924Board.org

[FFNPMcD]

Though I know its a crime, my wife's new car has pushed my 924s out of the garage and into the driveway.
Are there any winter preparations I need to be aware of?

Specifically I'm worried about that large gap between the windshield and the hood. I cant imagine snow and freezing rain accumulating in the void space.

I realize I could use a cover, but homeowners frowns upon it. (Will do as last resort)

Any other ideas?

Thanks
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1987 924s

[morghen]

divorce !
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Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

[FFNPMcD]

haha!
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1987 924s

[fiat22turbo]

Um, yeah there's not much you can do except find a way to cover that area with something waterproof to deflect the water/snow away.

You could put a incandescent bulb in the engine bay to help the snow melt and drain out properly, plus it would help keep the engine from freezing and make it easier to start, etc.

I'd seriously consider talking to the wife about how your car is more likely to be damaged from the snow/rain/ice than hers and that you need to park it in the garage.

Or find a place that doesn't have a BS HOA, since they are generally obtrusive nanny-BS that tries to force good neighbors, but generally turns them against each other at the cost of conformity.
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Stefan
1979 924 Carrera GTS (clone-ish)
1988 944 Turbo S (Silver Rose)

[larchie]

Even if you live in an urban area, if your car is not driven much over the winter, I suggest some kind of rodent protection. Several years ago, within the period of a month, the 924 had wiring chewed in the engine bay where some animal made a home. In spring, the motivation was finally there to study Hanes wiring diagrams.

Later Edit: will you be storing or driving the car during the winter.

[ideola]

Car Cover is not necessarily required. If you do decide to opt for that route, make sure you get a high quality one, and not an el cheapo from the FLAPS or general merchandise retailers like Target or Walmart. The freezing / thawing snow and ice will cause the cheap ones to stick to the paint and damage it.

If the car is not going to be driven at all, remove the battery, bring it inside, and put it on a battery tender. Make sure the drain holes (all three of them!) in the firewall / bulkhead area remain free of leaves and other debris, so that as the snow melts, it has a place to go. Every time it snows, clear off your car when you shovel / snowblow as if you were going to drive it. This will keep the accumulation to a minimum. You could also consider putting a tarp in that area, under the hood, leaving the hood unlatched, but you may still have the issue of paint damage where the tarp comes into contact with exterior surfaces.

The most important thing is to make sure the front of the car is parked on a decline (i.e. nose lower than the tail) so that any snow melt will properly drain, rather than collecting in the back of the battery tray.

The bigger concern with parking outside is snow melt getting in through every imaginable body seam (sunroof, doors, windows, hatch, etc.). These cars are 30+ years old and really don't like being stored out-of-doors. Don't be surprised to find the inside fogging up, icing, thawing, icing, thawing, resulting in a wonderful environment for molds and fungi to start growing as the temps begin to warm in spring. Not pleasant. The car may be water tight now, but don't be surprised if it develops leaks after a season left out in the cold.

You might even consider renting a 10x20 storage unit. Around these parts, you can get one with no heat or electricity for <$150/mo on a month-by-month, and they often have specials where the first month or so are deeply discounted. Not cheap, but it will do wonders for preserving the car.

If you'll need to move the car around, and thus want to leave the battery in the car, go to Harbor Freight and get one of their $15 battery tenders. They have one that can be sort of permanently mounted in the battery area that you can plug in using a conventional extension cord. The tender is absolutely essential for maintaining battery longevity in cold weather, and well worth the nominal investment.
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

[Paul]

Around here a 10 x 20 is $50-$60/month.
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White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

[Rasta Monsta]

Its a Porsche, not a tomato plant. . .getting snowed on won't hurt it.
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Toofah King Bad

• WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3