How to prevent dead battery during extended trips/vacation

S

simplefx

Member
Location
Maryland
Car
Car
Background: We were out on vacation for about 20 days and after returning home the car was completely dead:eek.:. No lights in the dash and could not move the steering lock with manual key. I was able to open the door with my manual key.

Car : 2007 fx 35 awd. The battery is one year old dealer installed. I have a USAspec ipod adapter hooked up.

resolution : I had to call infi road side to jump start my vehicle. He connected positive and negative cable directly to the battery instead of grouning negative. The car started fine and all my settings are intact.


How can I prevent this from happening in future ? How long is the usual most fxs before needing a jump start ?

My other car started right up.
 
Same thing happens to me too when I was away for about 18 days. Next time I would get a battery tender/maintainer like this
http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tende...1&sr=8-2&keywords=battery+tender+plus+charger

Also, when I start it, it sounds horrible as all of engine oil have drain down into the pan. I'm thinking of to pour a half of quart into it before starting it up next time.

---------- Post added at 09:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 AM ----------

:laugh: you beat me to it Wayne.
 
I've gone 16 days and the car still started. The battery did subsequently die a month later, but it was 6 years old at the time and the original. 20 days is pushing it, but if the battery is healthy and you have no parasitic drains, it should start. But a battery tender works as well.
 
Thanks for the suggestions Wayne and Andy. I will definitely give battery tender a try. I was surprised to learn the battery could not last more than 3 weeks or so and it is normal.

Now I can not park the car in a long term airport parking if the trip is going to be longer, I have looked at the thread you mentioned Wayne.
 
simplefx said:
Thanks for the suggestions Wayne and Andy. I will definitely give battery tender a try. I was surprised to learn the battery could not last more than 3 weeks or so and it is normal.

Now I can not park the car in a long term airport parking if the trip is going to be longer, I have looked at the thread you mentioned Wayne.
Click to expand...
When, I had my 09 FX35 the battery was fine when I parked it for 5 weeks outside in the winter while on vacation, but after the car was a couple of years old I started having trouble. If you can't hook it up to a battery maintainer you can also disconnect the negative terminal of the battery so there is no drain from the battery with long term storage.

I don't drive my FX50 in the winter so I leave it hooked up to the battery tender all winter long.
 
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