Winter-proofing

[Cavalier342]

After you clear it, there's been a very spot on suggestion here somewhere (credit where it's due) of cutting the bottom off it, so all the crud doesn't just sit there, instead goes straight through.

[k1ngy]

when i had my cavalier i used to take it off the road for the winter with a pretty strict routine

first id change all fluids and give it a good wash which included the underside of the car making sure i got all the dirt from in the arches ect
then a good 2 coat waxing for the paintwork
then she went up on ramps for a good underseal

once the outside was done id give a good clean inside (coz i am fussy lol)

time for setting it to stand then, during this time you need to

open the doors on a regular basis to circulate the air ( if you can use a dehumidifyer then all the better)
start the car and run for a while just to keep things moving freely
rotate the tyres once a month to stop cracking or distortion
wash once a month to stop the dirt building up on uncovered cars

[humbucker]

theres a guide in this months practical classics magazine which advises how to keep your garage damp free. extreme end of the scale is a carcoon but if your garage is dry and warm enough you should be ok without one. it warns against the use of a car cover, even the breathable ones aren't great if left for any length of time.

[cavboy180]

Thanks for that piccy, have checked mine and it's all clear

[VauxhallGirl]

Thanks for that, guys. Will do it tomorrow...especially as we are in for more of the wet stuff Thurs night. I looked for it this morning, and by the Elephant's Trunk description, I found it. Just pull it off and clean it out? OK. Thanks. And yes, think I will cut the end off. Makes sense to have a nice big exit route for the kak!

[humbucker]

you may not need to pull it off, just shove your fingers up it and pull out the crap, then drop some water over the scuttle to ensure it's coming out of the bottom and not your footwell! depends on how blocked it is tbh. as mentioned earlier, you can always cut the bottom off of the hose to allow encourage flow of debris and rain water but if checked periodically it should be ok as it is.

[btcctroy]

Ok, what's everyone's best tips for winter-proofing their Cavalier? Aside the obvious such as thinner engine oil, anti-freeze, and screen wash.

have you thought about knitting a sweater for your cav lol

[cavboy180]

[Cavalier342]

need to pull it off, just shove your fingers up it and pull out the crap,

Sorry mate, got a sick sense of humor

[Cavalier342]

Ok, what's everyone's best tips for winter-proofing their Cavalier? Aside the obvious such as thinner engine oil, anti-freeze, and screen wash.

have you thought about knitting a sweater for your cav lol

Good idea, my mum does knitting, I'll ask for one as a present

[cavboy180]

Fair play - you have a good sense of humour!!!!!

[Cavalier342]

Fair play - you have a good sense of humour!!!!!

I know i'm not funny

[VauxhallGirl]

Thanks for help, guys.

I had a poke around the Elephant Trunk the other day...not much in there. Bit of a design fault having the exit off to one side, though...what's up with it just being a directly-down exit?

I followed the advice of leaving the heater setting with the directional slider on 'face' only. Didn't get any more water in there next time we had a deluge. I usually keep the setting on 'feet' and windscreen slider 'open'. I have never pondered the workings of my heater system...have I been letting in water all this time by leaving it on 'feet'???

Is the windscreen slider fully open ok?

[Cavalier342]

Close them. Ie the bottom two sliders are meeting in the middle. It won't let water in anyway but it lets in more moisture. Helps me anyhow.

[VauxhallGirl]

Close them. Ie the bottom two sliders are meeting in the middle. It won't let water in anyway but it lets in more moisture. Helps me anyhow.

OK. Thanks. Will do that. Enough moisture in my car now, me thinks.

[vauxhallnutter]

Close them. Ie the bottom two sliders are meeting in the middle. It won't let water in anyway but it lets in more moisture. Helps me anyhow.

OK. Thanks. Will do that. Enough moisture in my car now, me thinks.

I would check your floor pans as well under the sound deadening and dry out if necessary as if they have been wet for a while then you could have some rust forming.

If you have then dry out and then heat the metel with a heat gun or hairdryer and spray on some hammerite or underseal and that will stop it going any further.

[Cavalier342]

What I do as well sometimes to dry out the carpets is wait until the engine is warmed up, then just blast the heaters on full speed aimed down at the legs. Close the main vents so you get maximum amount of air blasting down.

[planetc]

Wet carpets take days to dry like this, better to remove them if they are wet

[humbucker]

agreed, you need to remove them from the car, hang them over something to let the air and warmth dry them out. difficult in this weather i know, but if you can get them near warmth or simply in dry weather this would be preferable. ensure you wipe out all the moisture from the footwells that has been sat between the carpet and the floor itself too. worst case scenario is the washing line when the wind is up but still preferable to leaving the heaters on in the car. also ensure you install at least one of those caravan dehumidifiers.

[Cavalier342]

taking the carpets out? that's a nightmare by the looks of it... Does that mean that I have to remove every lower panel and the seats to do it?

[btcctroy]

take all carpets and underlay out drive around in rain to find leaks. repair leaks refit carpet and underlay no more steamy windows

[VauxhallGirl]

what's the procedure for removing carpets? Looks like a difficult job.

[vauxhallnutter]

take all carpets and underlay out drive around in rain to find leaks. repair leaks refit carpet and underlay no more steamy windows

Thats the way to do it, its not that hard. Once the seats are out its all plain sailing.

Sent via taptalk on android

[btcctroy]

what's the procedure for removing carpets? Looks like a difficult job.

simply unbolt the seats with a 13mm ratchet theres 4 bolts on each seat. much sure you put red clip in pretensioner which is under the plastic trim nearest to door. it has instructions what to do on it.

remove front seat

rear seat bases are easy simply remove pins from the bases be careful not to lose circlips.

remove center console to release carpet. a posidrive screwdriver is required

its bout half a days work for a novice, plus it gives you a chance to really clean them hard to get to areas

[planetc]

Yeah, remember the red clip, those buggers really hurt if they catch your fingers when they go off!