Tips for Car/Battery Maintenance while away on vacation

Jan 15th, 2018 4:26 pm

#1

next10 [OP]: Newbie; Mar 1, 2017; 7 posts; 1 upvote

Jan 15th, 2018 4:26 pm

Tips for Car/Battery Maintenance while away on vacation

Hey Folks! We will be gone for three weeks while our vehicles(2017 Subaru Impreza and 2007 Honda Civic) sit outside on drive way in frigid cold of Ontario winter. I have had a look at Tickle charger or battery tender, but none of them seems weather proof. I have someone coming up and cleaning driveway and vehicles while we are away but no one reliable to move the vehicles around. So I was just wondering what options do I have in the situation. I'm pretty sure that Civic battery would be dead when we return.
Thanks for your inputs.

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Jan 15th, 2018 4:42 pm

#2

peteryorkuca: Deal Fanatic; Jul 26, 2007; 6296 posts; 3798 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 15th, 2018 4:42 pm

Disconnect the batteries.

Jan 15th, 2018 4:46 pm

#3

ZipSpeed: Deal Addict; Nov 13, 2007; 3185 posts; 4561 upvotes; Calgary

Jan 15th, 2018 4:46 pm

Battery Tender that is waterproof and can be used outdoors: https://www.amazon.ca/Battery-Tender-Su ... B000CITKCE

Jan 15th, 2018 4:51 pm

#4

cmackenzie93: Newbie; Aug 5, 2015; 60 posts; 24 upvotes; Toronto, ON

Jan 15th, 2018 4:51 pm

The battery in the Impreza should be fine, when was the battery on the civic replaced? I would recommend instead of a trickle charger get a portable booster pack. Noco has some decent ones and the bonus is that once they are fully charged you can have them in your glove box incase your car dies in a parking lot etc.

+1

Jan 15th, 2018 4:52 pm

#5

macnut: Deal Fanatic; Oct 26, 2008; 6637 posts; 2366 upvotes; BC

Jan 15th, 2018 4:52 pm

Thoughts:
- a healthy battery with a full charge before you leave should easily withstand 3 weeks in frigid temps.

- trickle chargers/tenders/maintainers designed to be optionally mounted in the engine bay are perfectly weatherproof

- the driveway cleaner person starting the two cars up periodically would result in a net drain unless cars were taken for at least a 20 minute drive

+1

Jan 15th, 2018 6:13 pm

#6

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 19533 posts; 12600 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Jan 15th, 2018 6:13 pm

Also, perform some basic maintenance on the battery before you go - ie. have them tested, check and clean the terminals, check the fluid levels... charging the batteries full before leaving is also a great idea.

Jan 15th, 2018 6:33 pm

#7

bembol: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 19140 posts; 2860 upvotes; Woodbridge

Jan 15th, 2018 6:33 pm

I'm also going away for three weeks. My Murano will be driven so it's not an issue but my CivicX will stay put.

This will be the last time I take more than a week so don't exactly want to spend money.

What the worst cawe, I come home to a dead battery?

"I'll put up color bars before I'll put you in front of our cameras."

- MacKenzie
THE NEWSROOM (HBO)

Jan 15th, 2018 6:38 pm

#8

Swerny: Deal Expert; Oct 5, 2008; 15883 posts; 10580 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 15th, 2018 6:38 pm

boost it if it's dead when you get home.

Jan 15th, 2018 6:38 pm

#9

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 19533 posts; 12600 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Jan 15th, 2018 6:38 pm

bembol wrote: ↑ I'm also going away for three weeks. My Murano will be driven so it's not an issue but my CivicX will stay put.

This will be the last time I take more than a week so don't exactly want to spend money.

What the worst cawe, I come home to a dead battery?

Yes. But if you come home to a dead battery, won't you have to spend money on it anyways?

Jan 15th, 2018 6:40 pm

#10

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 19533 posts; 12600 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Jan 15th, 2018 6:40 pm

Swerny wrote: ↑ boost it if it's dead when you get home.

Draining a car battery dead isn't good for the car battery - typically means that you have reduced the capacity of the battery. So, it's better to take precautions to reduce that chance.

Jan 15th, 2018 6:42 pm

#11

mrweather: Deal Fanatic; Aug 29, 2011; 7650 posts; 4567 upvotes; Mississauga

Jan 15th, 2018 6:42 pm

Most car owner's manuals say if you're going to let the car sit for more than a week or so to pull the negative cable off the battery.

And why are OP's cars sitting in the driveway? No garage? Or garage too full of junk?

Jan 15th, 2018 7:38 pm

#12

poleman: Deal Addict; Nov 10, 2015; 2243 posts; 860 upvotes; Monte Creek, BC

Jan 15th, 2018 7:38 pm

I have one car parked all winter with a Battery Tender Jr. hooked up to it. Been doing it for several years and works like it's supposed to.

No political content in signatures (Who did I offend?)

Jan 16th, 2018 9:33 am

#13

dantey: Deal Addict; Jul 14, 2002; 2597 posts; 1215 upvotes

Jan 16th, 2018 9:33 am

Have a Kirkland battery purchased in mid 2013. Left it for a month (Dec - Jan 2018). Thought it would not start, but it did.
The battery was probably close to a full charge, which is what will help the most to prevent freezing.