Car Storage

[Frenchie]

So of to South America for a month holiday.Subaru will be safely locked up in the garage, but not sureif the best policy is to disconnect the battery and will I have to reinstall anything on the car. What do people think.

[Rdlangy1]

Taking battery off would be my advise - not sure if anything will be lost besides radio code though...

[BIG"E"]

Drop it off round at mine with the keys and I could ensure its is all fine..

[Anger]

Just take the negative off, all I do on the Hawk as it hasn't been used over the winter

[Frenchie]

Thanks Ryan and Anger, will disconnect negative terminal. Thanks also Ian for your kind offer, but think it will be safer in my garage!!!

[SpecB]

Other option is to disconnect but put the battery on a battery conditioner just to keep it 100% if it's off the car a cheap one should do the job.

[Ferd]

I kept my old 2003 WRX in storage for about 9 months one year as I was back in the UK, and simply disconnected the battery completely. When I came back the only things I had to do was re-program the stereo, and also the electric windows.

Now with the 2016 STI I'd expect a lot more to need to be re-set, but really have no clue. I just looked through the US manual and it mentions the windows needing to be initialised after a battery disconnect, so that's definitely still a thing. Here's an interesting snippet:

It may be difficult to start the engine when the battery has been disconnected and reconnected (for maintenance or other purposes). This difficulty is caused by the electronically controlled throttle’s self-diagnosis function. To overcome it, keep the ignition switch in the “ON” position for approximately 10 seconds before starting the engine.

Also, don't forget to test your physical key so you know you can get into it - I'm assuming you know where it is and that you'll not be leaving the car unlocked during your time away.

I suppose the ideal way would be to use a battery conditioner that works when the battery is still on the car, that way there's zero loss - they're probably quite expensive for a good one. As it's only a month you could also just leave it connected and gamble it will still be ok (and have a charger on-hand in case it isn't), just make sure to take it on a long run to give the battery a good charge, then park it up.

Oh, and have a good and safe trip.

[Steve_PPP]

I'd get yourself a battery conditioner. The CTEK ones are good and just plug it in and forget. I bought the CTEK MXS 5.0 and I'm impressed - before when the battery was low the car ran a bit lumpy when started, guess the alternator was working flat out. Now its much smoother... so its not just about being able to crank the engine.

Wouldn't leave the car as it is for a month at this time of year, the cold won't help the battery life. Newage scoobs have been known to trigger the alarm when the battery drops too low too... no idea about the newer ones but not worth risking it if you're in South America

[Frenchie]

Thanks everyone, CTEK it is.

[BIG"E"]

Safest option is to disconnect the battery..

[Rdlangy1]

+1 for battery maintainer... my car is hooked up to one everyone I put it back in garage.

Longest has been 3 months and it fired up no problem

[555_Si]

Another one here for ctek 5.0 i have the fly lead that you leave permanently on the battery, when i am not using the car for a few days i just plug in the ctek and all is good.

[Bigtel]

Mines always plugged into a C-Tek, I rewired the cig socket to a permanent live and just plug it in when I park up in the garage.

[Steve_PPP]

Originally Posted by 555_Si

Another one here for ctek 5.0 i have the fly lead that you leave permanently on the battery, when i am not using the car for a few days i just plug in the ctek and all is good.

Yep, same. So easy to use and just run the cable through the scuttle panel by wipers so bonnet shuts and car alarms ok. Better than the ones with the crocodile clips.

[Red Baron]

Originally Posted by Steve_PPP

Yep, same. So easy to use and just run the cable through the scuttle panel by wipers so bonnet shuts and car alarms ok. Better than the ones with the crocodile clips.

Ditto

[555_Si]

I run mine through the gap between lights and wing on the classic on two ctek extensions as unit is mounted on wall in garage. Have managed to get 3 or 4 dead batteries back working as well, going to get another one so i can do 2 cars at a time.

[Frenchie]

Does the fly lead come with it or is it something I need to order as a extra?

[Red Baron]

I've got the cheaper XS0.8 and it came with both sets of leads, Croc clips for off car charging and a set of leads for hard wiring into the car.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00...BLL&ref=plSrch

Just do a search for ctek on amazon and you can find chargers, spare cables and extension cables.

[555_Si]

Yeah i think mine came with a flylead but i have purchased more, currently on the scoob i have one that has staus lights on it so you know when battery is getting low.

[Frenchie]

Great,thanks for all the info Guys.

[Frenchie]

So purchased a CTEC,came with fly leads which I have fitted to the battery. Only problem is I can't see a way to get the mains lead,with the joining plug, through so I can shut the bonnet.As the bonnet is alarmed I can't set the alarm with it open.

[Steve_PPP]

The fly lead that you fix to the battery has a small quick release connector? Just separate it there, rest the charger on the windscreen and with the bonnet up feed the cable under it into the engine bay and connect.... bonnet just shuts over the cable easily - at least on the classics and newage as there is a rubber seal all the way along. Is it not the same on yours?

[Red Baron]

If there's no other way in that allows you to shut the bonnet, could you feed it through the scoop?

[Frenchie]

That should work Steve,if not through the scoop will work for sure.Thanks again.

[tbtstt]

I often disconnect the negative on the car when I know I'm not going to use it for a few weeks.

The radio loses its presets (but then I rarely have it on anyway!) and the rev "beep" has to be set again.

[Bigtel]

This is how real boys do it

[Steve_PPP]

Nice, trunking installed in your garage? And rubber floor tiles!

Bit better than my leaky concrete and asbestos shack

[tbtstt]

I can match the painted walls, but I haven't got an electrical supply so no trunking required!

[Bigtel]

Plastic Dynotiles on the floor, white ones were a bit of a mistake though as a bugger to keep clean

[Frenchie]

Car washed and in garage and plugged into the CTEK. As you said Steve ,connected up with bonnet open and then just closed bonnet.