Any advice on winter storage and covers? If our XLR doesn't make it to FL for the winter it will be home in heated garage, but I think it should be covered. Now, when necessary I just throw a couple of flannel sheets on it (in case my kitty wants to try it out), but for long term...any problem? Sheets are cheaper than a custom cover. Pretty remedial question but I've never had a car I wanted to protect so much. Also a friend suggested the Schumacher Auto Battery Companion as a way to make sure the battery stays up. He said to avoid the one that's a trickle charger than needs to be turned off when fully charged. He uses this on his orignal TransAm, and I guess all the electrical on the XLR can be a drain even when just sitting. Right? Help? Thanks!:confused

Sheets seem to work fine, and they are cheaper than the custom cover. If you are going to leave it parked for an extended period of time, the battery tender would be recommended. At the Rendezvous we were advised that the XLR was designed to sit up to 40 days before your battery was too low. The XLR does use a small amount of battery juice while sitting there, so a battery tender would be your best choice.

Hey thanks! I read in this forum that there were discussions on the care and feeding of XLRs at BG and information pertaining to battery care, etc. Anything really informative or urgent I should know.....the battery tender info was one thing I was looking for...any thing else pertinent?

It is not good to let the battery drain to zero. This is the Battery Tender I used on my Corvette for years. It keeps the battery ready to go at all times without overcharging it.
You can probably find this charger at a Battery Plus or Autoparts store near you.

http://batterytender.com/product_info.php?products_id=2&osCsid=bcf0d6c728d333db807870de80663b7c

Good luck.

I have custom covers for most of my cars and seldom ever use them I sew 3 sheets together then either carefully roll them over the car or throw a bunched up pile of sheet the length over the car them carefully spread them out, When taking them off I pull the sides to the center then carefully roll it all in a lump again. I do this because all the covers I use tend to put little spider web type scratches on my paint and the way I put the sheets on seems to avoid that. All the covers I use weather sheets or custom still leave some dust through for breathing. If I want more protection I cover the sheets with blankets. Dont forget you need room and air for that battery tender too! Good luck. jim

Thanks so much, Jim...guess we've been doing the right thing. My husbands' restored tractors spend the winter under sheets....looks like a Halloween scene in the barn. I think he needs a battery tender for some of them too, seems like we're buying batteries all the time.

It is not good to let the battery drain to zero. This is the Battery Tender I used on my Corvette for years. It keeps the battery ready to go at all times without overcharging it.
You can probably find this charger at a Battery Plus or Autoparts store near you.

http://batterytender.com/product_info.php?products_id=2&osCsid=bcf0d6c728d333db807870de80663b7c

Good luck.
I checked out this website, looks like what we're looking for....a little more expensive than the Schumacher brand but probably worth paying for to protect my prize. Thanks again!

I only use a few tenders. I use disconnect switches I get from the Eastwood co. It fits on the neg. terminal of the battery and has a knob that you turn until the power is off. Done! I do that on all my cars except the XLR. Then when I go to start em I turn in the knob and done! You can also take the knob with you as a security measure too. Good luck jim

Here's the battery tender I'm planning on buying.
http://www.ctek.com/us/home.asp
Just another option for you to look at!

I only use a few tenders. I use disconnect switches I get from the Eastwood co. It fits on the neg. terminal of the battery and has a knob that you turn until the power is off. Done! I do that on all my cars except the XLR. Then when I go to start em I turn in the knob and done! You can also take the knob with you as a security measure too. Good luck jim

Jim ,

The only problem with that on the XLR is I believe you will lose everything you programmed, i.e. memory seats, radio, express windows, etc. You are better off with a battery tender.

