Because cars were made to be driven regularly, winter storage — or any prolonged period of storage— can really take its toll, unless people take a few precautions to protect their vehicle while it's in hibernation. A little work now can protect our precious vehicle from rust, animals and other storage-related headaches. To help our Spider owners keep their stored vehicles in good shape, here are a few storage tips.

• Tip 1
  Get it out of the elements! No amount of precautions will protect a car that is stored outside where the sun, rain, or snow will beat on it day in and day out. Put it under a canopy or keep it in the garage.
  
  
• Tip 2
  Keep the fuel fresh. When gasoline sits, it can break down and form gum and varnish, which will clog a fuel system. What's more, any moisture left in the system can cause rust. The solution: Add a container of fuel stabilizer to the gas tank, then fill the tank to the top right before putting the vehicle into storage. The short drive home from the gas station will circulate the stabilized fuel throughout the system, keeping the gas fresh and the system safe until the vehicle is ready to ride again.
  
  
• Tip 3
  Don't let the cooling system freeze during the winter. Drain the system (including the radiator) and refill it with a rust-inhibiting antifreeze.
  
  
  
• Tip 4
  Change the oil. It's important to remove any acid, moisture and other contaminants from an engine by changing the oil and filter before putting a vehicle to sleep for the winter. It's okay to use the same-viscosity oil as usual, as long as the oil contains corrosion protection.
  
  
• Tip 5
  Avoid flat-spotting the tires. A vehicle that sits for a long period of time can ruin a set of radial tires. The best way to save those expensive tires is to store the vehicle up on jack stands. Some people also may want to remove the vehicle's wheels and tires—or let some air out of the tires to reduce strain on the shocks and other suspension components.
  
  
• Tip 6
  Keep the battery alive. When a battery loses its charge over time, it can freeze and explode. To avoid a dangerous mess, hook up a battery charger/maintainer, which will keep the battery properly charged, no matter how long the vehicle sits.
  
  
• Tip 7
  Protect the paint. Give the vehicle a good washing before it's put away for the winter to remove any road salt or grunge, and be sure to dry it thoroughly, too. Then apply a protective coat of wax. Finally, slip on a breathable cloth car cover. (Plastic covers will trap condensation and provide a fertile breeding ground for rust.)
  
  
• Tip 8
  Check the insurance. Just because a vehicle is sitting undriven doesn't mean liability coverage is unnecessary. What if someone pushes the car, and it winds up rolling down the driveway and into the neighbor's brand-new Mercedes? Collision and theft coverage can be important, too.
  
  
• Tip 9
  Prevent rust. Unpainted metal surfaces, from engine parts to tailpipes, can use a good coat of rust inhibitor.
  
  
• Tip 10
  Protect vinyl, leather and rubber. If the vehicle will be stored in a dry climate, it's wise to apply a preservative to prevent seats, armrests and dash pads from cracking.
  
  
• Tip 11
  Provide critter protection. All kinds of small animals find vehicle wiring, seats and carpet delectable, and they think cars and trucks make a nice den, too. To keep critters out, place mothballs inside a vehicle, including under the dash, and cover the tailpipe. Or, for total protection, store the vehicle inside a cocoon that seals it completely from the elements.
  
  
• Tip 12
  Store convertibles with the top up. Convertible tops can actually shrink if they are left in the down position for an extended period of time.

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What every Fiat 124 Spider owner should have ( in reserve ) !

You should not only have these spare parts, but these parts should be present in your Spider,
for sure during a longer drive ( abroad ) :

• 1 clutch cable
• 1 handbrake cable
• 1 fan belt
• 1 timing belt
• 1 set of coolant hoses



• 1 thermostat
• 1 distributor cap
• 1 ignition condenser or capacitor
• 1 set of breaker points
• 1 (longest) spark plug cable or wire
• 1 spark plug
• 1 set of bulbs
• 1 set of fuses suitable for the type
• 1 pair of amp-connectors
• 1 pair of porcelain or acrylic connectors - large size



• 1 liter engine oil
• 1 liter coolant
• 1 bottle Bar's Leaks to seal cooling system leaks
• 250 cc brake fluid - in a well closed plastic bottle
  watch it: a once opened bottle has a restricted storage life



• 1 wheel bolt
• 1 windshield wiper blade
• 1 sprayer tire foam
• 1 meter 1-pole 1.5 up to 2.5 mm² electric wire
• 1 long wheel nut wrench (minimal lever of 40 cm)
• 1 (rollable) temporary windshield in case your windshield is hardened and not layered
• 1 electrical scheme



• and (last but not least): 1 set of spare keys, kept on a secret place in your car.

Our 124 Spider has a large number of spaces and spots, in which definitely all the above mentioned things can be put away, for instance in the battery holder next to the battery, in the spare wheel, in the boot along the left fender in the direction of the car door and along the fuel tank. The best place for your clutch cable is in de engine compartment along the inner wing.

Roughly estimated, all the above mentioned spare parts can be purchased for a total amount between 200,- and 240,- Euros, dependent upon the engine type of your Spider (European = motortype 125 and USA = motortype 132) which determines the price of the needed type of thermostat.

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If you know one or more relevant winter storage tip(s) for our 124 Spider, we kindly invite you to let us know by sending us an e-mail. We will add your tip as soon as possible to the list above.

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