Friend cant drive for min 6 weeks - do we need to do anything with car?

LE3

Friend hasn't been able to drive for 4 weeks now due to broken arm, and it looks like it may be a few more yet - her car is in her garage so it's safe but just wondering if we should start the engine in the meantime to prevent problems (with garage door open to avoid CO poisoning obviously!) - assume no chance of rebate of road tax for time off road?!

AndyPK

Best to disconnect battery.

Will stop the hassle of it being flat and having to charge it when u do want to use it.

AndyPK

Oh 4 weeks already, maybe a little late for that.

redux

Disconnecting the battery wouldn't help, as they self-discharge anyway.

Either run it for a while or put a charger on it a couple of times

AndyPK

Disconnecting the battery works fine. Although a little late in this case.

SteveJW

I would advise chocking the wheels and leaving the handbrake off

Disconnecting the battery may be more trouble than its worth, lost radio codes etc

Starting the engine and running for a while may keep the battery topped up, but doubt the engine will get up to temperature so may do more harm than good.

We operate a fleet of vehicles for school transport, their left all holidays without any attention, 99% of them start up fine after six weeks, the ones that don't the batteries are usually a few years old and would have failed in the first cold spell


Steve

GAZ237

AndyPK wrote: »

Best to disconnect battery.

Will stop the hassle of it being flat and having to charge it when u do want to use it.

Certainly do NOT disconnect the battery. These days with cars being run by computers, they have often chuck up warning lights when the battery is reconnected. Which will cost money to be put out.

Just start it once a week and pull it out of the garage. Leave it running for 10 mins and then put it away for another week.

reeac

LE3 wrote: »

Friend hasn't been able to drive for 4 weeks now due to broken arm, and it looks like it may be a few more yet - her car is in her garage so it's safe but just wondering if we should start the engine in the meantime to prevent problems (with garage door open to avoid CO poisoning obviously!) - assume no chance of rebate of road tax for time off road?!

I have a compact tractor which can sit for at least 3 months and still start easily when needed. Have never needed to charge the battery from an external source. Don't know the age of the battery but I've had the [1983 vintage] tractor over 3 years having bought it on eBay.

facade

Best is to get a battery trickle charger (a few pounds in B&M Aldi etc.) and charge the battery every week or 2 weeks, running the engine for a few minutes simply accelerates engine wear, and makes the exhaust go rusty.

As said already, put a brick behind the wheel and take the handbrake off to stop the shoes sticking to the drums.

GwylimT

Unless its an older car it should be okay especially as its warm at the minute, don't disconnect the battery as they may find they have to pay to get the computers sorted. If you are worried brick the wheels, hand brake off and let the engine run for 20 minutes each week, alternatively if you have insurance that would cover you take it for a run out every week.