Battery whilst on holiday.

Hi all, I need some help. I’m going away on holiday for two weeks and my ‘56 td4 will be kept at an airport long stay car park (drive in, park, and take keys with you type). Will the battery be ok after this period? Should I, can I lock it without setting the alarm? I’m not sure I want to be disconnecting the battery, or is this the best thing to do?.. or am I worrying for no reason? Thanks in advance.

Depends on age and condition of battery! You can double blip lock to secure doors, then single blip to unlock drivers door. Dis battery and lock drivers door with key. Make sure you have radio code first. Also be aware that tailgate window will drop when you reconnect. Battery off is best wayof ensuring no drain whilst away.

andyfreelandy said:

Depends on age and condition of battery! You can double blip lock to secure doors, then single blip to unlock drivers door. Dis battery and lock drivers door with key. Make sure you have radio code first. Also be aware that tailgate window will drop when you reconnect. Battery off is best wayof ensuring no drain whilst away.

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Thanks Andy, appreciated. Excuse my ignorance, but presumably it’s the reverse on return. Key to unlock drivers door, reconnect, then I can blip to open all doors, reset radio and close tailgate window? I was just worried that leaving it there without power would affect something electrical I don’t understand. Cheers!

You got it! Battery off doesn't affect anything other than alarm, clock and radio. You may loose some old fault codes in ecu but if fault is still on it will relog!! Have a great holiday!

A fully charged battery is on its way out if the vehicle doesn’t start after being stationary for two weeks.
But don’t worry about being stranded, most airports do have a team ready 24/7 to go and ‘jump start’ stranded vehicles in the onsite car parks if required, and free of charge I believe.

andyfreelandy said:

You got it! Battery off doesn't affect anything other than alarm, clock and radio. You may loose some old fault codes in ecu but if fault is still on it will relog!! Have a great holiday!

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Thank you. Will do

discool said:

A fully charged battery is on its way out if the vehicle doesn’t start after being stationary for two weeks.
But don’t worry about being stranded, most airports do have a team ready 24/7 to go and ‘jump start’ stranded vehicles in the onsite car parks if required, and free of charge I believe.

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Thank you, that’s good to know.

13mm spanner for battery terminal gets my vote! Don't forget to disconnect the negative terminal first or sparks may fly! In fact just the negative will be fine.

andyfreelandy said:

13mm spanner for battery terminal gets my vote! Don't forget to disconnect the negative terminal first or sparks may fly! In fact just the negative will be fine.

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Got it! I shall now be sipping ice cold beer without a single worry!

Me, I'd just park it up and not worry. I do keep a booster pack in the car, but never need it. A correctly working Freelander uses a few milliamps at most, which a good condition 096 battery should supply for months without an issue.

A rechargable jump starter costs about £30-50 and they hold their charge for ages. Worth getting one and keeping in the boot if you are parking up for a long time. I've used mine to jump start 3 different cars before it needed recharging. You can also use them to charge mobile phones etc.

Col

I left mine at Manchester airport at the end of feb last year whilst I went to New Zealand for 16 days. The battery was already a bit aged and it was during the snow. I was worried about it not starting when I got back but it did. Got back home to Cornwall after and there was an unseasonably warm spell and it finally gave up then. I wasn't too bothered though. The battery had a three year guarantee and was fitted in 2012!