oowee Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 I have to leave a car in a multi storey car park for a while. Anytime from 1 month to 8 months. Its a Honda 1.6 diesel auto. How long should i be able to leave it without doing anything ie how long would i reasonably expect the battery to last with the alarm system on? If I take the battery lead off will it then be ok for 8 months or do I need to do anything else. Can i just put the lead back on and expect to start it? Would I be better leaving it connected and buying a battery jump start kit to get it going again when I get back to it? I am also in the RAC so I could just leave it and get them to jump start if it's all gone flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 Unless the multi storey car park is under 24hr supervision i wouldn't leave my car there a good chance it will get nicked or bits stolen off it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 (edited) 8 minutes ago, oowee said: I have to leave a car in a multi storey car park for a while. Anytime from 1 month to 8 months. Its a Honda 1.6 diesel auto. How long should i be able to leave it without doing anything ie how long would i reasonably expect the battery to last with the alarm system on? If I take the battery lead off will it then be ok for 8 months or do I need to do anything else. Can i just put the lead back on and expect to start it? Would I be better leaving it connected and buying a battery jump start kit to get it going again when I get back to it? I am also in the RAC so I could just leave it and get them to jump start if it's all gone flat. https://www.amazon.co.uk/HYDRA-Fuelplus-Biocide-Treats-Additive/dp/B0747CRC3W/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2VUII5OK4PIFA&keywords=diesel%2Bbiocide%2Bfuel%2Btreatment&qid=1673881522&s=automotive&sprefix=Diesel%2Bbiocide%2Cautomotive%2C99&sr=1-5&th=1 Its worth treating your fuel tank with a biocide to stop the diesel getting ruined. I once had to have a very expensive tow in, fuel tank drain and clean out on a diesel vehicle not being used for a while. Boat owners with diesel motors will be familiar with this on Winter layups. Edited January 16, 2023 by loriusgarrulus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted January 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 Now thats a good idea @loriusgarrulusI have it for my boat tank (red diesel) but never thought of it for the car (white diesel). I also fill the boat tank over winter to reduce condensation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 When my lad went to the gulf war, he was in the marines, he left his deisel golf on my drive for over 4 months. When he came back it started first time as though he'd just been to the shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 My old Defender (no electronics) sits for months (garaged) and goes instantly .......... provided the battery is good. Once the battery is a few years old, some are fine, others don't stay up. My more modern BMW and Mercedes (both around 2005 models) have various bits of electronics (alarms, clocks, listening/monitoring for key fob and go flat after a time (been marginal after a month, but not a new battery). They would last quite a while in the summer months, but less if the "start" has to be in winter. My guess (and it is only that) is that you would be OK for 2-3 months, but I rather doubt 8 months would work. Car type batteries are not designed to have low self discharge and there will be some (minor) drain from the car if you leave it connected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 We used to leave loads of cars parked in camp when we went on 6 month tours, most would start up straight away on return,usually the older cars didn't because their batteries were older but a jump start pack usually started them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandspider Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 If you can park on the edge of the car park, south facing, how about a solar powered battery top up / conditioner thing (inside the windscreen, wired to the battery or cigarette lighter socket) to keep it healthy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 If your car doesn’t start after 6/8 months it is because your battery is knackered. I left a 10 year old Peugeot 306 diesel in an asbestos garage for 2 years and it started instantly. This was on it’s original battery from new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 Also what about the brakes sticking on , 8 months is a long time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garygreengrass Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 Just leave it in gear and don`t put the hand brake on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 (edited) Nothing technical to offer but are there any terms / caveats etc in your motor insurance policy which suggest that it would be prudent for you to notify your insurers of any significant changes to your stated normal overnight storage arrangements? As an example, if your car suffered damage they could try and refuse a claim on the grounds that the insured risk was generally overnight parked in a gated compound not 6 months in a public car park! Just a thought. 18 hours ago, oowee said: I have to leave a car in a multi storey car park for a while. Anytime from 1 month to 8 months. Edited January 17, 2023 by Bobba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted January 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 Thanks for the input. Some food for thought there. I think I will renew the battery as a starter for ten to make sure its as good as possible. Put additive in the fuel I have some already. I will also sp[eak to the insurer and see what they say. I may have to drive the car home and go down on the train leaving the car on my home carpark. The car park belongs to the marina is pretty secure but my insurer may have a different view Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macca2017 Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 I used to leave my car parked in France for up to 6 months, I used to disconnect the battery and have a spare one in the boot. Never leave the hand break on. It was an old Zafira never had a problem starting it, never needed the spare battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 (edited) I have a friend who leaves his BMW in his garage for up to 6 months at a time. I go and drive the vehicle to the airport to collect him. The car is now 5 years old and still the original battery. Last time I went for the vehicle, it just about started. After a good run, everything went back to normal. There are too many electrical gizmos to disconnect the battery. I borrow a jump start battery pack, just in case ! That may be a better option if at all possible ? Edited January 17, 2023 by Westley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 On 16/01/2023 at 15:02, oowee said: I have to leave a car in a multi storey car park for a while. Anytime from 1 month to 8 months. Its a Honda 1.6 diesel auto. How long should i be able to leave it without doing anything ie how long would i reasonably expect the battery to last with the alarm system on? If I take the battery lead off will it then be ok for 8 months or do I need to do anything else. Can i just put the lead back on and expect to start it? Would I be better leaving it connected and buying a battery jump start kit to get it going again when I get back to it? I am also in the RAC so I could just leave it and get them to jump start if it's all gone flat. Hmm! I went to Nigeria in 2015 for two weeks. Because of the Presidential Elections and courts being closed I was there an extra two weeks. So away for four weeks and a couple of days. This in UK late Spring. Battery was flat in my Mazda 2 on my return. So I'd say two or three weeks in a car with a battery of average age and average capcity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted January 18, 2023 Report Share Posted January 18, 2023 18 hours ago, enfieldspares said: Hmm! I went to Nigeria in 2015 for two weeks. Because of the Presidential Elections and courts being closed I was there an extra two weeks. So away for four weeks and a couple of days. This in UK late Spring. Battery was flat in my Mazda 2 on my return. So I'd say two or three weeks in a car with a battery of average age and average capcity. Your battery was worn out! How come I could start a high compression diesel engined Peugeot after 2 years on it’s original 10 year old battery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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