New Cars that sit on a car lot for too long can develop a variety of problems, expert says

[Liberal_in_LA]

Cars parked too long can develop problems

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He says that Mercedes and Toyota currently lease temporary space to store their cars before they are shipped to dealers across the nation: Toyota has 160 acres and has requested another 50 acres, while Mercedes leases 20 acres and has requested 15 more.

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He says Los Angeles-area ports usually have capacity to store about 2,000 cars but says car companies also are leasing storage space at small local airports and many other sites. He also says there is a backlog of cars awaiting export to the U.S. Thousands, he says, are parked on container ships still at sea.

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Ken Lavacot, of 2carpros.com, says cars that sit on a lot for too long can develop a variety of problems a consumer should look out for.

He recommends checking the battery for leakage, and says that hoses and other componentry including belts and intake books that are vulnerable to "natural decomposure" should also be checked.

A full fuel system flush should also be undertaken to clean out "bad fuel that can gum up and clog the injectors," and Lavacot also recommends a full replacement of air, oil and cabin filters, and engine oil and coolant.

Michael Royce, a former car salesman who runs the site BeatTheCarSalesman.com, says a flat battery can indicate a car has been parked for a good while.

"In my experience, the most common problem with new cars sitting on the lot a long time is that their batteries tend to die and have to be recharged. So if you choose a particular car to test drive and the salesman suddenly discovers that the engine won't start when he turns the key, you can probably assume that the vehicle been sitting on the dealership lot a long time.



http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/04/01/aa.cars.built.before.sold/index.html

[flvegan]

1. I agree on the battery

and depending on how long the car sits, maybe the fuel. Otherwise, what crap. If the car isn't run, how does the air filter go bad?

Also, this is mixing issues. Cars stuck in area ports and cars on dealership lots. Most lot cars, at least where I am, get moved around. Front line, grouping, detailing...all causes cars to get started and moved.

[Strelnikov_]

2. Agree.

Take hose/belt deterioration, function of age and to a lesser degree hours of operation. I could see it if you are buying a car that sat around Long Beach for five years . . but last years model?

[flvegan]

4. Exactly. The only one year hose/belt deterioration would be

rodent related. Otherwise, Jay Leno is totally fucked.

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. This is very true - I started working on vehicles over 40 years ago

.
.
.

Engines have to run to be kept in shape, otherwise "fogged down" with oil for storage - which ain't happening with these cars parked in lots, docks or container ships.

All those cars stored for more than a month or so will have shorter lives and more problems than cars delivered, sold, and used.

The ones stored on ships or near the ocean will be rust buckets before their time from the salty air and mist that will infest the vehicle.

Any serious collector knows that preparations must be made to store a vehicle if it is intended to be useful and durable in the future.

THE MESSAGE?

As a result of all this storage, expect to find millions of cars in the next decade not lasting as long as their predecessors

BUY USED!

A relatively new vehicle, although used a bit, is a much better bang for your buck than a new one.

Mine is 30 years old, - bought for 3 grand 19 years ago - and even though it is far from pristine condition, is reliable - and INCREASING in value - just because it is still alive!

Too bad I can't say the same thing for myself:

:silly:

[Hardrada]

9. My 1993 Lincoln Town Car still looks nice and, I think, will

run and run as long as I get it proper maintenance. It was stodgy engineering but also quite good for durability.

[tammywammy]

5. That's why all vehicles on lots should have regular 30 day maintenance

It includes looking things over and battery check.

[1]

8. ?

my newest vehicle is 21 years old.

my oldest vehicle is 30 years old.

both run just fine. even if they sit 6 months or so out of the year before i drive them.

regular 30 day maintenance? wtf would that be?

y'all have a silly understanding of automobiles and what maintenance is required.

y'all must be city folks, right?

[tammywammy]

10. Um, I work at a dealership

Yes there's 30 day maintenance done on all vehicles in inventory. It includes doing a battery check (since not all cars are started and moved every day).

Customers tend to be not patient when they walk out for a test drive and the car doesn't start b/c the battery has run down from sitting.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

6. Mazda had to scrap a couple thousand cars a few years ago

The freighter carrying them had some sort of drama at sea and while the insurance issues were worked out the cars just sat outdoors in Oregon for the better part of two years without any TLC from the insurance company. By the time matters were resolved they were a couple of model years out of date and had just been sitting there so the entire lot of them was crushed.

[masuki bance]

7. Or someone left an interior light on.

[Liberal_in_LA]

11. lol n/t

[madokie]

12. Well I won't be buying any cars that are having to sit on a car lot

thats been unloaded from a ship anyway. fuck 'em, I buy Fords and fords only.

[doctor jazz]

13. Natural decomposure?? Is that what Dubya suffered from?

:rofl:

Mostly that piece is a little hysterical. Yes, batteries will discharge (that's why God invented battery chargers) and gasoline will precipitate out gummy crap (not the proper chemical descriptive but it more or less describes it) after many months but a little additive in the tank will flush it out.

[uppityperson]

14. Check for mouse or rat nests under hood also. They love to nest in there

and can chew on wiring.