Storing Chim in a garage without power - doable?

[fizmo100]

As the title says really, I've been on the lookout for a garage to rent, as the Chim is currently tucked away in the future mother-in-law's and despite the offer of 'if you clear the garage for me you can keep your car in it' there seems to be more and more junk accumulating and I'm starting to worry I'll never be able to dig the old girl out again (the car that is, not the mother-in-law...).

Garages seem to be pretty few and far between in my area, but one has come up that fits the bill (it has doors and isn't in da projectz). The only thing is it has no power. My Chim has a trickle charger, and I hear you can get into all sorts of trouble if you get a flat battery as the doors don't open (I am not privy to the secret entry technique, if anyone wants to PM me that would be handy... I believe it involves a broom handle, and consequently I always carry such a thing about my person).

Is the lack of power a deal breaker here? I work away so it's not like I'd be able to go and give the car a run every week, much as I'd like to. Would fitting a battery disconnecting gadget and leaving a door open when it's garaged do the trick, or would the constant disconnecting and reconnecting be asking for electrical trouble with immobilisers/ECUs?

Whaddaya reckon?

[pwd95]

Removing the battery & keeping it charged somewhere would be my choice. Take it for a rip at every dry opportunity, day or night.

[jojackson4]

If your. Battery is good one of chimp on gas battery brain will work
There is a way go do any thing get it in the dry

[Alun450]

If you leave the battery disconnected for say 6 months are you going to lose speedo data or any other issues Batt related.
Getting it in the dry must be the priority, I think mine spent a lot of time outside, really wears them.

[ChilliWhizz]

I too work away, and I keep the car in a garage with no power. First couple of years I had no issues, with average trips around four weeks, and the odd five weeker. Then I started to get issues, although there was always enough power left to open doors and light up the ignition. I then came to the conclusion back end of last year that my starter motor was the cause of slow starting, which indeed it was, and it was this that was making it slow to turn over, resulting in a near dead battery. New starter back in January and the difference in cranking speed, still with my old battery, is huge... Always been a bit slower to turn over and start after a spell in the winter months, but that's to be expected. If you lock the doors it will drain down faster (two to three weeks rather than four to five)

Obviously this all assumes your battery is good to start with, you have no invisible items draining it down, and your starter motor isn't near fooked... I've now got an Anderson connector plumbed in under the bonnet, just in case (saves grubbing around in the footwell, which is almost impossible in a narrow garage), and if I don't get my own garage soon with power (I'm house hunting) I'll be fitting a battery brain, as one of the guys above has mentioned....

Worst case of flat battery was back end of last year, when everything clicked buzzed and made a right din. Charged the battery up but then fuel pump wouldn't fire (immobiliser). Disconnected the battery for 30 seconds, reconnected, and she fired first turn of the key

Hope this helps,

Chilli

[caduceus]

fizmo100 said:

I believe it involves a broom handle, and consequently I always carry such a thing about my person.

[ChimpOnGas]

See my comments here:

http://www.petrolheads.co.uk/xforums/topic.asp?h=0...

The BatteryBrain device completely solves the problem of storing a car for long periods if you don't have access to mains power.

[lancepar]

How about a solar panel?

[QBee]

lancepar said:

How about a solar panel?

Those who have had them don't rate them for uk use.
Driving it regularly is the best solution. It's best for the car in so many other ways too. Just a decent blast once a week......no, the car, not the mother-in-law-to-be!

[j&ms]

I to work away from home for long periods so I fitted a battery isolator. I come home turn the switch and its ready to fire up.

[Alun450]

Yes its better to drive them but if you are like Chilli etc working away for wks at a time and have no choice but to store the car, as long as you have everything oiled up and put the car away dry then its still much better than leaving it outside!
With a lock up, three solid walls and a door, would it be a good or bad idea to sort of seal the doors abit, make it more air tight! Secondly I wonder if you can economically buy some water absorbers, place them around and in the car to attract the damp! Just an idea to make the best of said garage!
My mate has two of these garages and has build, Jags and stored them in these garages for years with no real issues! I owned a late 70's Xj6, I know all about twin skin floors and rust!??!!?!
The benefits of a garage and even if it means removing battery,its still a small amount of work compared to repairing rust.

