[MichaelofGF]

My wife has a new car and insists that she now reclaim her garage spot (currently the home of the 968; "my" side is occupied by the Boxster S). So, reluctantly, I must place the 968 in storage for a while. I have found a reasonably good storage facility but it doesn't have electricity. I have read prior threads about what to do prior to storage and will take heed - though I intend to drive the car every couple of weeks or so. My question has to do with saving the battery. SInce I will have no electricity for a battery tender - which I use now - I am left with having to disconnect the battery to prevent gradual discharge. Will this practice cause problems with the cars electronics? I suppose I could remove the battery, take it home and keep it on the charger - what a pain! What are other's experiences? What do you suggest?



Thanks.

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[DaveN]

That's a tough one. Because our batteries seem to last 1-4 weeks, no rhyme or reason it seems, you are right in the middle with 2 weeks. Removing the battery post kills the radio settings but if you don't care about that then it should be no problem; just keep a box-end in the car.

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[flash]

get a new wife? dump the boxster?



seriously, disconnecting the battery should not cause any issues unless you ground out the positive post to something in the process



you will lose memory on most radios and such each time



a couple of weeks should be ok without having to do anything, but i would consider getting one of those emergency battery jumper thingies rather than disconnecting the battery. it would be much easier to transport, and deal with

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[oppositelock]

Michael.



Best is a battery maintainer, but that is not an option because there is no electricity. Next best is get a battery cut off switch like the type used on track cars and install it inline with your negative battery cable. This will serve the dual purpose of keeping the battery alive longer and preventing the car from getting stolen, because you can take the cut off switch "key" with you. You'll loose any radio presets and if your radio is anti-theft, then you'll have to put in any anti-theft code as required. The most un-nerving part is the car will run like dog doo for several minutes as the ECU "relearns" after the memory has been wiped out. At times you'll think the timing belt has skipped. Jumping is nerve racking because of the sensitive electronics, but may nothing ever happens. Manufacturers are leary of the practice without specific proceedures, so they must know something. Flash may have something with the jumper box though. Instead of using it as a jumper box, us it as a second portable battery. Hook it up to the battery and maybe you'll get 1.5 to 2 times time lenghth before the battery dies. I have no idea, never experimented with it.

Mitch

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[tamathumper]

Some of the emergency battery packs have a 12V plug that goes into the cigarette lighter, like this device, to maintain your radio settings for a while.



http://www.drivingcomfort.com/electronic...attery.cfm

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[DaveN]

That's basically what leaving your battery connected does so, ipso facto, an emergency battery pack would die as well, qui?

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[tamathumper]

Yes, but if he's on the bubble of two weeks (or so), another battery plugged in simply through the 12V port might help get through the few extra days.

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[DaveN]

True. I really like the knife switch idea if all you play is CD's

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[KRAG50]

Harbor Freight or Northern Equipment both sell Solar Powered battery maintainers, the RV crowd uses them when storing their rigs.

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[Lear35A]

I didn't think our senior citizen generation ECU's had a volatile memory. EEPROMs don't need power to keep their data and programs, and I'm pretty sure that's what we've got. So disconnecting the battery shouldn't affect the engine.

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[kmckmc]

Another 968 owner informed me that after disconnecting/re-connecting the battery, the the radio settings would be gone ,also the AIR BAG light would be lit (for 968 with non-airbag steering wheel mod). So, the 968 will need a computer reset to clear the airbag light. What do you think?

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[DaveN]

I have had the radio setting disappear, expected that. I have never had the air bag light come on though. Before and after the airbag mod (resistor) have been problem free as far as the ! light.

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[MB968]

Had my car laid up with the battery disconnected for probably 9 months while I took my time doing a variety of maint. items on the car. I'm sure I had to reset stations on the radio, but no issues with airbag, or DME or anything else.

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[Inkedupfatboy]

check with the storage facility - the one I am in, will gladly run a circuit to a locker if a customer requests it. Can you split the cost to run a line, after all the storage owner will be able to charge more once you are gone...can you run an extension cord somewhere? Look into options - might be an easier solution available..

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