Car not being used for at least 6 weeks

[DC_FC]

My mums car isnt being used for minimum of 6 weeks but would it do the car any harm to just sit there for that long ? Would it help if i started the engne every other week ?

[ladybirder]

No it won't. Not if you leave it in gear.

[Psybbo]

DC try it out leaving it in first gear or reverse as Mark described or prepare for a garage bill

Have you not read mamya's link?

[ladybirder]

And whatever you do, when you or your mum starts it up again afterwards, remember to knock it out of gear BEFORE you switch the engine on again.

[Hopkirk]

It is good practice to always leave your car in gear when parked, and not trust the hand brake to hold it.

I have plenty of experience of handbrakes sticking on, as I have owned Vauxhalls.

It is also a good idea to always hold the clutch pedal down when starting the engine, in case you have forgotten to select neutral.

[vodkancoke]

I didn't use mine for 12 weeks after an op and it was absolutely fine. I left it in gear (as always) but kept the handbrake on....I never thought to leave the handbrake off.

[ladybirder]

I was taught to check the car was in neutral before turning on the engine.

[Toureman]

All it needs is 4 bricks and it won't go anywhere!

[DC_FC]

I dont have anything to use, i have 1 brick i can use and thats it, any bricks we had we got rid of or so i believe.

[boxtops]

DC- you won't need a brick, have you tried it out on a slope in gear with the handbrake off? it shouldn't roll.

[craft1948]

I didn't know about leaving the handbrake off. I can often go weeks on end without using my car (I don't need one really) and have never experienced any problems with the handbrake.............is this because mine is quite a new car?

[DC_FC]

boxtops i wasnt aware you could even leave the handbrake off and it wouldnt roll, its currently on the drive which is on a slope adn in first

[Maydup]

I leave my car in gear every time i park, just got into the habit.

My mate didn't and his handbrake failed one day when he parked on the side of the road in a town. The thing rolled off and crashed into a fence. Thankfully there was no-one in the way nor another road to cross between him anbd the fence, but it could have been a disaster.

[DC_FC]

Well i can easily turn the engine on for 10/15 minutes

[gingejbee]

"also this will help to keep the antifreeze mixed"? Once mixed, water and glycol will not "unmix".

[White_Cat]

If you have to leave the handbrake on, and it does seize up then it is most often caused by corrosion of the working surface of the disk/drum "welding" onto the pads/shoes. This can often (but not always) be released by releasing the handbrake and hitting a wheel nut on the effected wheel with a hammer HARD. With steel wheels this is easy, but with alloys the nuts are often recessed, and in this case put a socket (of the right size) from a tool set onto the nut first, and hit the socket.
Normally 2 or three blows are enough.

Of course the cables can seize, as can other parts of the system.
It is also not unheard of for the cables to become full of water, and freeze up in cold weather- in that case all you can do is fit new cables or wait for the weather to warm up.