Gang, I really appreciate all the input you've given me. Having resolved my recent TPMS issue, I'm now looking ahead to keeping my Corvette 'alive' during the winter months.

Unfortunately, my current storage situation is less than optimal. Essentially, the car will be parked in a 10' wide secured storage space, with no electricity available. I'm in a new location and while I imagine the winter will be less severe than in St. Louis, I do expect there will be several weeks during which I will be unable to move the car. I have easy enough access and can start it every day, but I'm trying to think through the cold-weather days when I cannot get the Corvette out due to snow or ice or sub-40 temperatures.

All that begs some questions. First, is it feasible to disconnect the battery, since I cannot use my trickle charger? Or am I better off to take my chances with the battery connected ... and if so, can anyone recommend one of the battery-start devices if the battery did run down? If I leave the car unlocked, does the lack of battery drain from the security system make things better or worse?

Second, does anyone have any guidance on how best to secure the car against rodent and small animal intrusion? The storage facility is in a small city, but I still think precautions are prudent.

Finally, I have an indoor car cover, and the car is ceramic coated and clean. There's not much dust settling on the car as it is, so I'm wondering if it's time to break out the cover. Does leaving the Corvette covered provide any sort of protection against the cold and small animals?

Again, I'm grateful for the help.

 

I'd disconnect the battery and close the hatch. There is a key slot above the rear license plate so it is easy to open the hatch without power. You may be prompted to re-index the windows when you reconnect the battery.

I would also cover it in the event that someone bumps the car when moving around it.

 

For rodent protection, members have used things like Bounce dryer sheets or Irish Spring soap inside the cabin as well as the engine bay. Placing some traps around the car might be a good idea too.

 

I would not recommend starting your C7 unless you have time for it to reach full operating temp prior to shutting it off. . Starting a stored vehicle (especially in a cold climate) and only letting it run a short time does more harm than good.

Putting a quality and soft interior car cover on a clean stored vehicle is never a bad idea.

 

Maximum engine wear occurs on a cold start. Park the car and leave it alone until spring.

 

I'm certainly not opposed to parking the car and leaving it until spring, but I'm a little uncertain what I do then. Do I park the car, pull the battery and hope that it starts when I reconnect it? Do I just wait until spring and buy a new battery?

My storage space is 10' wide and 30' long. I have about 15' of concrete and then a chain-link fence as I back out. Getting a tow truck in to pull the car out will be impossible, jumper cables won't reach, and there's no AC to power a charger.

Just getting the car into the storage space is something of a feat - and I've successfully managed it several times now - but if it dies there, there's no way to extract it.

This is my second Corvette. I've had other high-end sports cars - Jaguar XJRs in the 1990s - but this is the first time since I was a kid that I find myself without a garage. I'm considering selling the Corvette before winter sets in just to avoid this challenge.

 

Youre going to sell the car rather than dealing with storage? And buy another, then sell it next fall??

I dont understand the concrete chain link thing but if you drove it in surely you could push it out with a couple of guys if needed

However either 1) pull the leads off the battery and hope for the best in the spring 2) take the batt out and put on a trickle charger in your house or wherever and reinstall in the spring 3) buy a new battery as a standby in case option 1 or 2 doesnt work

A vette is no different then storing any other car over the winter and there are literally thousands of these threads if you search

Cheers

 

You are overthinking your storage issue.....if you don't plan on driving the car at all this winter, pull the battery out & put it on a charger at your home, put some fuel stabilizer in the tank & drive the car to get it all the way through the fuel system, put your cover on it & wait for spring

 

Exactly the guidance I was wanting. Thanks!

 

Also be sure to shut your front doors before you disconnect the battery.
My battery got low from a "older model AFM Range " and I was able to open rear hatch.
But once I opened the driver's door I could not shut the door because the window didn't lower for opening.
If I shut the door it would hit the A pillar.
I had to wait for the battery to get charged enough to lower the window before I could shut the door.
Then I could start the start the car and re-index the windows.

 

My understanding is that it’s better to store with a full tank. Maybe some can confirm.

 

Make damn sure that the metal key in the rear lock cylinder works to open the hatch before you disconnect the battery!

A bit of spray graphite or light oil on the key and then inserting it and turning a few times can't hurt either.

Ron

 

The short answer is NO. The longer answer is that's dated advice.

Why You Should Store Your C5/C6/C7 Corvette With Just a Quarter Tank of Fuel

 

Thanks!

Should it be stored on jack stands? So the tires don’t get flat spots.

 

No, as letting the suspension hang can cause damage. Additionally, modern tires do not flat spot, at least not to the extent a block or two of driving will remedy. Bias ply tires of years past would flat spot.