Going on holiday next week, what to do to stop car battery?

GTO656 · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:32

Hey guys, going on holiday next week for about a month, my car will idle is there any way to stop the battery from going flat. Because that is what happened last time round. Cheers

bloodiedathame · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:33

Take it out and put it on an Optimate.

andicole0 · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:34

You can get solar trickle chargers that plug into the cigarette lighter and sit on the dash. Unless it is garaged of course.
Andi.

skyripper · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:42

Drop it off at a meet and greet service that pays you to use your car while you're away?

On Holiday · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:47

wedrum · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:50

rim with petrol and leave it running ?

Maundie · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:58

wedrum said:
rim with petrol and leave it running ?

I wouldn't rim with petrol it stings

Mr Badger · 3 Oct 2018 at 14:00

WoodyUK said:
Just disconnecting it would be enough I'd have thought?

This. But don't cut the red wire - use a spanner.

grudas · 3 Oct 2018 at 14:07

disconnect it and that's it.

Terminal_Boy · 3 Oct 2018 at 14:11

Maundie said:
I wouldn't rim with petrol it stings

Tastes horrible too.

andy_mk3 · 3 Oct 2018 at 14:11

Are you driving the car to the airport and parking it up, or leaving the car at home? If taking to the airport, take a 10mm spanner and disconnect the battery after you've parked, or buy a cheap jump pack? If left at home then either do the same or a small trickle charge
What car is it? Most should be able to survive a couple of months without going totally flat.

Clarkey · 3 Oct 2018 at 14:56

Should be fine for a month unless the battery is on its last legs I would say.

Lopéz · 3 Oct 2018 at 15:43

A month? Nothing.

I left my car in Luton airport car park from mid October to mid January and it was fine.
Then I left it in Heathrow from March until mid July, and it was still fine.

Abyss · 3 Oct 2018 at 15:58

Replace the battery if it doesn't hold charge or figure out what's draining it would be my thoughts.

The wife's 8 year old Mini was left on the driveway for 6 weeks and started first time. Just had to clean the spiders out of the wing mirrors!

GTO656 · 12 Oct 2018 at 00:47

Appreciate the responses guys, well I have left it now as I'm on holiday now. It does have the rac battery fitted and has 5 warranty. And had them replace it 3 months ago because of that heat in the summer. So I hope it will be fine when I get back.

GTO656 · 6 Nov 2018 at 10:32

So came back today battery totally dead(my dads car battery is fine though), what now I have changed the breakdown which actually starts today with green flag. will they replace battery if I give them a call out?

Thanks

Scania · 6 Nov 2018 at 10:35

GTO656 said:
So came back today battery totally dead(my dads car battery is fine though), what now I have changed the breakdown which actually starts today with green flag. will they replace battery if I give them a call out?

Thanks

I’d call them and ask, when you say it starts today do you mean you’ve just taken it out today or previously?

Why didn’t you just disconnect the battery anyway?

GTO656 · 6 Nov 2018 at 10:38

Scania said:
I’d call them and ask, when you say it starts today do you mean you’ve just taken it out today or previously?

Why didn’t you just disconnect the battery anyway?

I've taken a new breakdown cover with Green Flag which starts today, not with RAC anymore. I guess im not confident enough to do it lol(car noob).

lordrobs · 6 Nov 2018 at 10:53

A breakdown company will just jump start the car for you.

It sounds like you have a current drain somewhere. Depending on how bad it is you could just leave it and disconnect the battery when you know you won't be using the car for a while.

Spartacus · 6 Nov 2018 at 15:42

lordrobs said:
A breakdown company will just jump start the car for you.

It sounds like you have a current drain somewhere. Depending on how bad it is you could just leave it and disconnect the battery when you know you won't be using the car for a while.

Agree, if the OP had a new battery fitted 3 months ago it shouldn't have gone flat so quickly.

I'd disconnect it next time you plan on leaving the car for more than a couple of weeks