How does one store a vehicle?

[BigMike]

Hey guys,

Today I *finally* transfered my Car Alarm from my MR2 over to my Truck. So now I've got an Alarm system on my baby

Anyways, it's been a while since I've gone into my MR2. It is retired indefinitely for the moment... I can't afford to do anything with it right now so it is just sitting in my backyard with a 98% wasted engine

I last moved it about two months ago (sounded like a lawn mower on crack) and that was the last time I opened up the doors. Since then its been raining alot here, and when I opened up the door this morning to pull out the alarm system, both seats had small amounts of white mold on them, the seat belts had mold on them, bolts on my Grant GT steering wheel are beginning to rust, and even the alarm speaker in the engine compartment had very thick green mold all over it.

I left the moon roof (flip-style) open for now but I will have to close it as it's expected to rain again tomorrow evening.

I know I need to vent out all of the humidity from the car, but I can do this all the time and I was just curious as to what are some tips for keeping a car in storage? How can I preserve it while it just sits there?

I've already got a sun visor across the windshield and the dash is covered with a dash mat, so that should be ok.

But more specifically, I am wondering if there are any simple tricks to storing a car, for instance some kind of material I can place inside the car that will reduce the humidity or slow down the growth rate of the mold?

Thanks in advance
BigMike

[Mike D]

you can use the moisture absorber that people use in campers and trailers

[BigMike]

Also I've already removed any valuables from the car (ie. radio, amps, efi controllers, gauges, etc) so I don't mind leaving the windows open, but then it's gonna fill up with spiders and bugs and I don't want to have to clean all that mess out when ever I have to move the car..

Any suggestions/tips/advice is welcomed

[BigMike]

you can use the moisture absorber that people use in campers and trailers

That's what I'm looking for. Any product names? Where can I get those?

[shorttoy]

there's these little canisters called DRI-Z-AIR.  You can get em at RV shops and places like that. They'll set you back $20 for two of them.

[Mike D]

My mom bought some at fred meyers. no clue of what brand it was

[Prismo]

    http://www.drytheair.com/xcart/store/catalog/category_249_DriZAir_Products_page_1.html

[BigMike]

OK Thanks guys, I'll check it out tomorrow. I thought I remember seeing some piece of wood that absorbs moisture so I knew I could find something simple like that that would do the trick, but I wasnt sure.

[shorttoy]

I usually set one on each floor board if I'm not using a rig for a while.  We have a slight moisture problem in Orygun

[BigMike]

I just ordered the Dry-Z-Air product

Wow this is like an instant live question answer forum, got what I was looking for in less then 10 mins

[shorttoy]

perfect

[guywithuglyyota]

I stored my honda for a few years when I was over seas. I basically put it up on some cheapo harbor freight jack stands to save the tires/uncompresss springs, bushings. Kept all fluids full since the oil will preserve seals etc.... I ended up having a mouse make a nest in dash board heater ducts! No idea how he got in there but I would try to plug any sort of opening to the cabin with a rag or whatever. If you cover with a tarp the wind will slap the tarp around and cause a chaffing issue on your paint, It was better off without a tarp and just using cardboard stuffed in the windows to prevent sun damage if its outside. I wish i had thought of the dehumidifier idea.

[mr4x42u]

the drizair stuff is awesome..I use it in my camper,,well its a different name but same stuff..

Hey mike,,sounds like a typicl mr2..my old mr2 was the same way before i junked it..The seats from it still live in my runner though.