two month storage

[Thomaswildchild]

Hello.

I have a question about storage for two months.

Is there any kinds of additives i should put in the gas, or perhaps something to cover my 1997 tbird with?

I live in California so the climate is moderate but I'm open for suggestions.
thanks
wildchild

[8ate8]

You'll be fine for just two months.

[Selectron]

Don't forget about the battery. If you leave it connected then the quiescent current drain from the clock, alarm system, and radio memory backup will mean that a large proportion of its charge will have been lost in as little as three weeks. After two months it would be completely flat (it would probably measure something like 6V or 8V), and the damaging effects of sulphation would already have started to take hold.

If you want to leave the battery installed to keep the alarm system activated, then I'd recommend ensuring that the battery receives a top-up charge not less than every three weeks.

If you're not likely to need the alarm, then you could detach the connector from the battery negative terminal, and then the battery would only discharge at its natural self-discharge rate, in which case it might be ok to leave it for the full two months, but I'd probably want to give it a top-up charge every four weeks or so. If you do disconnect the battery, then remember that you will later need your radio code, if it's security-coded.

Don't just leave it connected but unattended for two months though, because it would deteriorate significantly during that time.

Also, ensure that the tyres are up to the correct pressure, because if they're low on pressure then the sidewalls would bulge and could start to develop cracks. I don't know if that would happen in as little as a couple of months, but I wouldn't take the chance - it will only take you a few minutes to check they're properly inflated.

[97Bird]

Be sure to fill the gas tank and adding some Sta-bil couldn't hurt. If it's stored near an outlet you could buy a battery tender from someplace like Northern Tool or Harbor Freight. There is a brand name called Battery Tender that is available at other places. You keep these connected to the battery for long term storage instead of a regular charger.

[Thomaswildchild]

hmmm.... ok.

well it turns out that i will not need to store it.

Thankfully =]

I like my T-bird =] too much to.

but also i have another question.

Is there a way/kit to put a secondary switch on the fan.

some background on my car-

i bought it from the guy and put it in my name.

then i noticed that the temp gauge was kinda high so i went on a scavenger hunt and look for some answers. It turns out that the fan was not turning on because i would have the ac off.

-temporary fix- Turn the ac on even though it blows hot air, i just turned off half the vents and the others point out the windows.

But recently when I'm on my way to school it doesn't turn on even if the ac is on hot or cold.(the outside air really)

and it seems to get hotter when I'm at stop lights but not too hot.

would it stay a constant temperature if the fan would go on?

but it doesn't in the mornings. I'm thinking maybe a sensor is bad or possibly the gauge is not calibrated. however i was wondering if its not to hard to set the fan to a switch rather than have the car control it.


wildchild

[Selectron]

... would it stay a constant temperature if the fan would go on?

Yep, it certainly would stay at a constant temperature if the fan would switch on - there's a whole circuit whose function is to do exactly that. It obviously isn't working right now though eh. Running the fan off a separate switch is easy enough but the cooling fan circuit is pretty easy to work on so you should be able to find the fault without too much difficulty.

You'd need either a 12V test lamp or a basic multimeter. If you want to give that a try, let me know; I have the cooling fan wiring diagram here and I can suggest some tests. You'll have to do something though, because a whole lot of damage (expensive damage) can result if the engine overheats.

Edit: Actually, you don't need any test gear for the first check - take a look at fuse #5 (60amps) in the Power Distribution Box, located in the engine bay. That feeds the lo-speed and hi-speed cooling fan relays, so if it's blown then the fans won't operate.

• Power Distribution Box - fuse layout

[Thomaswildchild]

ok ill be sure to test that.

The fan comes on when its warm out side, and it keeps the temp guage at a constant temprature; however not when its cold out side, the temprature guage tends to get higher than normal(for instance the temp guage tends to stay at about 1/2 of the range it's on, When its cold it will get up to around 3/4 of the range).