How long without use?

Paralla · Post by **Paralla** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 11:26 am

I travel loads for work and am often away from home for six weeks at a time. I used to disconnect the battery of my old BMW when I went away as it would be flat after about 4 weeks of no use and was a pain to remove and recharge, the last thing I wanted to be doing while suffering from jet lag.

Anybody left their Roc standing for long periods and not disconnected the battery?

Anyone got any suggestions on stuff I should do before I leave it out in the London weather unnattended for 6 weeks at a time, paticularly over winter?

trix · Post by **trix** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 12:21 pm

If you are worried ask a partner or friend to go & start it up occassionally but mine was fine left sat in the garage for 3.5 weeks (albeit march april time) & someone else has left their for 4-6 weeks with no issue (link below). You really don't want to disconnect the battery unless you really have to as it will play havok with all the settings.
If you are worried about the battery going flat you could always put a trickle charger on it, if it is safe to do so.

( http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/ ... &hilit=+oz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/ ... ery#p37706" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )

maisbitt · Post by **maisbitt** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 1:21 pm

For me, the most likely thing to happen to a standing car (more than 4 weeks) is that the clutch plates will seize together. Probably won't happen, but the longer you leave it in excess of 4 weeks, the more likely it is to happen. Maybe not a problem with a DSG with the wet clutch system (only the DSG 1.4 Rocs have a dry clutch)

SciroccoRline · Post by **SciroccoRline** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 4:47 pm

I wouldn't leave my Roc without starting it for more then 2 weeks at a time..yeah just get a friend to start it atleast once when you're away just to stay on the safe side.

lugano · Post by **lugano** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:41 pm

You can also look at solar type trickle battery chargers which hopefully keep the battery topped up with current.

Post by **skippy** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 11:13 pm

My car tends to sit idle in the garage all week, sometimes for 2 weeks at a time. I normally leave it in gear with the handbrake off, I was finding the brakes were sticking on the first drive if I had left the handbrake applied.

Ian_Mac · Post by **Ian_Mac** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 12:55 am

Mine is never used during the week and depending on work may sit in the garage at weekends as well. I've never had any trouble with it, starts at the turn of the key.

When it does go out its a minimum 25 mile drive down to see the other half so I'm guessing this keeps the battery nicely topped up.

Going back 5 years or so I had a 2001 reg Passat estate which used to sit for months. I think it only did a few hundred miles between MOT's but I never worried about it not starting.

Paralla · Post by **Paralla** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 2:25 am

Thanks for the suggestions. I hadn't even considered loosing settings if I disconnected the battery my old Beemer didn't have "settings".

I will get a solar charger from Maplin.

ZephyR · Post by **ZephyR** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:30 am

I've read before somewhere that if you leave the battery disconnected for an extended period of time the car goes in to some sort of service mode. It sounded like it might require main dealer intervention to get it running again afterwards.
The solar powered charger sounds like a a good solution.

RW1 · Post by **RW1** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:37 am

When you do go to Maplins, make sure the solar charger is the type that works through tinted window glass. If the solar charger uses UV light to generate the charging current it won't work as the tinted glass will remove that.

Also from my experience, it has to be large. Especially in winter with the lack of day light hours and low sun or non existant sunshine.

I have 3 of these below wired in parrallel and they still didn't maintain a charged battery on my previous Mk2 Scirocco during the short days of winter. The best they could do was prolong the discharge period. They would probably fair better with the modern electrics of the Scirocco Mk3 with its on board Battery Management system which sheds electrical loads as the battery becomes discharged so as to prolong the battery life, the first stage before what Zeph mentions above.

These are what VW used to use before the Battery Management was incorporated in the electronics .......

12V VW Solar Panel/Battery Maintainer with OBD Plug
OEM Part Number 1C0 915 687D

Cord is approx. 5 feet long.
Manufactured by ICP Solar.

