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Thread ID: 139069 2015-03-06 01:26:00 What to do with cars when away for 6 weeks? lakewoodlady (103) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1395794 2015-03-06 01:26:00 Ok, need some advice here please. I will be going away for six weeks at the end of June, and son also. Our cars will be parked next to each other in same garage.
What do I have to do to make sure they both start ok when we come back? Mine is Honda crv 1997. Sons is Holden Commodore wagon 2003.
Nothing too complicated please, neither of us very good at these sorts of things.

Cheers and thanks LL
lakewoodlady (103)
1395795 2015-03-06 01:41:00 We have been away for that period twice in the last year or two and have never had a problem, as long as the battery is OK there should be no problem.:) Arnie (6624)
1395796 2015-03-06 02:04:00 You probably don't need to do anything, There's this site www.wikihow.com but I think it's a little over the top and alarmist for relatively short term storage like 6 weeks. It is possible the batteries won't last that long though

If you have a trickle charger you could hook it up to maintain the charge on the battery, I'm not sure if it's worth buying one just for that though. You could theoretically connect both batteries together with jumper leads and connect a trickle charge to one of them so it would maintain both. Make sure you hook it up right and don't short anything though.
dugimodo (138)
1395797 2015-03-06 04:28:00 Because they are pretty old disconnect the battery. There always seems to be a 1 plus milliamp drain not sure where it goes maybe where the odd socks and pens go. prefect (6291)
1395798 2015-03-06 05:26:00 You might want to also jack up the vehicles and put them on axle stands, to avoid flat spots on the tyres

Car tires

A literal flat spot can occur on car tires if the vehicle is parked without moving for some time (generally longer than a week), and the tire deformation at the bottom of the wheel becomes semi-permanent. The flat spot gradually relieves itself when the car is driven but can temporarily give similar symptoms to an unbalanced wheel. Cars being laid up for extended periods should be kept on axle stands or have the tires over-inflated to eliminate or reduce this problem.
From here
en.wikipedia.org

Also, if you disconnect the battery, you may find your radio(s) stop working when reconnected if they are factory fitted (need a code, is an anti-theft measure; you can get the codes from the dealer if necessary).
feersumendjinn (64)
1395799 2015-03-06 11:02:00 If you have a trickle charger you could hook it up to maintain the charge on the battery, I'm not sure if it's worth buying one just for that though. You could theoretically connect both batteries together with jumper leads and connect a trickle charge to one of them so it would maintain both. Make sure you hook it up right and don't short anything though.

Hooking it up is the easy part. I just don't think I'd have enough faith in the charger to leave it alone for 6 weeks.
Agent_24 (57)
1395800 2015-03-06 18:04:00 Just go and enjoy your holiday. The cars will be OK left alone. Modern cars are pretty darned good. The worst thing that can happen is a battery getting a bit low. If you are AA member, no problem. If not, maybe a small callout fee for a jump start from your regular garage.

Our school vans are left every year for 6 weeks and never have a worry. :)

Ken
kenj (9738)
1395801 2015-03-06 19:24:00 Nothing.
I parked a 1966 Rover once for 3 months.
Started just fine when I picked it up.
pctek (84)
1395802 2015-03-06 20:18:00 Many thanks for all your replies, I might just ask neighbour/friend to start them up once a week and run them for 15 minutes.
Or, I could just not worry and get AA to jump start them when we get back. I am an AA member.

LL
lakewoodlady (103)
1395803 2015-03-06 20:21:00 Would not trust leaving on a charger for that time,even the most expensive chargers can develop a fault

Probably put a least some more air in the tyres if left for 6 weeks
Lawrence (2987)
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