{"id":889,"date":"2022-07-27T21:52:19","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T21:52:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/?p=889"},"modified":"2022-07-27T21:52:19","modified_gmt":"2022-07-27T21:52:19","slug":"recommended-maintenance-for-a-car-that-has-not-been-driven-in-a-while","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/recommended-maintenance-for-a-car-that-has-not-been-driven-in-a-while\/","title":{"rendered":"Recommended Maintenance for a Car That Has Not Been Driven in a While"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Whether you have been away for business or finally decided to take that old classic out of storage, a vehicle that has been parked for a long period of time will require some specialized auto care. Continue below to learn the recommended maintenance for a car that has not been driven in a while, plus which auto repair shop in Indianapolis to trust for superior service at neighborhood prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Automotive-Service-Repair-Indianapolis-Indiana.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"599\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Automotive-Service-Repair-Indianapolis-Indiana.jpg\" alt=\"Automotive Service Repair Indianapolis Indiana 317-475-1846\" class=\"wp-image-890\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Automotive-Service-Repair-Indianapolis-Indiana.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Automotive-Service-Repair-Indianapolis-Indiana-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Automotive-Service-Repair-Indianapolis-Indiana-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Automotive-Service-Repair-Indianapolis-Indiana-451x300.jpg 451w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Automotive Service Repair Indianapolis Indiana 317-475-1846<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:30px\">Automotive Maintenance Tips for a Sitting Car<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Hopefully you implemented some preventative maintenance to your vehicle before it took its long hiatus. But even if you didn\u2019t, do not worry. There is still a chance that the right maintenance approach will get your ride operating safely and efficiently. Here are the top areas to focus on when planning to get your long-sitting car back in operation and out there on the open road once again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\">Fluids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Did the tank have gas in it? If so, be sure to drain it and fill it up with some new stuff. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/how-to-safely-throw-away-your-old-gasoline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gasoline does expire<\/a>. You want to also flush and refill all other vital automotive fluids, like <a href=\"http:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/common-types-of-car-brake-fluid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">brake fluid<\/a>, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, battery fluid, windshield wiper cleaner, and of course, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/when-should-i-change-the-oil-in-my-vehicle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">motor oil<\/a>. Unless you have keen mechanic skills, it is not recommended to do this yourself. Trust a licensed Indianapolis auto shop to service your car professionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\">Battery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your battery needs more than just fluid to operate. It also need charge. Overtime, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/common-causes-for-parasitic-draw-in-automotive-batteries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">batteries drain of charge<\/a>, and in lengthier stints of non-operation, will drain beyond the point of a jumpstart. In most cases of a long-sitting car, the battery will need to be replaced with a new one. Fortunately, car batteries are not expensive, plus you can change it yourself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\">Tires<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only do tires lose air pressure during long periods of non-use, but they also develop flat spots. These flat areas develop at the bottom of the tire and cause permanent shape change, so the tire can no longer be round. We need well-rounded and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/when-should-i-rotate-and-balance-my-car-tires\/\" target=\"_blank\">balanced tires<\/a> for smooth and efficient operation, so in this case, it would be necessary to replace any damaged tires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\">Extended Periods of Non-Use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vehicles that have been sitting for a really long time are likely to incur some additional automotive damages, like rust formation, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/what-you-need-to-know-about-serpentine-belt-replacement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">belt and hose deterioration<\/a>, and even pest infestations. If your car has sat without being driven for a very long time, perhaps over a year or more, you should have it inspected by a licensed mechanic for dried out rubber belts and hoses, plus any potential wildlife damages like chewed electrical wiring or insulation. You can treat rust yourself to a certain extent using store-bought rust removal cleaners and kits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>Are you ready to schedule professional automotive maintenance appointment with a trusted Indy mechanic?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/contact.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Contact Northeast Auto Service<\/a> at 317-475-1846 for ASE licensed and trained<a href=\"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/services\/scheduled-car-maintenance.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> factory scheduled maintenance<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/services.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">car inspections<\/a> in Indianapolis, Indiana. We work on all make and model vehicles!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Posts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/3-options-for-homemade-engine-degreaser\/\" target=\"_blank\">3 Options for Homemade Engine Degreaser<\/a><br><a href=\"http:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/how-often-should-i-bleed-my-car-brakes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How Often Should I Bleed My Car Brakes?<\/a><br><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/how-to-wash-your-car-using-the-rain\/\" target=\"_blank\">How to Wash Your Car Using the Rain<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you have been away for business or finally decided to take that old classic out of storage, a vehicle that has been parked for a long period of time will require some specialized auto care. Continue below to learn &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/recommended-maintenance-for-a-car-that-has-not-been-driven-in-a-while\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":890,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,173,120,277],"tags":[20,110,399,40,15,436,655],"class_list":["post-889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-car-care","category-cars","category-mechanic-advice","tag-auto-repair","tag-automotive-service","tag-car-care","tag-car-maintenance","tag-factory-scheduled-maintenance","tag-mechanic-advice","tag-old-car-maintenance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=889"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/889\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":891,"href":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/889\/revisions\/891"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.autorepairindy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}