battery life standing no usage
- Thread starter pc759
- Start date
Poor_John
Member
Hi PC759,
Three times this year I have not used my car for between one to two weeks, and three times I have had a flat battery. 1st time I thought it was just the combination of seven year old battery and tens days of sub zero temperatures (I think the owner's manual suggests changing batteries after five years). Second and third time was with a brand new battery and warmer weather.
More recently the car stood for four days without a problem, though this time I waited for the interior light to dim, before locking with the remote key fob. I don't know if waiting for the light to dim made the difference???
Getting into the car with a flat battery requires some gymnastics as only the driver's door can be opened and you have to climb over the front seats to pull the toggle to release the tail gate. My Wife is getting quite expert at this
If you disconnect the battery I presume you will have the climbing to do to get to your battery.
Each time my car was started by using jump leads. Each time the alarm went off as soon as the good battery was attached. When the engine was started all sorts of warning lights came on and there was no power steering. After a 30 minute drive, the battery was sufficiently charged up to start the car again and this time there were no warning lights and the power steering returned to normal.
You hopefully won't have the same experience, but now you know what you could be in for if you do!
John.
Three times this year I have not used my car for between one to two weeks, and three times I have had a flat battery. 1st time I thought it was just the combination of seven year old battery and tens days of sub zero temperatures (I think the owner's manual suggests changing batteries after five years). Second and third time was with a brand new battery and warmer weather.
More recently the car stood for four days without a problem, though this time I waited for the interior light to dim, before locking with the remote key fob. I don't know if waiting for the light to dim made the difference???
Getting into the car with a flat battery requires some gymnastics as only the driver's door can be opened and you have to climb over the front seats to pull the toggle to release the tail gate. My Wife is getting quite expert at this
If you disconnect the battery I presume you will have the climbing to do to get to your battery.
Each time my car was started by using jump leads. Each time the alarm went off as soon as the good battery was attached. When the engine was started all sorts of warning lights came on and there was no power steering. After a 30 minute drive, the battery was sufficiently charged up to start the car again and this time there were no warning lights and the power steering returned to normal.
You hopefully won't have the same experience, but now you know what you could be in for if you do!
John.
Hi Paul
If you decide to leave the car and there is a risk of a flat battery then make sure the tailgate emergency release actually works. It's been known for the pull cord to have broken or become detatched from the lock mechanism.
As a last resort it should be possible to fold down the rear seats and lift the false floor from inside the car for access to the battery if all else fails.
Cheers Spike
If you decide to leave the car and there is a risk of a flat battery then make sure the tailgate emergency release actually works. It's been known for the pull cord to have broken or become detatched from the lock mechanism.
As a last resort it should be possible to fold down the rear seats and lift the false floor from inside the car for access to the battery if all else fails.
Cheers Spike
Skipton01
Admin Team
Possibly invest in a solar trickle charger:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98358&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=solar battery&doy=23m7
Or, why not just attach a mains powered trickle charger into the boot and run a mains lead to it in such a way ar there is only cable accessible (i.e. the plug is in the garage and the socket is in the boot). If you use a thin-ish cable, you will be able to shut the tailgate, or even run it in through the back door - I've done this with Angies Yaris before.
Costco do an excellent trickle charger - my bike is hooked up constantly.
Cheers,
Mike
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98358&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=solar battery&doy=23m7
Or, why not just attach a mains powered trickle charger into the boot and run a mains lead to it in such a way ar there is only cable accessible (i.e. the plug is in the garage and the socket is in the boot). If you use a thin-ish cable, you will be able to shut the tailgate, or even run it in through the back door - I've done this with Angies Yaris before.
Costco do an excellent trickle charger - my bike is hooked up constantly.
Cheers,
Mike
chubbybrown
Member
if its in your garage would you still lock and alarm it?
Different world up here
Different world up here
bye_bye_alfa
Member
your battery should be fine
mine was left 5 weeks, then 10 min run, then another month, 10 min run then another 5 weeks!
everytime it started 1st time.
same battery from new, and nearly 150,000 on the clock.
bba
all this trickle charge business I think is a con!
I've a motorhome an I don't trickle this either, and after 5-6 weeks the battery has lost b****r all!
mine was left 5 weeks, then 10 min run, then another month, 10 min run then another 5 weeks!
everytime it started 1st time.
same battery from new, and nearly 150,000 on the clock.
bba
all this trickle charge business I think is a con!
I've a motorhome an I don't trickle this either, and after 5-6 weeks the battery has lost b****r all!
