Advice please on "resting" my car for two months

[Srdl]

After my near disastrous dive from a ladder into my neighbours garden last week which I have mentioned on other threads, it looks as though my car will not be used for at least eight weeks; at least two weeks while I am in hospital and then another six weeks while I am at home in a full body brace and I have been advised that it would be dangerous to drive or be a passenger during that time (even a minor accident could cause major damage to my back).

SWMBO won't drive it and I wouldn't want her to even try and get it out of the garage! So I plan to put on the battery conditioner which I use occasionally in the winter during cold weather. Is there anything else I should consider or should a two month break not be a problem for the car ?

 

[LostKiwi]

That should be sufficient.

 

[Richard Moakes]

A few psi extra in the tyres would help as well

 

[jp williams]

Do not apply the handbrake, but put the transmission in Park.

Regards
John

 

[umblecumbuz]

Have to confess that when we are in Gozo, usually over the winter period in the UK, I just leave one car in the garage without doing any 'resting' prep. Only once has it failed to start on the button several months later. A quick check-over before use, but no other noticeable ill-effects.

 

[keefysher]

I use a Draper Battery Master, around £12 if you search online. Keeps the battery at the level it's at rather than charge. Been using them for years on a stored car and the previous MotorHome to save embarrassment of dead batteries.

https://www.drapertools.com/product/22685/Battery-Master

 

[Naraic]

I started a resting car yesterday. It was last run on 29th May. Not on a charger...started first turn of the key.

 

[davemercedes]

I rested SWMBOs car (Renault) for about 4.5 months a couple of years ago. Because it does very little mileage anyway, 3-4 years ago I ran a cable with a one-way (positive/negative) socket on it sits in the wheel arch that I connect into an automatic charger (like the Draper one above) to keep it topped up. I started it up half way through just to blow out any "cobwebs" (happily, it fired up first time). I really don't know if that's necessary but it seemed like a good idea...

 

[Srdl]

Thank you guys. The only reason I was concerned was the battery, like the car, is now seven years old. It only let me down once a few winters ago when I had not used it for a few weeks in very cold weather.

We use my wife's Mini as our daily run around so the Merc usually only does longer journeys and we have done quite a few of those recently so I expect the battery will be pretty good at the moment. So I will just put on the conditioner when I'm able to, just to keep it healthy, and take off the handbrake to be on the safe side.

Thanks all

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

As long as the battery charger trickles at 6v that should be fine. Any more and you risk cooking the battery.

 

[LostKiwi]

As long as the battery charger trickles at 6v that should be fine. Any more and you risk cooking the battery.

6V?