How to Prepare a Wheelchair Van to Sit for Weeks or Months

0:00If your van is gonna sit for more than 0:02a couple weeks, 10 minutes of prep 0:03now can save you a service call later. 0:06I'm Patrick, customer service 0:08manager at MoveMobility. 0:09I've helped countless organizations who 0:11have left their van sitting for extended 0:13periods, only to come back to find a dead 0:15battery and a vehicle that won't start. 0:18So I wanna share some tips with 0:19you on what you can do before 0:21you park it, while it's parked, 0:23and before you drive it again. 0:24We see this all the time. 0:26In fact, this morning, I was 0:28talking to a customer who called in 0:29because their van wouldn't start. 0:31Talking with the customer for a few 0:33minutes, I've determined that the van 0:35was sitting for more than a couple weeks, 0:37more than the recommended time to 0:39start the van and keep it running 0:41so the battery wouldn't be drained. 0:43In the ProMaster and Ford Transits, 0:45there are more computer systems that 0:47will eventually drain the battery 0:49power by continuously monitoring 0:51the systems on board the van. 0:52I recommended to the customer to boost 0:54the van to start it, charge the battery, 0:57then from there, test the battery. 0:59If the battery tests okay, 1:00I recommended a battery maintainer to be 1:03hooked up to the battery while it sits. 1:04That way when it sits, 1:06it'll keep the battery fully charged, 1:08guaranteed to start for the next day. 1:10So, let's go over what you can do 1:11to prevent this from happening. 1:13If you leave your van sitting for 1:15long enough, this can mean that the 1:16powered ramp, your lift, powered 1:18step won't function as you'd expect. 1:20Here's what we recommend 1:22before you park it. 1:23Connect a battery maintainer. 1:24If parked outside, 1:25we recommend a solar power one. 1:28A solar power one would mount 1:30in the windshield, and it plugs 1:31right into your OBD2 scanner. 1:33The same scanner a dealership 1:35or garage can use to read codes. 1:38It'll also keep that battery charged. 1:40The other option is for parked indoors, 1:43is a battery maintainer is hooked 1:44directly to the battery and plugged into 1:46an outlet while it's sitting indoors. 1:49It'll keep that battery charged as well. 1:51And one more thing, if the battery does 1:53go dead, every ramp, lift we build has 1:56a manual backup system, you can still 1:58get the ramp out or your step out. 2:01Speaking of the ramp, lift, 2:02and power step, while the van is parked, 2:05run them through a full cycle 2:07once every about two weeks. 2:09Doors open and closed, ramp, lift all the 2:11way out and all the way down and back in. 2:14If it's a manual ramp, there's no 2:15motor or electronics to worry about. 2:17This is the system your riders 2:19depend on to get into the door. 2:21It's worth five minutes every 2:23few weeks, so it works the first 2:24time on the day you need it. 2:26Then there's the van itself. 2:28These are the same checks you 2:29would do on any vehicle that sits. 2:31Tires first. 2:32Make sure the pressures stay at 80 PSI 2:35in the rear and 65 PSI in the front. 2:38Then the fluids. 2:39Check the oil levels 2:40before using the van again. 2:42If the oil is low, you want to run the 2:44van's engine until operating temperature, 2:47turn the van off, wait five minutes, 2:49and then check your oil levels to get an 2:51accurate reading of what the oil level is. 2:54At that point, if the oil is low, add a 2:56little by little, checking each time until 2:59the oil level gets into the safe zone. 3:01If the van has been sitting 3:02for a few months or more, 3:04rust may develop in the rotors. 3:06This can cause pulsing. 3:08As rust develops on the rotors, 3:10the brakes will heat up 3:11instantly on the first braking. 3:13That can actually weld the rust onto 3:15the rotors, creating uneven surface 3:18that can then affect your brake pedal, 3:21giving that brake pulsation. 3:23Also, check your lights. 3:24The headlights, high and low beam, 3:26lights, turn signals, make sure they're 3:29all operating as intended for the 3:31safety of you and your passengers. 3:33That gets it through the time it sits, 3:35but let's talk about what you need to 3:37do before it goes back into service. 3:39Before using the van and the first 3:41rider gets on, do a quick walk around. 3:43It only takes a few minutes. 3:45Start it up, let it run. 3:46If there's any indicators on the 3:48dashboard, make sure you address that. 3:50Walk around the van, check the tire 3:52pressures, then run every door, ramp, 3:55lift or power step if equipped and 3:58the rear heat and AC the same way 3:59your riders and staff will use them. 4:01Check the wheelchair restraints and 4:03seat belts while you're back there. 4:05If all that works, you're ready to go. 4:07When using the van for the first time, 4:09or even after it sits for a while, 4:11listen for any new noises. 4:13These could indicate new 4:14issues that popped up. 4:16If something doesn't work, 4:18your first call should always 4:19be to our customer service team. 4:21We can help diagnose the 4:22problem over the phone. 4:23Before any diagnostics or repairs are 4:25started, calling us will allow us to 4:28determine if it's under the MoveMobility 4:30warranty or the OEM warranty and schedule 4:32a time to get your van in for service. 4:35So, to recap, how you can 4:36prepare your vehicle to sit 4:38for an extended period of time. 4:39Look after the battery before you park it. 4:42Run the ramp, the lifts, 4:44the doors every few weeks. 4:46Check your tires, fluids, 4:47brakes and your lights. 4:49And do a walk around before 4:50the first rider gets back on. 4:52A van that sits doesn't have 4:54to come back with problems. 4:55Do this and then be ready 4:57for the day you need it. 4:58And to help keep your van running, 5:00download our wheelchair 5:01van maintenance checklist. 5:03It's linked right below this video.