Winter storeage
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 173
From: Somewhere North of The 49th Parallel Ontario
Winter storeage
Well it's that time of year again. I have searched previous threads here and could'nt find any information regarding this subject. My question is, can I take the battery out of the car for the winter? Would there be any harm in doing this because of all the computer accessories. I usually take the battery out of my HD Ultra-Classic and no harm but it only has a mini-computer.
I have a battery tender, but I would just like to know if there is any harm in taking the battery out of the car for 5 months.
Thanks in advance.
Smokey.
I have a battery tender, but I would just like to know if there is any harm in taking the battery out of the car for 5 months.
Thanks in advance.
Smokey.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Should not be a problem. You would have to reset your "memories" when you put the battery back in. Do not store the battery on the ground or concrete floor. Set it on a wooden board and hook a charger to it, about once a month to keep it from sulfating. Whether you use a charger or maintainer and don't have a maintenance free battery, be sure to check the water level about once a month.
Personally, I would leave the battery in, with a maintainer. About once a month I would start the car and let it run for awhile, turning on the a/c and then the heater, to get fluids circulating and prevent seals from drying out.
Personally, I would leave the battery in, with a maintainer. About once a month I would start the car and let it run for awhile, turning on the a/c and then the heater, to get fluids circulating and prevent seals from drying out.
Last edited by PierEagle; Nov 6, 2009 at 05:28 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 173
From: Somewhere North of The 49th Parallel Ontario
Thanks for the reply. I have an attached 2 car garage and I back the car in so I can get out of the car but that makes the battery on the opposite side (too close to the wall to get access for the battery tender hook-up). If I were to put the battery tender on the battery in the car, where do you route the wires with the car cover on?
One last question, I have had the column lock recall performed and by taking the battery out, it will not erase this recall and when I put it back in I just hope I don't have the colum lock issue again.
Thanks,
Smokey.
One last question, I have had the column lock recall performed and by taking the battery out, it will not erase this recall and when I put it back in I just hope I don't have the colum lock issue again.
Thanks,
Smokey.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
It won't hurt to remove the battery. Several of my friends use a battery tender. I've been storing my car for 9 years now and just disconnect the negative terminal. It always fires right up in the spring. I also fill the gas tank and add Stabil, change the oil, over inflate the tires, and put several bars of Irish Spring soap and fabric softener sheets in the passenger and engine compartments. I then cover it and forget about it for the next 5 1/2 months. 
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,323
Likes: 1,587
From: Western NY
I've been doing the "winter storage" thing on various cars since the late 70s. I've usually don't remove, or for that matter, disconnect the battery. In the case of my C-5, which, as we all know, has enough computer power to launce an Atlas rocket, I simply throw the battery charger on it for 10 minutes every week, and every 2-3 weeks, I start it up and let it run for 10-15 minutes with the defroster on, so it cycles the A/C. I also drain the 10w30 oil out of it after the last ride in the fall, and put 0w20 in it for easier cranking in the winter.
I kept the worn-out run flat tires on the OE wheels, and also put them back on the car for the winter too. It may be silly, but even with the old tires, I still put a couple of pieces of old carpet under them for the winter.
I kept the worn-out run flat tires on the OE wheels, and also put them back on the car for the winter too. It may be silly, but even with the old tires, I still put a couple of pieces of old carpet under them for the winter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
I've stopped using stable and really the whole winterization thing. There may be 2-3 week periods where I won't take my car out from say December through March but if the roads are dry I drive it whenever I can. I do keep the battery on a maintainer but have never unhooked the battery. If you do this be very careful - these tires are not cold weather tires and will not hook up worth a crap. $.02
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Yes, you can take the battery out of the car - just remember that if you have the theft lock on the radio set, you will need to remember the code to unlock it when you reinstall the battery.
I just leave the battery in my car and hook up a Battery Tender Plus to it. Never had a problem.
If you would like some additional info on putting the car away for the winter, I have several Word files that might help you out. If interested, PM me your e-mail address.
I just leave the battery in my car and hook up a Battery Tender Plus to it. Never had a problem.
If you would like some additional info on putting the car away for the winter, I have several Word files that might help you out. If interested, PM me your e-mail address.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Thanks for the reply. I have an attached 2 car garage and I back the car in so I can get out of the car but that makes the battery on the opposite side (too close to the wall to get access for the battery tender hook-up). If I were to put the battery tender on the battery in the car, where do you route the wires with the car cover on?
Last edited by PierEagle; Nov 7, 2009 at 01:47 AM.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 173
From: Somewhere North of The 49th Parallel Ontario
Thanks guys for the replies. It gets pretty cold up here sometimes and goes below freezing in my garage so I think I'm going to remove the battery and take it in the house for the winter and put it on charge once a month. If I left it in the car and put the tender on it I'd hate to see that battery freeze up out there some nite.
