I hate snow, but id hate it even more if i had to drive my car in the snow, so my Grand Prix is the driver now, and the TA is being stored till Spring.

Anyways my question is this. Do i need to unplug my battery?

So u know, im storing the car, but its not gonna sit there months doing nothing. I mean im gonna start the car like every 2 weeks and let it run to operating temps. And maybe every month if i find a nice day, where the roads are dry, i'll take it around the block and get it running so it doesnt sit there and rust u know.

This is my first year im personally storing a car for myself, so this is new to me. But basically at all, whats then the max length of time a battery can stay charged without running the engine?

Thanks

 

My 1000th post, so I will make it a helpfull one... GTA. YOu should actually take the battery right out of the car, even more so if you are storing the car outside. Cold temps will kill the battery just sitting. Put it in your garage or basement and do not put it on the floor (cement) put it on a shelf or a bench. If the car is going to sit along period of time without moving, I would also put it up on 4 jackstands. One under both lower control arms and one on either side of the rear axle. This will keep your tires from getting weather cracks and flat spots.

HTH

Keiran

 

first of all that is one Sharp lookin car!

i think if you are going to start the car once every couple of weeks the battery will be fine... its if the battery has nothing happening to it for a long period of time in the cold thats when it will kill the battery but if it were me i would take the battery out and keep it in the house anyways

 

I forgot to mention thats its being covered and stored in our garage, still take the battery out despite this and starting the car every couple weeks?

 

If your garage is attached to the house or has it's own heat then don't worry about it. Other then that you should be fine. I would still put it up on stands if it isn't going to be moved around often.

 

I wouldn't..that would just add stress to the unibody/roof...I wouldn't want to come back to a bent car in the Spring...

I just make sure mine is immaculately clean, full tank of gas, disconnected battery, and covered before I lock it up in the garage for the winter...I've been doing this for the past 4 years, and never had a problem with the tires or anything else...

Oh yeah, mine has 20,600 on it

EDIT: I forgot to mention, great looking GTA

 

Ok thanks guys. Ya the garage is attached.

Its gonna be kinda tricky to put jack stands on all four sides, cause i got mine up almost againt the wall one side. Its a 2 car garage.

Theres no way im gonna be able to fit a jack on the passanger side to lift the car and put the stands there, its to tight of a space.

Isnt there any way around this, like for example, i left my grand prix outside the whole summer, did nothin. Now i drive and it seems fine to me.

I mean isnt the whole purpose of standing the car, to preserve the tires so they dont do that flat spot stuff?

In reallity were only looking at about a max of 3-4 weeks of not moving. Ive had the car sit there 2 weeks already before when i went camping, whats another 1-2 weeks on top of that.

Again thanks for the replies, at least im at ease with the battery issue now

 

the battery is in the stock location right?? it isn't that much of a pita to remove it if it is.

starting the car like like your stating isn't good for it either as your not really helping the car any. if anything you might hurt it. the only true way to help it is to actually drive it which sitting for such a short period of time shouldn't be a concern.

avoid jackstands if at all possible; this can only hurt your car. if your worried about the tires just fill them to the proper pressure and keep an eye on them.

clean the car good especially if you use a cover to keep from scratching the paint.

put stabil in the gas tank and then fill the tank allowing it to mix...drive the car for 5 min or so to let it flow through the entire system.

crack your windows so to keep presure off the seals.

if you really are crazy worried throw some of that silica gel that absorbs moisture if you have that problem.

the best rule of thumb is to clean your car like your heading to a car show doing the best you can. you fill the tires with proper pressure to keep from causing damage. you disconect the battery to keep it from draining.......it's always drawing power. you remove the battery in cold situations to keep the cold from draining as well and we all know what the stabil is for hopefully!


don't make storing a car harder than it is.



or you could be like my neighbor who insists on jackstands, car buble, the whole nine yards...........and then has problems because of it. obviously there are different procedures for everything and for extended periods there are better meathods then this; but for short term, ie: 1 year, this is more than adequate.

 

Alright thanks Kandie, some more good advice. Ya i dont want to me make this a big hassle, so if its not necessary, then i aint doing it.

The jack stand thing, i can avoid, i;ll take the car out whenever i can. Plus a friend of mine who has a nice 11 sec GNX doesnt do any of that jackstand stuff, and his car is just fine, and hes been doing it for years.

Plus i figure if im gonna be taking the car out, whats the point of taking the battery out. Im mean the least i can do is just to unplug it, and leave it there, then when im ready to take it out, plug it back in.

Anyways, thanks guys

 

if you plan to leave it sit for more than a week i would unplug it just to keep you from having to charge it up........unless your garage is heated then you might as well remove it as well.

it's just something to keep you from possibly draining the battery beyond use or at least wasting your time having to charge it up again.

 

If you want to be really sure
http://www.eastwoodco.com/aspfiles/i...1.x=53&I1.y=27

Hope this helps.
Andy.

 

That is my dream car!!! Absolutly beutiful!!!!!!!!!

Dave