Thread: How long could I leave my D4 without driving it

Hi Richard and if your battery is in a top condition, 4 weeks would be fine.

But you only have had to have done a few shopping trolley runs and your battery can be down a bit.

Either leave the battery charger connected to either one of the batteries and both batteries will be maintained.

BUT, if it was my vehicle, the simplest way to keep your batteries in a decent charged state is to put your charger on for around 24 hours and then remove the charger and disconnect the negative terminals of both batteries.

When you get home and reconnect the batteries, you will need to reset your clock.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Anti-Rust (sic) systems draw about 800ma IIRC

Only things they do well is draw power and lighten wallets.

Certainly won't stop the vehicle rusting. Only the treatment from the factory is doing that for you (and any barrier rust treatments you may add along the way).

Ahh i always held my doubts about that rust protection wasn't sure if it worked. I always see they are advertising used by the biggest mining giants bhp rio and all that, i work for bhp and after 2 to 3 years our cars start rusting so if they use it i reserve my doubts as to wether it works but never seen it on any of our site cars.

Mine had an anti rust device fitted by the last owner, strangely the only place I found rust on the body was right under the damned thing where is was screwed on! I took it out as I don't trust them, especially on a car whose wiring is this complicated and with as much current draw on startup.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi Richard and if your battery is in a top condition, 4 weeks would be fine.

But you only have had to have done a few shopping trolley runs and your battery can be down a bit.

Either leave the battery charger connected to either one of the batteries and both batteries will be maintained.

BUT, if it was my vehicle, the simplest way to keep your batteries in a decent charged state is to put your charger on for around 24 hours and then remove the charger and disconnect the negative terminals of both batteries.

When you get home and reconnect the batteries, you will need to reset your clock.

Hi,
Does it matter which negative terminal you remove first?
Richard

My 2013 D4 has the Traxide and D34 Optima and I often leave the car for 3 weeks at a time and there is never an issue with starting. Once a month I use the Ctek mxs-5 through the 12S plug and charge until 'float' then leave on another 12 hrs. I also believe the LR does NOT do a good job at charging the batteries and believe this is the best way to maintain your battery/batteries.

An update.
I put the charger on the night before via the white plug at the back and left it till batteries were fully charged.

I then disconnected the charger and the Tekonsha P3, to be sure. I did not disconnect the negative leads as Drivesafe recommended


I just got back after 4 weeks idle and both batteries were around 11.8v so there was some drop.

I am getting the low battery alert in the car, asking me to start it.

I have not started it yet but have put on the charger via the white plug connection and will leave over night. Hopefully that will sort things out.

Next time I will do as recommended and also disconnect the negative leads.

Richard

Originally Posted by wbowner

An update.
I put the charger on the night before via the white plug at the back and left it till batteries were fully charged.

I then disconnected the charger and the Tekonsha P3, to be sure. I did not disconnect the negative leads as Drivesafe recommended


I just got back after 4 weeks idle and both batteries were around 11.8v so there was some drop.

I am getting the low battery alert in the car, asking me to start it.

I have not started it yet but have put on the charger via the white plug connection and will leave over night. Hopefully that will sort things out.

Next time I will do as recommended and also disconnect the negative leads.

Richard

Hi All

This is timely as I am buying a battery charger (CTEK MXS 5) for my D4 2.7 L TDv6. I have a Traxide SC80 dual system with optima yellow top 55 deep cycle battery. As I am new to any form of battery charging, I would be very grateful for your help on this topic.

1. If I am connecting the charging leads to the main cranking battery do I connect the positive and negative leads to the battery terminals or do I connect the negative to the car body instead?

2. DO I need to disconnect any of the two batteries?

3. Can I use a cigarette charger accessory to charge the batteries?

4. Some posts mentioned the use of the white plug- How do we connect up the male plug to the CTEK leads and which pins to use? Is there a diagram? cannot find it (the white plug) in the handbook

5. Will the white plug system also charge both batteries?

6. If it is connected to the main battery or thru the white plug, how do we know that the optima battery is also charged?

many thanks

GD-4

Originally Posted by go-disco4

Hi All

This is timely as I am buying a battery charger (CTEK MXS 5) for my D4 2.7 L TDv6. I have a Traxide SC80 dual system with optima yellow top 55 deep cycle battery. As I am new to any form of battery charging, I would be very grateful for your help on this topic.

1. If I am connecting the charging leads to the main cranking battery do I connect the positive and negative leads to the battery terminals or do I connect the negative to the car body instead?

2. DO I need to disconnect any of the two batteries?

3. Can I use a cigarette charger accessory to charge the batteries?

4. Some posts mentioned the use of the white plug- How do we connect up the male plug to the CTEK leads and which pins to use? Is there a diagram? cannot find it (the white plug) in the handbook

5. Will the white plug system also charge both batteries?

6. If it is connected to the main battery or thru the white plug, how do we know that the optima battery is also charged?

many thanks

GD-4

Hi,
You will receive better answers from other people as I have questions on the process as well.

With respect to charging through the white plug have a look at thread
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...-charging.html

This also links you to a UK thread. Between the two you will get the answers on charging that way.

I have another thread with a similar question as your question 1. The CTEK manual diagrams and a bit of research I did suggest you connect the CTEK MXS leads to the battery posts only yet the written instructions say use the chassis, all to confusing to me.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...-question.html

RIchard