Auto Storage

[Jer]

After buying a new car last year my mother-in-law gave us her old one, a 99 Cadillac Eldorado in excellent condition and with low mileage. We brought it to California, were we spend the winters, to use as a second car. We don't need it in the summers when I can use my FJR as the second auto. We want to cancel the insurance and just let it sit in the garage for six months. I had planned on adding fuel stabilizer, connecting a solar battery tender and putiing the car up on jack stands. A friend said that the tender could over charge the battery and that when he left his autos for long periods he just disconnected the negative cable and the they always started when he returned. This automobile has a feature that can be programmed in called battery guard to protect the battery from drainage during storage, how well it works, I have no idea. Any comments or suggestions, helpfull or not, will be appreciated.

Jer

 

[wfooshee]

The whole idea of a tender it that it monitors that battery and stops charging as required. Just leaving it on a standard charger would be a bad idea.

OTOH, I don't know how well a tender made for a bike or a lawnmower would handle a car battery. I haven't seen a larger tender in the store myself. Not to say there ain't any, I just hadn't seen any.

 

[Jer]

The whole idea of a tender it that it monitors that battery and stops charging as required. Just leaving it on a standard charger would be a bad idea.
OTOH, I don't know how well a tender made for a bike or a lawnmower would handle a car battery. I haven't seen a larger tender in the store myself. Not to say there ain't any, I just hadn't seen any.

The battery mantainer that I was refering to was a solar powered one. I saw one online for $30, but do not have any of the details about it. We have lots of sun here in the Palm Springs area.

 

[Silent]

I've never had a problem with just parking a car for up to 6 months at shot, while out on opperations, without doing a damn thing to it. Worst case for me was needing a jump start to get her to fire again. Stabaliser in the fule won't hurt, but I wouldn't bother with the stands. Just makes it easier for the thieves to steal your tires

 

[C&C]

What you described in your original post would do you just fine. You may also want to buy a car cover.

 

[Jer]

The whole idea of a tender it that it monitors that battery and stops charging as required. Just leaving it on a standard charger would be a bad idea.
OTOH, I don't know how well a tender made for a bike or a lawnmower would handle a car battery. I haven't seen a larger tender in the store myself. Not to say there ain't any, I just hadn't seen any.

The battery mantainer that I was refering to was a solar powered one. I saw one online for $30, but do not have any of the details about it. We have lots of sun here in the Palm Springs area.

Thanks for the replies. I will probably buy the solar maintainer and forget the jacks. The car will be in my garage so a little dust won't hurt it.

Jer

 

[S76]

I've never had a problem with just parking a car for up to 6 months at shot, while out on opperations, without doing a damn thing to it. Worst case for me was needing a jump start to get her to fire again. Stabaliser in the fule won't hurt, but I wouldn't bother with the stands. Just makes it easier for the thieves to steal your tires

I agree. Just turn the key off. If the battery is low when you return throw a "real" battery charger on it and your set. I have a hard time believing the solar thing is going to work. Not for $30. You can buy a real battery charger for that price. Almost.

 

[C&C]

If your "forget the jacks" at least air up the tires to at least the maximum recommended air pressure on the sidewall; tires can take up a 'set' if left flatspotted.

 

[Jer]

I've never had a problem with just parking a car for up to 6 months at shot, while out on opperations, without doing a damn thing to it. Worst case for me was needing a jump start to get her to fire again. Stabaliser in the fule won't hurt, but I wouldn't bother with the stands. Just makes it easier for the thieves to steal your tires

I agree. Just turn the key off. If the battery is low when you return throw a "real" battery charger on it and your set. I have a hard time believing the solar thing is going to work. Not for $30. You can buy a real battery charger for that price. Almost.

I picked the solar charger to avoid the possibility of a fire if a plug-in type was to be used. This type of battery maintainer is used on boats and I figured for $30 it might save damage to a $100+ battery. Of course I could jump it with the van battery when we return in the Fall or I could bring back one of my two battery chargers from Oregon. Thanks for the input

If your "forget the jacks" at least air up the tires to at least the maximum recommended air pressure on the sidewall; tires can take up a 'set' if left flatspotted.

That might be a better Idea than going to the trouble of mounting on jack-stands. The garage will be over 100 degrees most of the Summer. Thanks for the input.