Leaving the XC60 while on holiday

[Daleman]

I hear varying reports of modern cars with on board computer systems draining their batteries easily if not used VERY regularly .How does the XC60 cope with several weeks parked up at the airport ?In my case its often a couple or three months parked in the garage at home. Does one leave it unlocked to disarm the alarm and immobiliser system therefore hopefully stopping the batteries power usage (obviously making sure the garage was very secure before doing this)?

Does the computer stay live all the time the car is parked with or without the alarm system draining the battery? Is it possible to trickle charge the battery (with the at home scenario) somehow while away to alleviate this potential problem? What happens if you disconnect the battery completely while away does the computer lose its memory settings when you return and re connect? Any advice or experience on what to expect prior to finding out the hard way would be greatly appreciated by many forum members I’m sure.

[Gravy]

Mate

If you are at all concerned, install a solar battery charging system on your garage roof to maintain the battery. I know systems are available in Aus that install on the vehicle proper, would only be a matter of extending the conductors to facilitate garage roof installation.

Being a totally isolated system this negates any voltage transients that may be created via a mains charger should you be unfortunate enough to have lightning strike the mains grid. Years of experience installing and maintaining remote telemetry systems says this can happen, expensive to replace a vehicle computer system.

Gravy


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[SKH]

As my XC60 is mainly used for towing our caravan it has been in the garage for several (5-6) weeks at a time over the winter with no problems at all. It would'nt usually be idle for so long but the weather has stopped several trips.

I have a friend with a Nissan Pathfinder (I know but it takes all sorts!) who has to constantly keep the battery charged up as it will go flat in a couple of weeks.

[Daleman]

Originally Posted by SKH

As my XC60 is mainly used for towing our caravan it has been in the garage for several (5-6) weeks at a time over the winter with no problems at all. It would'nt usually be idle for so long but the weather has stopped several trips.

I have a friend with a Nissan Pathfinder (I know but it takes all sorts!) who has to constantly keep the battery charged up as it will go flat in a couple of weeks.

Do you leave it for 6 weeks with the alarm disarmed? Or alarmed?

[mu71rd]

Leaving the vehicle alarm disarmed would almost certainly invalidate your insurance. I'd think very carefully before doing that.

If you're away for several months, could you not just put a battery regulator on it, or simply top it up when you get home?

I'd probably avoid solar chargers - many of them have no facility to prevent overcharging and a decent battery regulator for £50 will keep your battery in tip top shape. The name Optimate seems right from memory - I've used both on boats that get left between uses in a barn, and the optimate has never let me down.

[Daleman]

I take your point about insurance but if the garage is securely locked can the insurance company reasonably expect everyone to also have their cars locked in their own garage inside their own home 100% of the time?

Yes I could top it up upon my return from holiday. That is basically what I have been doing (if needed) with my previous relatively low tec car without a load of on board computerised electrics. It’s how the computer reacts to being run down to zero in its power supply for a few weeks that was one of my main queries?

[SKH]

Originally Posted by Daleman

Do you leave it for 6 weeks with the alarm disarmed? Or alarmed?

Just lock it & walk away. Never had a problem

[pbeecroft]

letting your battery go flat and re-charging it on a regular basis is a good way to degrade the battery and make it useless.

get a good charger, (CTEK for example) which has a maintenance mode and is designed to be connected to your battery 24/7x365, will keep battery in tip-top condition.

[S60 Alex]

Although I can't quote the source - I've read a number of times that (Volvos included) leaving the car unlocked leaves a number of the computer systems live and actually significantly increases battery drain above that of when the car is locked.