Storing a car - Should I disconnect the battery? | Ask Honest John

Storing a car - Should I disconnect the battery?

I understand that you should use a float charger to prevent over-charging of the battery. My question is, if I don't use my 1995 Honda Civic for three months and do not disconnect the battery, will the battery go flat (with or without the float charger)?

The reason behind disconnecting the battery is two fold
1. I don’t have to waste my time and fuel every two weeks just to keep the battery charged.
2. I can also SORN it off for this period and get some relief on road tax.

Asked on 12 October 2014 by oopspb

Answered by Honest John

There is a good chance of draindown in a 19 year old car with an old battery. If you use a battery conditioning float charger, the charge in the battery will be maintained at whatever the battery's maximum capacity still is. It should be 13.5 volts but it may be reduced a bit. The best is probably a CTEK MX5 5.0, price £64.95, website: www.ctek.com. That's what I used. Yes, you can SORN it. Then you don't have to tax it or insure it.

Tags: batteries technical issues

Similar questions

If I change the battery in my BMW does it need to be reprogrammed?

I have a 2012 BMW 520d. The battery is the original and would not start the car after not being used for two weeks. It's fine when I use the car regularly. Is this a job I can do myself, or does the battery...

Is my power steering failure down to a low battery?

My power steering has failed.The power steering warning light has not come on but the battery warning light is on now constantly. Is the power steering failure due to low battery power?

Why am I getting a battery charge failure warning light in my Rover 75?

I'm having battery charge problems with my Rover 75 CDTi. I get dashboard warnings that all go away when you charge the battery, but return twenty miles afterwards.