What Steps Do You Take to “Un-Winterize” Your S?
Now that old man winter has ceased chucking down the white stuff like nature’s own Pablo Escobar, it’s time to get the S2000s out of storage. Unfortunately, that’s not as simple as opening the garage door, pressing the big red button, and mentally preparing to ignore the occasional Neon SRT-4 revving at you from the next lane. There are a few steps you should take to ensure your topdown time stays trouble free.
Photo courtesy of W00D
First, check your tires. Make sure they’re inflated to manufacturer specifications, and if they’re more than a year or two old, check for any signs of cracking or dry-rotting.
Second, check your fluids. Brake and clutch fluid should be changed, as it will have absorbed a significant quantity of moisture. Replace engine, gearbox and/or differential fluid if it’s nearly due on mileage or time. Top up your coolant- if the level is significantly lower than you remember, you may have sprung a leak, especially if temperatures dropped below -30F.
While you’re under the hood, do a vermin check. Barbecue may be a summer tradition, but there’s an appropriate time, place, and seasoning blend, none of which are in your intake.
This is also a good time to check the condition of your inlet and cabin air filters. If it doesn’t look like something you’d want to hold over your face and inhale deeply, it probably needs to be changed.
Lastly, turn on the electrical system without starting the motor, and check that all your lights are working. Nothing kills the mood faster than a $200 ticket for a $1 bulb.
Optionally, you may also wish to disconnect the injectors, remove the spark plugs, and crank the motor over a few times to lubricate the bores before the pistons see any load. A wash, wax, and splash of leather treatment never hurt, either.
Once all that is done, you can fire it up, drop the top, and venture out into the world. Bonus “Un-winterizing the Owner” tip: sunblock.
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