Smokey.
Smokey.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,802
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From: monroeville pa
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Thanks for the reply. I have an attached 2 car garage and I back the car in so I can get out of the car but that makes the battery on the opposite side (too close to the wall to get access for the battery tender hook-up). If I were to put the battery tender on the battery in the car, where do you route the wires with the car cover on?
One last question, I have had the column lock recall performed and by taking the battery out, it will not erase this recall and when I put it back in I just hope I don't have the colum lock issue again.
Thanks,
Smokey.
One last question, I have had the column lock recall performed and by taking the battery out, it will not erase this recall and when I put it back in I just hope I don't have the colum lock issue again.
Thanks,
Smokey.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 173
From: Somewhere North of The 49th Parallel Ontario
If I back the car in, that would make my battery on the opposite side and too close to the wall to get at. I have to keep the car over against that wall so I can use the side door to the house.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
I back my car in, too, and have enough room to squeeze in and hook up the battery tender. Even with the mirror folded in I can't get too close to the side wall to the point that I can't get in there. I just run the wires out the bottom of the engine bay and out behind the front tire and plug the tender in.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
You can get a charger/maintainer with the cig lighter plug. That is how I have mine done. There is a nice "trough" at the bottom of the door to run the wire out of. There is no kink in it. I can slide it back and forth with the door shut so I know it isn't crimped. If you would do that, you could plug it in on the drivers side.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
Egor01 - as most have said, you can take your battery out of the car if you want. However, if you are only concerned about it freezing, I suggest you have nothing to worry about. I leave my truck outside all winter and don't plug it in. it starts just fine even when the temp gets down in the -30C range. It would just be a lot eaiser to plug the tender in and leave it until that beautiful spring day when you get to take it out of storage
My baby is getting ready for its third year of storage in a non-heated garage for what its worth. Seafoam in the gas tank, extra air in the tires and the battery tender = easy start up in the spring.
on a side note, I would suggest NOT starting the car intermitently through out the winter unless you take it for a drive. letting the car idle in the garage for a few minutes is going to do nothing but build up condensation which is a bad thing. If you can't bring it up to operating temp, don't start it
My baby is getting ready for its third year of storage in a non-heated garage for what its worth. Seafoam in the gas tank, extra air in the tires and the battery tender = easy start up in the spring. on a side note, I would suggest NOT starting the car intermitently through out the winter unless you take it for a drive. letting the car idle in the garage for a few minutes is going to do nothing but build up condensation which is a bad thing. If you can't bring it up to operating temp, don't start it
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,323
Likes: 1,587
From: Western NY
.....On a side note, I would suggest NOT starting the car intermitently through out the winter unless you take it for a drive. letting the car idle in the garage for a few minutes is going to do nothing but build up condensation which is a bad thing. If you can't bring it up to operating temp, don't start it
This debate countiues on......
I, for one, don't like leaving the valve springs compressed in one position for several months at a time. I also don't like to see some of the gaskets/seals potentially dry up due to lack of lubrication. Therefore, I start the engine an let it come up to temperature. I also like to get the A/C compressor turning and circulating the lubricant through the system. BUT everybody has their own methods....
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 173
From: Somewhere North of The 49th Parallel Ontario
Ok, I finally worked it out. I put the sta-bil in the tank, filled er up, backed the car in the garage (up on wooden blocks), unlocked the top and left it loose, hooked up the battery tender and ran the wires under the car and up thru the engine bay, closed the hood, put the cover on and she's good till April.
Smokey.
Smokey.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 0
From: monroeville pa
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Ok, I finally worked it out. I put the sta-bil in the tank, filled er up, backed the car in the garage (up on wooden blocks), unlocked the top and left it loose, hooked up the battery tender and ran the wires under the car and up thru the engine bay, closed the hood, put the cover on and she's good till April.
Smokey.
Smokey.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Wauconda IL
It won't hurt to remove the battery. Several of my friends use a battery tender. I've been storing my car for 9 years now and just disconnect the negative terminal. It always fires right up in the spring. I also fill the gas tank and add Stabil, change the oil, over inflate the tires, and put several bars of Irish Spring soap and fabric softener sheets in the passenger and engine compartments. I then cover it and forget about it for the next 5 1/2 months.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,628
Likes: 397
From: Madison Wi
I noticed that the other day. I had the battery out for a few hours and when I put it back in everything was still "remembered". I hit the memory #1 and my settings were all still there. Pretty odd, I thought.