Car Battery off or on

[3offTheTee]

We are going away for a couple of months from end of November and keep the car in the garage. The last time the battery was flat.

Is it preferable toremove the connection from the battery. If this happens is there less chance of the battery going flat?

 

[brendy]

I would either disconnect it or else fit a trickle charger.

 

[3offTheTee]

Cheers Brendy

 

[bladeplayer]

Just make sure you have your radio code for when you get back .. id go with disconnecting aswell, mind you battery could still go flat anyway so dont stress if you reconnect & it doesnt start , as Brendy said trickle charge is best way to go if you have access to one , most dont ... disconnect it , worst you will face is a jump start when you get back , then take it for a drive , with lights , radio , heater etc off & itl recharge fully in a short drive

 

[CMAC]

disconnect then trickle charge when your back rather than leave something plugged in for 2 months!

 

[stevie_r]

makes no difference to be honest, connected or disconnected it will discharge while you are away, bit of vaseline on the terminals wont go amiss

 

[brendy]

disconnect then trickle charge when your back rather than leave something plugged in for 2 months!

Thats the whole point of trickle chargers though, it provides enough charge to keep the battery fresh and ancillaries running (alarm, clock, radio memory etc). You can buy solar versions so you aren't actually using any household leccy too.

 

[USER1999]

I would still expect my car to start after a couple of months.

 

[Tommo21]

For years I’ve been using car batteries at my work. I use them for non stop life testing stair lifts with a charger connected. I can leave batteries, off charge, go back and they still measure the same voltage after a few weeks. I have one old car battery that’s been doing nothing for around 9 months and it’s only lost 1 volt if that.

If you have doubt there’s a few things to do.
Get the battery checked by a good auto electrician.
If it’s good and it’s loosing voltage, get the car checked.
If its dud, get a new battery.....smart eh.
If the battery is good, disconnect and charge it before you go away, then connect when you come back……..but why is it loosing voltage.
If you have suspicions about the health of the battery, disconnect it before you go, check the voltage, charge it, check the voltage again. When you come back and if the voltage has dropped back by a fair amount then get a new one. A small volt (multimeter) meter only costs a few bob and it's good for checking your golf trolly battery as well.

When you come back, if you can heat the garage overnight before you start the engine it will spin much easier...........it will help if the battery is fooked.

Dont leave the battery on charge for too long........if it's fooked, or has a dud cell, then it could crack open or everheat.

 

[brendy]

The battery should be fine if left disconnected, alarm, sensors, clock, dash etc will sip away at the juice if left connected though.

Something like this..
http://www.expertverdict.com/Solar-Trickle-Charger/Product1_20051_-1_70134_11051

 

[Naybrains]

Got some advisor's in your area I can send them round to check your cars ok - now I know your away for a couple of months