SPECS:
Max Power: 3.2W
Voltage at Max Power:: 18.8V
Current at Max Power: 170mA

A Bit of History:
Volkswagen was having issues a while back trying to keep electronics alive while shipping cars around the world, so they ended up including a solar panel that plugs into the OBD port to keep the batteries topped off.

Note: The max power is in full summer sunshine

I sourced mine through Ebay, and you have to find someone on Ebay prepared to ship outside the USA - Link
This is what one looks but I paid a lot less - $20 + shipping. At the time they worked out at £25 each, delivered. The solar panel itself is about 30cm x 20 cm and it gets hot on a fun summer sunshine day.

VW Solar Charger 1C0 915 687D.JPG

Probably two would suffice on the Scirocco Mk3 but you would have to split the two feed cable into one with parallel connections. But it gives you an idea of the wattage needed during winter. ie. at least 7 watt output. Remember the Scirocco Mk3 has a large battery and that has an influence on the charger output required.

So hopefully gives you an idea of what you are aiming for at Maplin. It will not be cheap! Maplin appear to have 3 units available at £30 - £50 on their website, but do not state working through tinted glass.

C.

Paralla · Post by **Paralla** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:48 am

That ICP charger is perfect! I'll get one of them. There is a vendor in the UK selling them for £59 which is ok for the peace of mind it will give me while I'm away. It's literally "made for the job".

Cuprabob · Post by **Cuprabob** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 11:16 am

Just don't be tempted to buy one of the cheap ones that plug into the 12v socket as it won't work since the sockets are swiched lives. The OBD one sound like the job

RW1 · Post by **RW1** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 12:46 pm

Paralla wrote:That ICP charger is perfect! I'll get one of them. There is a vendor in the UK selling them for £59 which is ok for the peace of mind it will give me while I'm away. It's literally "made for the job".

£59! Ermmm.........

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C.

lugano · Post by **lugano** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 12:50 pm

Looks like you've found it cheaper still, good luck

Paralla · Post by **Paralla** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 2:29 pm

This site just keeps getting more and more helpful!

I only had a quick search on my iPhone earlier and didn't see the Amazon listing. I just pulled the trigger for one on Amazon, bargain with free delivery because I have Amazon Prime.

Grampa · Post by **Grampa** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 12:22 am

I don't think I'd give a second thought about leaving a modern car unused for six weeks - my Morris Minor often goes that or more during winter without any special treatment and doesn't seem to suffer from any ill effects for doing so.

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:20 pm

Mine sat on the driveway un-used from April to August this year with no ill effects. Not by choice, may I add. Stupid spinal cord.

Only thing I did was check tyres, water, oil etc before I drove it. I'd like to say I road checked it gently afterwards but that would be a lie. 14 weeks of not driving my beloved roc meant I drove it like I'd nicked it and had all of Gloucestershire's finest in hot pursuit. I've done maybe 10,000 miles since, had it serviced once and it's running perfectly.

Trickytree1984 · Post by **Trickytree1984** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 6:50 am

Grampa wrote:I don't think I'd give a second thought about leaving a modern car unused for six weeks - my Morris Minor often goes that or more during winter without any special treatment and doesn't seem to suffer from any ill effects for doing so.

No pianos fell on it?

martdy · Post by **martdy** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:25 pm

Trickytree1984 wrote:
Grampa wrote:I don't think I'd give a second thought about leaving a modern car unused for six weeks - my Morris Minor often goes that or more during winter without any special treatment and doesn't seem to suffer from any ill effects for doing so.
No pianos fell on it?

I think that was a Morris Marina you were referring to .............

Trickytree1984 · Post by **Trickytree1984** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 7:28 pm

martdy wrote:
Trickytree1984 wrote:
Grampa wrote:I don't think I'd give a second thought about leaving a modern car unused for six weeks - my Morris Minor often goes that or more during winter without any special treatment and doesn't seem to suffer from any ill effects for doing so.
No pianos fell on it?
I think that was a Morris Marina you were referring to .............

Oh yeah, must be why you were ok!

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