What needs doing to keep a car maintained whilst it is untaxed

wookie6

Hi,

Due to the Corona Virus, we untaxed one of ours cars as we are not currently using it. I was shocked to see a month has passed since the car was untaxed and was therefore wondering what should be done on a regular basis to keep a car maintained whilst it is untaxed? The car has not been started since it was left on the driveway (untaxed) and the handbrake was left on.

In particular I am wondering whether the battery will go flat if the car is not started / run if it only has an immobiliser? If so how long does this usually take? Also whether leaving the handbrake on will cause the brakes to seize on the discs over time, and possibly cause issues with the pads / discs?

I was going to start the car to release the handbrake, however stopped ahead of doing this as the RAC website says "Most importantly, you should avoid turning your engine on, only to turn it off again shortly after." Obviously as the car is untaxed I am not able to drive it around.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

The_Rainmaker

In this case I would start the car run it at above tickover for 10-20 minutes  get it up to temperature and give it time to turn any water in exhaust to steam.  Make sure the handbrake is free, move car a few feet.

Then park it up again, handbrake off and out of gear.  Check you have a radio code (if required) and then disconnect the battery or attach a trickle charger.

If it won't start then just disconnect battery (or jump start if you want) and make sure handbrake is free by rolling it.  Then thank god we are moving in to the summer months.  (If this goes on for more than a couple of months pump tyres right up and move the car a little so as not to flat spot them).

If VED is relatively low I think I would keep it taxed and use both vehicles on rotation.

oldagetraveller1

"Then park it up again, handbrake off and out of gear."

And chock the wheels to prevent any accidental rolling!

tacpot12

If it is not stored off road, it needs to be. If it is on level ground, you can release the hand brake if you put it in gear (or Park if an automatic) and chock the wheels. The battery could go flat if the car is not driven for a couple of months - you could get a battery charger to charge the battery every month. I doubt the lockdown will be long enough for other precautions to be needed. 
When classic cars are stored on a long term basis, the petrol is drained from the tank, the car is stored on axle stands to take the load off the tyres, and a rust inhibitor added to the engine.  You would only need to take these steps if the car was not to be used for a year or more. 

wookie6

Thanks to all for the replies, this is really useful. Yes, the car is stored off the road and on level ground.

@The_Rainmaker - You said "Then park it up again, handbrake off and out of gear" - Any reason you specifically say out of gear, I would have thought it safer to leave it in gear with the handbrake off?

Thanks again!

molerat

Why do you need to start the car to release the handbrake ?

lopsyfa

Has it been declared SORN?

Norman_Castle

wookie6 said:

Thanks to all for the replies, this is really useful. Yes, the car is stored off the road and on level ground.

@The_Rainmaker - You said "Then park it up again, handbrake off and out of gear" - Any reason you specifically say out of gear, I would have thought it safer to leave it in gear with the handbrake off?

Thanks again!

I'd suspect they mean in gear. Not sure exactly how electric handbrakes operate but I've released one on a non running car by pressing the footbrake while releasing it. What does your manual say? If yours needs power try turning the key to the first or second position without starting the engine.

My car hasn't moved for 2 1/2 weeks, a few days ago I pushed it forward 18" to avoid flat spots on the tyres.

The_Rainmaker

wookie6 said:

Thanks to all for the replies, this is really useful. Yes, the car is stored off the road and on level ground.

@The_Rainmaker - You said "Then park it up again, handbrake off and out of gear" - Any reason you specifically say out of gear, I would have thought it safer to leave it in gear with the handbrake off?

Thanks again!

Shouldn't be a problem but eventually the clutch plate will stick so as well leaving it out of gear if you can.

wookie6

molerat said:

Why do you need to start the car to release the handbrake ?

The car has an automatic handbrake, so I assumed it could not be moved without starting the vehicle to remove the handbrake, perhaps this isn't the case, I'll need to take a look at the manual.

wookie6

lopsyfa said:

Has it been declared SORN?

Yes