Cubby558:cool

I use CTek on everything that's not a daily driver:cheers

Cubby, Yes I agree , the XLR is the only one Ill use the tender on. The disconnect does have on option with a diode that lets enougjh juice thru to keep the computers going . But i still use the tender on the X. Jim

Hey I was just wondering if anyone knew where I could find a custom car cover for my xlr... this is my first car that I have ever needed to park for the winter so I am new to this.. can someone please help!! THANKS.. :seeya

Hey I was just wondering if anyone knew where I could find a custom car cover for my xlr... this is my first car that I have ever needed to park for the winter so I am new to this.. can someone please help!! THANKS.. :seeya

Uh-huh..... the XLR boutique ..... your dealership .... and, hmmm, Bruce, what other choices doe he have??? Or maybe Ruf ... do you cover your car??

What year is your X? Have you had it very long??

I don't cover my cars if they are in the garage. Now up at the barn, I cover. You still have to wash them when you bring them out. This is a site that I go to often. I believe they have the same Tender onsale for 10 dollars less. http://www.autogeek.net/batterytender.html

I don't cover my cars if they are in the garage. Now up at the barn, I cover. You still have to wash them when you bring them out. This is a site that I go to often. I believe they have the same Tender onsale for 10 dollars less. http://www.autogeek.net/batterytender.html

I'm so glad someone used that 4 letter word. Seriously, I hesitate to leave her in the barn when it's cold, big mice issue here and no kitty anymore.:cry :cry

Hey I was just wondering if anyone knew where I could find a custom car cover for my xlr... this is my first car that I have ever needed to park for the winter so I am new to this.. can someone please help!! THANKS.. :seeya

California Car Cover Co.. has great car covers for your baby. The Plushweave is a good choice (I've ordered 3). www.calcover.com 800-423-5525.

Griot's Garage has battery manager III (part #92203) that works really well for long term storage. www.griotsgarage.com 800-345-5789

Bruce

I'm so glad someone used that 4 letter word. Seriously, I hesitate to leave her in the barn when it's cold, big mice issue here and no kitty anymore.:cry :cry

I would think twice about the barn storage. Those mice can destroy a car in no time.

Bruce

I find that the standard c-6 corvette cover fits the xlr perfectly. When I sold my c-6, I kept the cover and now use it on the xlr. You can get one starting at about 69.00 and up. I've had mine for a couple years now and keep her covered at work and at home in the garage. Mine has the pockets for the mirrors which are great, especially if your putting it on or taking it off and theres a breeze, the pockets help to keep it from blowing off. A little trick, I bought some tent waterproofing spray and spread it out in my garage and waterproofed it so now the rain doesn't go thru. I know its suppost to breath, but it really is better without the rain filtering thru. just my 2 cents. Bill (ocool):cool

No kidding, Bruce, and everything else, edible or not. She only goes in the barn in the summer to get out of the sun briefly.

Its not so bad a place. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/galen1115/XLR003.jpg

Galen,
Never thought for a minute that it was a bad place, and it is especially nice with that driveway ornament. However, my barn by our house is right next to the corn field, nice on the outside, unfinished on the inside. And I don't know why I call it my barn (probably cuz I have to sweep it) since it's full of green things which aren't quite as special as XLR's. Anyway, the boys get the nice barns since that's where they just about live.

Galen,
Never thought for a minute that it was a bad place, and it is especially nice with that driveway ornament. However, my barn by our house is right next to the corn field, nice on the outside, unfinished on the inside. And I don't know why I call it my barn (probably cuz I have to sweep it) since it's full of green things which aren't quite as special as XLR's. Anyway, the boys get the nice barns since that's where they just about live.

I get a kick out of what you guys call "barns" .... they look like houses! ;)

Ruth, I made comments on covers earlier, on this thread. See about 19 before this one! Be well jim

No I just got my xlr in August.... Its a 2008.. I love it soo much... :seeya

No I just got my xlr in August.... Its a 2008.. I love it soo much... :seeya

An '08 .... how cool is that? :cool

Nice to have you posting here on the forum .... :cheers

See how many responses you get when you ask a question here .... hmmmm, well, sometimes these threads go a little off course ... but then that's the fun of this forum .... :D

' hope you will bring your new ride down to R3 ....

Tell us about your new ride!

Lola's Mom
Ruth Ann