Car for 1 week

[StevePil]

Hi All,

I am going away soon and need to leave my car for 14 days, is there any advice on what to do to keep it safe and also to ensure it runs OK on my return.

Its a diesel car, if this makes any difference, various perople have said disconnect the battery but this does not alarm the car so not an option

Do people also know if the battery dies if the car remains alarmed?

Any advice

Thanks
Steve

Ps) I know I may come back to a dead battery, and do have jump leads so will just jump start it on my retunr, im assume this is safe for a diesel? thanks

[steve41065]

Place your car into a garage for a "minor repair" or a service, tell them that you are away for a few days and will pick it up later.
It will be looked after and doubly insured if the battery dies and its a big if, what a better place to get a fix!

[HelpfulHarry]

What a Grrrrrreat answer from that pillock. Do that and you are likely to find yourself facing a storage bill of a few hundred pounds. No garage is going to want a car hanging around for 14DAYS!.

Just leave it where you normally park it and trust to luck. If in reasonable condition why should it fail to start or the battery die?

[burnhal]

Ask yourself this- how many cars are left parked for 14 days at airports whilst people go away for holidays? Loads! Shouldn't cause you any problems at all.

[hurrell321]

To keep the battrey charged just get your self one of those solar panel charges they do work and will keep it charged while away. this will also keep the alarm working and the immobiliser.

[StevePil]

Thanks to all for the answers and some good points, thanks again

[weeal]

I left mine sitting for a month between Nov-Dec and it was fine. Why would the battery die in 2 weeks? Is it old?

I did leave a key with a neighbour in case the alarm went off so they could stop it.

[Seafarer1966]

Mind you don't leave the handbrake on too hard. Vauxhalls particularly are notorious for the rear brakes sticking when parked for long periods. Just to explain to those not too familiar with cars the handrake locks the rear brakes. If the handbrake levers stick on the rear drums you will release the handbrake inside the car as usual but the rear brakes will still be on. A friend had this with a Vectra and after she drove back from the airport her rear brakes were glowing red hot....shot to bits.

Park your car in first gear and apply the handbrake only to two or three notches.

[Seafarer1966]

Good point raised about the battery. Most modern cars still use battery power even when not in use i.e. clock, alarm system, engine management running self diagnosis etc. It's fair to say that after a prolonged period of no use it will run down a bit.

You could always get a secondhand battery from a car scapper, charge it up, put it in your boot, and use it to jump start your car if you needed it.