Leaving the battery disconnected

[vmq6695]

I'll be going overseas for 3 months.

I'd like to leave the battery of my 2.0 TDI connected, with a smart charger trickling power in to keep the battery in top condition. But my current garage doesn't have a power socket.

Would disconnecting the battery, leaving the vehicle (and the ECU) without power for 3 months, cause any problems? Has anyone done that before?

Cheers

V

[h100vw]

Take the battery out if you are leaving the car un-attended. I would have no concerns doing this if it were my car.

Gavin

[scotty1991]

Just leave it connected, 90 days isnt that long

[Transporter]

You probably will not start after 90 days.
I would buy one of these.

http://www.projecta.com.au/catalogue/cid/16/asset_id/34/

It could be cheaper that replacement battery if it dies, esepecially if the battery is couple or more years old.

[CatonaPC©]

Just leave it connected, 90 days isnt that long

Yes, leave it connected. I have a car in Europe that stays idle for 7 months at a time. It starts just fine.

[bazzle]

Take the battery out if you are leaving the car un-attended. I would have no concerns doing this if it were my car.

Gavin

X2 if your worried.

Best to have NO voltage than Low voltage, esp if you are not sure of ind cell cond in batt.

Bazzle

[vmq6695]

You probably will not start after 90 days.
I would buy one of these.

http://www.projecta.com.au/catalogue/cid/16/asset_id/34/

It could be cheaper that replacement battery if it dies, esepecially if the battery is couple or more years old.

Looks like a useful device, but:

1. In my case, the car park is underground (ie without sun and I'm not sure how bright the lights are); and

2. I thought the cigarette lighter outlets were cut when the key is out - wouldn't that mean that 12VDC fed into the cigarette lighter socket would go nowhere??

Cheers

[gregozedobe]

Take the battery out if you are leaving the car un-attended. I would have no concerns doing this if it were my car.

x3

It is definitely the safest option. And that way you can make sure the battery gets charged up while you were away. Even if they aren't connected to anything batteries eventually go flat anyway.

Just make sure you can get into the car to replace the battery when you get back - maybe leave a rag on the bonnet latch to stop it closing properly?

[Mr X]

I spent nearly 8 weeks away in July / August.

When I came back it started OK (MY08 GT Sport TDI 18mth old)

My wifes V6 accord was a different story

Murray

[Transporter]

Looks like a useful device, but:

1. In my case, the car park is underground (ie without sun and I'm not sure how bright the lights are); and

2. I thought the cigarette lighter outlets were cut when the key is out - wouldn't that mean that 12VDC fed into the cigarette lighter socket would go nowhere??

Cheers

Just connect solar panel charger to the battery terminals and use extended lead to place the solar panel where sun will reach it.

It depends what type of battery you have. Normal lead acid battery will discharge at the rate of 1% capacity per day and to start in most weather conditions in OZ I would say that you need 40-50% capacity. Unless you re-charge battery out of the car to 100% capacity than your alternator is charging always to 80% capacity. So to me without seeing your battery 90 days could mean battery will have only 8% capacity remaining. It could just recover when recharged again, but only if the battery is in good condition.

If it's 3 or 4 years old battery, than do nothing and just get a new battery when you get back.

Some batteries like AGM type are made a bit differently and they can retain enough charge to start even after 12 months (I doubt that the battery in Golf5 is AGM type - ours look normal lead acid type).