Car garaged for 8 months - Battery stuffed?

Car garaged for 8 months - Battery stuffed?

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Oakey

Original Poster:

27,595 posts

217 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
MY Zed has been garaged for the last 8 months. Should really have disconnected the battery but it was on the drive for a while and was moved back and forth a bit before getting locked away for good. The battery is flat, will I be able to charge it back up or is it going to be knackered after standing for so long?

NiceCupOfTea

25,298 posts

252 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
If it's been flat over the winter we have just had it will be stone dead I'm afraid.

jsg612

571 posts

169 months

Monday 21st March 2011
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Even if you did get it going, I'd still replace it as a precaution. Nothing worse than getting caught out with a flat battery I imagine...

Oakey

Original Poster:

27,595 posts

217 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Was hoping to get enough out of it to get it MOT'd and taxed.

rottie102

3,999 posts

185 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Nah, it all depends what condition was it before.

I've left two cars this winter not used for six months and after recharging the batteries they are perfectly fine...

NiceCupOfTea

25,298 posts

252 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
In my experience, in the weather we have had, a car battery is low enough not to start the car after a couple of weeks. Once it has been flat for a while you have had it.

I had a decent battery sat in my front room for a few months (charged when left, and obviously reasonably warm in there). Refused to charge when I put it on the charger.

rottie102

3,999 posts

185 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
In my experience, in the weather we have had, a car battery is low enough not to start the car after a couple of weeks. Once it has been flat for a while you have had it.

I had a decent battery sat in my front room for a few months (charged when left, and obviously reasonably warm in there). Refused to charge when I put it on the charger.
There are chargers and chargers...
I would highly recommend this one:
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=ring+sm...

It charges completely flat batteries very well, I believe it's called "reconditioning function"

LeeThr

3,122 posts

172 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
rottie102 said:
Nah, it all depends what condition was it before.

I've left two cars this winter not used for six months and after recharging the batteries they are perfectly fine...
Exactly, my dad's evo was sat outside over the winter from september. I jumped it in Feb, and after a few reluctant turns, it coughed into life. Let it run for over an hour. Left it for 5 or 6 days before going back to it. Started first time. =D

NiceCupOfTea

25,298 posts

252 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Well, YMMV. Both my cars with newish batteries won't start after a couple weeks non-use in subzero temps. I have had batteries die permanently with much less abuse than yours has.

All you can do is give it a go.

rottie102

3,999 posts

185 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
Both my cars with newish batteries won't start after a couple weeks non-use in subzero temps.
But we're not talking about the battery not being able to start the car, that's normal. The OP asked will the battery be ok AFTER recharging it.

NiceCupOfTea

25,298 posts

252 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
rottie102 said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Both my cars with newish batteries won't start after a couple weeks non-use in subzero temps.
But we're not talking about the battery not being able to start the car, that's normal. The OP asked will the battery be ok AFTER recharging it.
I was illustrating how quickly the cold kills batteries. I would be very surprised if the OP's battery holds any charge after being flat for so long, but what do I know?

DKL

4,504 posts

223 months

Monday 21st March 2011
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My experience is that it seems to make a difference how big the battery is.
My caterham doesn't get used much over the winter and I try and remember to hook it up to an accumate or a solar charger but so far I've replaced 3 batteries in 3 years. They will charge and seem fine but one morning about a month into more regular use they have died.

Bigger ones seem to take neglect better which I suppose makes sense.

Oakey

Original Poster:

27,595 posts

217 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Bearing in mind it won't have been flat for 8 months. It may only have been dead half that.

That charger above looks nice, bit pricey at the cost of a new battery though!

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

199 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
You said you need to running to get through MOT then a full charge and a run it should be fine - unless it was dead before hand.

If your planning on keeping it long term why not swap te batteries over from your daily over to your z that and then swap them back after a period of time.

I always buy Bosch silver from costco bloody good and 4years warranty for what £50-80 size dependant that's under £20 pa and it will not be ruined after 4 years. Frankly I do tend to get rid after 6 years or swap it to the 2nd car luckily size has been similar

Oakey

Original Poster:

27,595 posts

217 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
The problem with that is it's not taxed. I can't really drive it about for an hour prior to the MOT well, unless the MOT station was some distance away. I suppose that might work. But then there's the risk it may not start back up.

The bigger issue is getting it out of the garage and down the tight driveway with no power!

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

199 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Oakey said:
The problem with that is it's not taxed. I can't really drive it about for an hour prior to the MOT well, unless the MOT station was some distance away. I suppose that might work. But then there's the risk it may not start back up.

The bigger issue is getting it out of the garage and down the tight driveway with no power!
Swap the battery over With your daily. You could even leave your battery in situ and drive up your drive with bonnet open and have someone hold other battery in place

Oakey

Original Poster:

27,595 posts

217 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
That's probably going to be the 'easiest' option I think, cheers.