible Shrinkage
Convertible owners: Keep the top up so it doesn't shrink, get wrinkled, or-worse-moldy from being folded up in the well for a few months.
33 A Cover Don't
Don't use a generic tarp or plastic to cover your Pontiac. Neither one breathes, so both will trap moisture underneath and aid the rusting process. Tarps can also scratch the paint, as they're not lined or made from soft materials like a car cover. They also fit poorly, causing the tarp to blow in the wind, if outside.
34 Bag It
There are a few companies that make car bags. You lay it out on the storage-area floor, drive onto it, and close it around your Pontiac. Some bags simply seal the car from humidity and the elements, such as the Car Jacket from www.carbag.com, which is used in conjunction with a desiccant, and the Anti Rust Car Storage Bag from California Car Cover (www.calcar cover.com), which has antirust technology built into the bag's material. Others, such as the Car Capsule from California Car Cover, actually plug in and flow purified air over the car, using a fan to create a climate-controlled environment.
35 Write It Down
The last thing to do before you button up your Pontiac for the winter is to make a comprehensive list of everything you did to prepare it for storage. Put the list in the glovebox or console, and place a copy in your toolbox or post it on your workspace wall. This way, should you need to refer to it for some reason prior to spring, it's easily accessible. The one in the Pontiac is a backup for when you lose the list you were supposed to put back in your toolbox.