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Thread ID: 72361 2006-09-10 05:03:00 if i don't start my car for 6 days..... lance4k (4644) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
483659 2006-09-10 05:03:00 i'm going on holiday for 6 days and no-one will be around to start my car up. if i don't start up my car for 6 days, will my car battery go flat? lance4k (4644)
483660 2006-09-10 05:18:00 only if its stuffed. tweak'e (69)
483661 2006-09-10 05:26:00 Most modern cars tolerate about 6 weeks, where on-board computers have a steady small drain. Cars without the computer smarts can tolerate months.

Where the battery is OK as above....
godfather (25)
483662 2006-09-10 06:13:00 It took 3 months of no use before my truck had to be jump started.

6 days should be fine on any vehicle unless the battery is far far too small and/or is stuffed.
personthingy (1670)
483663 2006-09-10 06:29:00 Just a note: the newer "non-servicable" lead/calcium (www.engineersedge.com) types do not recover well from being discharged very far. If they get too low, they won't be trustworthy after that.

I use a small solar-powered charger that is available from Harbor Freight (www.harborfreight.com/) (US) to keep the top on my batteries when I alternate vehicles every few months...that way the battery is always being trickle charged and ready to go. The charger is on the top of this page (http:) or more details here (www.harborfreight.com).


Exceptions to this are the "deep-cycle (www.dcbattery.com)" types that are used in boats and RV's. These can be deeply discharged, and if not left in that condition too long..for more than a day or so, they will recover to full with little or no damage.

........and never allow an alternator to charge a really low-charged battery, no matter what type. This might happen if you jump start a car with cables from one to the other. This is OK in an emergency, but alternators do not like charging very hard...they like to rather replace what is used in starting the engine and maybe a little more...but asking to do too much is a death-knell.
SurferJoe46 (51)
483664 2006-09-10 08:05:00 It should be fine, some people only use car's in the weekened. Nomad (952)
483665 2006-09-10 08:10:00 I just had this problem with my car. I was away for 3 months. The battery was totally dead. Couldn't even get the car going by doing a roll start down the driveway.
Called the AA, who arrived in quick time, and jump started it no problems. Then I drove it for about 15 mins to town and it has been fine since.
The battery is quite new, only about 6-8 months old.
CYaBro (73)
483666 2006-09-10 08:22:00 I measured a BMW 3-series drain when I got it a few years ago, it was 35 mA.
As it would sit for a month without use it was noticeable...

On a basic 47AH battery, that is 56 days to total discharge. Another recent car was a Honda Accord, similar result.
godfather (25)
483667 2006-09-10 08:31:00 I use a small solar-powered charger that is available from Harbor Freight ( . harborfreight . com/) (US) to keep the top on my batteries when I alternate vehicles every few months . . . that way the battery is always being trickle charged and ready to go . The charger is on the top of this page (http://da . harborfreight . com/cpisearch/web/search . do?keyword=charger" target="_blank">www . harborfreight . com/) (US) to keep the top on my batteries when I alternate vehicles every few months . . . that way the battery is always being trickle charged and ready to go . The charger is on the top of this page (http:) or more details here ( . harborfreight . com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem . taf?Itemnumber=44768" target="_blank">www . harborfreight . com) .




Well I just purchased a similar item here for $NZ30 . 00 on special normally $NZ50 . 00 (ouch!) .
dolby digital (5073)
483668 2006-09-10 09:14:00 i got onee of those soler cells a little while ago. comes in handy for the spare vechile. tho a fully regulated charger is better as it stops overcharging. tweak'e (69)
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