[lancepar]

Solar panel

QBee said:

Those who have had them don't rate them for uk use.
Driving it regularly is the best solution. It's best for the car in so many other ways too. Just a decent blast once a week......no, the car, not the mother-in-law-to-be!

Solar would be better than nothing - only needs light - at least some amps would be going in to the battery.

[fizmo100]

Thanks for the feedback, and also the link to the previous thread - I hadn't come across that one when I searched around.

It looks like the battery brain is a good option. I have a little screw doodad fitted on the Jag to disconnect the battery by hand, which cost a few quid instead of £60 for the battery brain, but then the Jag battery is in the boot (perfect for when it's driven into the garage), not hidden in the footwell like the Chim. The remote option on the BB sounds like a good way to get around that problem.

The only question I have is that I read somewhere that the Meta alarm has its own back-up battery, and should the main car battery be disconnected the backup battery ensures all hell breaks loose, with klaxons, flashing lights, bursts of steam and trained commandos abseiling in through the ceiling looking for someone to shoot. From the testimonials I've read on here this hasn't happened to anyone on PH, but I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on this? I guess the easiest thing to do is disconnect the battery when I get home, and see if the commandos show up... Were all Chims fitted with this alarm, and if not is there some way to tell what alarm is installed?

Sadly the suggestion that I drive it more regularly isn't very helpful, as despite my strongest pleas to management I am not allowed to have it shipped out to the oil rig I'm on so I can do a few donuts on the helideck. A marine environment would probably turn the chassis to dust within a week anyway, so maybe that's no bad thing...

[QBee]

Are your better half/dad/teenage son/best mate/pub landlord/local hells angel chapter not willing to volunteer for regular driving duties while you are hard at it topping up the V-Power supplies (when Chilliwhizz is slacking on-shore)?

[ChilliWhizz]

fizmo100 said:

Thanks for the feedback, and also the link to the previous thread - I hadn't come across that one when I searched around.

It looks like the battery brain is a good option. I have a little screw doodad fitted on the Jag to disconnect the battery by hand, which cost a few quid instead of £60 for the battery brain, but then the Jag battery is in the boot (perfect for when it's driven into the garage), not hidden in the footwell like the Chim. The remote option on the BB sounds like a good way to get around that problem.

The only question I have is that I read somewhere that the Meta alarm has its own back-up battery, and should the main car battery be disconnected the backup battery ensures all hell breaks loose, with klaxons, flashing lights, bursts of steam and trained commandos abseiling in through the ceiling looking for someone to shoot. From the testimonials I've read on here this hasn't happened to anyone on PH, but I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on this? I guess the easiest thing to do is disconnect the battery when I get home, and see if the commandos show up... Were all Chims fitted with this alarm, and if not is there some way to tell what alarm is installed?

Sadly the suggestion that I drive it more regularly isn't very helpful, as despite my strongest pleas to management I am not allowed to have it shipped out to the oil rig I'm on so I can do a few donuts on the helideck. A marine environment would probably turn the chassis to dust within a week anyway, so maybe that's no bad thing...

I work offshore too

[QBee]

ChilliWhizz said:

I work offshore too

So long as you aren't both on-shore at the same time.....what will we do for V-Power if you are??

[fizmo100]

Haha I'll bring some back in a bucket for you. )

I'm sure there are a few folks who'd take the car out while I'm away, I just don't fancy having to dig it out of a hedge every time I get home!

[QBee]

fizmo100 said:

Haha I'll bring some back in a bucket for you. )

I'm sure there are a few folks who'd take the car out while I'm away, I just don't fancy having to dig it out of a hedge every time I get home!

I had come to the conclusion that hedges backwards was an urban myth.....but then i was chatting to my TVR guy a couple of months ago at 8.15 am and he got a phone call from a customer. Transpired that the car due in by 8.30 for service was at that moment parked in a hedge backwards.

[fizmo100]

"And here we see the majestic Chimaera in its natural habitat. As we follow its distinctive tracks of torn vegetation and churned up mud, we discover the beast grazing on the grass in the field. On its roof. On fire."

Edited by fizmo100 on Monday 7th April 08:28

[QBee]

fizmo100 said:

"And here we see the majestic Chimaera in it's natural habitat. As we follow its distinctive tracks of torn vegetation and churned up mud, we discover the beast grazing on the grass in the field. On its roof. On fire."