Winter storage, battery out ?

[Kiwi]

I may have to lay up my 2000 406 HDi over Feb/Mar and the garage will for sure get below freezing. I was going to remove the battery but am wondering if will this cause some problem with the ECU memory or other electronic gizmo ? Thanks.

[steve_earwig]

Unless you have an after market stereo for which you don't have the code I can't see any problem. There is a procedure for disconnecting/reconnecting the battery here viewtopic.php?f=10&t=13431&p=122217&hil ... le#p122217 which is probably worth reading, but you're probably not going to want to leave the window open for 2 months

[jasper5]

I wouldn't remove the battery.

I would keep the car started every few days and run it for 20 minutes or so.

Leave the handbrake off and work it a few times when you are in the car.

[Welly]

Why not use an electronic trickle-charger and keep it 'on charge'. Sometimes Aldi or Lidl stores get them in and they can be pretty cheap (cheaper than a borked battery anyway).

Some say that the tyres can develop flat-spots if sat for long periods but if you think about all the new cars that sit around on airfields for months on end they don't get ruined tyres do they? maybe you could increase the tyre pressure for storage? might be worth researching if this would help at all?

[Kiwi]

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately the garage doesn't have access to electricity, and if it happens, l will not be around to do start up.

Although the way it started in -2C recently after sitting outside for three days makes me think it will need a new battery anyway and it's only 3 years old !

I could keep the old one in it, that BSI is worrying !

[trufflehunt]

I recently bought one of those Lidl chargers.
I also have a spare battery that sits in my kitchen.
For quite a while now, once a month I'd put the battery on charge (with my old charger).
It never seemed to need much, if any, charge.

I put it on the new charger the other day, With the LED display it gives
a much more informative view of what's happening.
After about 30 secs on charge, the display indicated that the battery was fully charged.

If your battery is reasonably healthy, I don't think you have much to worry
about if your car is out of use for a couple of months.

Or if your battery isn't brilliant....
Leave it in the car anyway. When you return, and find it's flat.., replace it then. I've had excellent
batteries from breakers for £10, £15 absolute max.
If, however, it starts OK, then it's probably at least good enough to get you through to next autumn.

[Kiwi]

I recently bought one of those Lidl chargers.
I also have a spare battery that sits in my kitchen.
For quite a while now, once a month I'd put the battery on charge (with my old charger).
It never seemed to need much, if any, charge.

I put it on the new charger the other day, With the LED display it gives
a much more informative view of what's happening.
After about 30 secs on charge, the display indicated that the battery was fully charged.

If your battery is reasonably healthy, I don't think you have much to worry
about if your car is out of use for a couple of months.

Or if your battery isn't brilliant....
Leave it in the car anyway. When you return, and find it's flat.., replace it then. I've had excellent
batteries from breakers for £10, £15 absolute max.
If, however, it starts OK, then it's probably at least good enough to get you through to next autumn.

I like your idea of a spare battery and getting a charger, cheap and effective , thanks.

[jasper5]

A word of warning....I have a customer who went to Pakistan on holiday for 6 weeks, he came back to find a flat battery in his Citroen C8, unfortunately the immobiliser is locked and the car won't start.
I suggest you keep the car's electrical system fully operational!

[Kiwi]

Thanks jasper, I'm convinced. The possible scenarios are frightening !!

Although my pile is a 2000 model with basic level of equipment ( no idea if it has BSI or DIAG ) , I don't need the risk.