Winters in North Idaho feature snow-covered mountains and breathtaking winter scenery. At Mike White Ford, we love winter. Idaho offers outstanding skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and other activities that make winter fun. But it also delivers freezing temperatures that can wreak havoc on your vehicle, especially if you own a convertible.
Up here, we experience freezing temperatures, icy roads, and heavy snowfall. These conditions are tough on convertibles, which often have more sensitive components than hardtop vehicles. Storing your car properly during the cold months is essential to preserving its condition and ensuring it’s ready to hit the road when the snow melts and warm weather returns. Neglecting vital maintenance may lead to a range of issues, from mechanical problems to cosmetic and structural damage or deterioration, that could leave you with expensive repairs in the spring.
How to Properly Store Your Convertible for Winter
While more temperate climates may allow owners to drive their convertibles on the occasional unseasonably warm day, given the harsh weather conditions here, it’s more likely that you’ll be storing your convertible from about November to April. That’s a long time for a car to sit idle, so you can’t just put it in park and forget it. You have to take some measures to make sure your convertible weathers the winter without damage.
Even if parked in a garage, fabric or vinyl soft tops are vulnerable to the elements, and prolonged exposure to fluctuating temperatures can cause wear, shrinkage, or tears. If your car is outside, you’ll have to worry about snow, rain, and even wide temperature swings, as well as rodents or other critters that might see your idle vehicle as a convenient winter home. Additionally, any moisture accumulation inside your vehicle can cause mold and mildew to grow, damaging your car’s interior and causing it to smell bad.
Proper storage protects your convertible from potential hazards, extending its lifespan and saving you from repair costs. To do it properly, you must take a few essential steps to ensure your convertible stays in top condition throughout the winter. Here are the measures you should take to prepare your vehicle.
- Change Fluids: Fresh oil, coolant, and other essential fluids are critical for preventing freezing and corrosion in your vehicle’s engine. Topping off the gas tank and adding a fuel stabilizer can also prevent condensation from forming inside the tank.
- Protect the Battery: Disconnect the battery to prevent it from draining over time. Alternatively, you can invest in a trickle charger and keep it plugged in throughout the winter.
- Clean Thoroughly: Before storing your convertible, wash it thoroughly and wax it to remove dirt, road salt, and other debris. Don’t forget the undercarriage, as this is where most corrosion occurs. Clean and condition the soft top to prevent any buildup of grime that could damage the fabric.
- Cover or Store Indoors: If possible, store your convertible in a heated garage to protect it from the elements. Even an unheated garage is beneficial. If indoor storage isn’t an option, invest in a high-quality, breathable car cover designed specifically for convertibles. Avoid using plastic tarps, which can trap moisture and lead to mold growth. For added assurance, place desiccant packs in the vehicle to absorb any extra moisture that may creep in.
- Inflate the Tires: Ensure your tires are correctly inflated before storage to avoid flat spots. If your vehicle will be stored for a long time, consider placing it on jack stands to relieve pressure on the tires.
- Close and Latch the Top: If the fabric is not kept taut, you can get shrinkage in the fabric, making it hard to close your top when winter is over or even causing tears.
- Ventilation: If you’re storing the car indoors, crack the windows slightly to allow airflow and prevent the interior from becoming musty. You can also place odor absorbers like baking soda or charcoal in the vehicle to prevent that musty smell from building up.
- Seal Openings: For those cracked windows and any other openings, use steel wool or fabric softener sheets to block access through any small openings where rodents might enter and decide to make a home in your car over the winter.
Get Your Convertible Ready for the Road
Properly storing your convertible for winter ensures that when the first warm day arrives, your vehicle is ready to enjoy the open road with very little preparation. These steps can protect your car’s appearance and performance and save you from discovering unpleasant spring surprises that may be expensive to repair.
If you’re ready to buy that Mustang convertible you have always wanted or you are interested in test driving any other Ford vehicle, visit Mike White Ford, with showrooms in Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, Idaho. Our team is ready to help you find the perfect car for all seasons so you can make the most of our beautiful North Idaho landscapes year-round.