Hi all, Going away for a couple of weeks and leaving the car at home - I remember reading in the handbook that if the car is going to be idle for a while, it's a good idea to disconnect the battery to stop the alarm etc from draining the battery.

Any disadvantages in doing this or is it even necessary? (I have radio code, car is in secure parking area)

Just wondering

Larry

 

Hey Larry,we park redd during the winter,and start her every two weeks or so.Went out one morning,dead as a doornail!
Took out the battery,charged it up,and it was good to go!
Now I just undo the negative lead,no problems.
Cheers,Jim

 

Can I come along? Where we going???

 

Can't imagine it does any harm, but not sure if it's necessary. I park my 40 for 4 months each year and usually remove the battery, giving it a good charge before reconnecting. I do the key cycle a couple of times (not that that's necessary either!) and the car has leaped into action each time. You'll be fine.

Enjoy the trip!
Scott

 

Hi Larry, I have the solution for you....just bring your kitty here, she'll have 2 other kitties for company

 

Hi Larry,

Hope you're going somewhere fun! I agree with those who recommend disconnecting the battery. My personal experience with modern batteries is that once they've been discharged they are more prone to poor charging and poor charge retention. The typical parascitic drains in an XJ40 can easily draw a battery down in 2 weeks.

Another thing you may want to consider, if the gasoline (petrol?) in Canada contains Ethanol, is to add some fuel stabilizer to the tank and run the car for enough miles to ensure that all the fuel in the fuel rail, injectors and return fuel line contains the stabilizer. According to some sources, Ethanol gives modern fuel a shelf life as short as 2-3 weeks. The example below is probably biased, but it gives you the idea:

Gasoline Expiration - Ethanol Blend Fuels Have a Short Shelf Life

I haven't had a noticeable problem in any of our cars, but they rarely sit for as long as 2 weeks. However, I had a lot of trouble with fuel going bad in our lawn equipment until I started using Sta-bil fuel stabilizer, and have had no problems since, even with lawn equipment that sits all winter:

Gold Eagle - Protecting, Preserving and Performing since 1932

FAQ, STA-BIL, MARINE Formula STA-BIL Frequently Asked Questions | Gold Eagle


Cheers,

Don

 

Well thanks everyone for the tips!

So yes, disconnection will be happening!

Don't think there's much ethanol in the brand of (premium) gas I use, I'll check it out though ...

Where am I going? Much as I would prefer to travel to my favourite 2 cities, Montreal and San Francisco, the other half has sprung a compulsory European trip on me (at very short notice I should add) ..leaving Wednesday 11th for Stockholm, via London.

5 days in Sweden then back to London and on to Somerset and then to Wales, back to Brighton and ending up in London ...back to BC on the 26th.

No Xj40's available for rent so renting a Mini-Cooper in Stockholm and a Nissan Juke in the UK. Will be overjoyed filling up the cars at around $2.40/litre, but on the bright side, these cars are bound to get slightly better mileage than the ol Jag!

Have to take out a second mortgage to pay for hotel rooms in Sweden and to add insult to injury, the Canadian Dollar is REALLY REALLY low right now ..luckily I have a few old mates left in the UK who'll put up with us for a night or two.

When I get back I hope to cruise up island to check on Jim and Cindy's two 40's - in the meantime, I'll try to drop a line or two about any interesting 40's I see across the pond!

Anyway, still here for another 10 days ...


all the best to all

Happy motoring

Larry

 

Back from Europe, the old jag fired right up after re-connecting the battery. Reset the radio code all was back to normal.

Rented a Volvo (what else?) in Sweden, not a bad unit and running on diesel like almost all cars in Europe ...used about a full tank so covered quite a bit of ground ..still, quite a pricey tankful compared to N American costs.
Rented a BMW in the UK, again on diesel using about a tankful there too ..getting about 50mpg.

These new-fangled cars took a little getting used to - I even returned the Volvo after driving into the first town I hit (Nyokoping) as it was stalling at every stop. When I got back to the Hertz depot at Skvasta airport, the receptionist told me it was supposed to stall out when you come to a complete stop! When you press the throttle it starts up again - the idea is that it uses less fuel if you're in stop-and-go trafffic. Starter motors anyone?

The BMW had the same function but it was the indicators that gave me the most frustration over in the UK - no problem indicating a lane change but cancelling the direction signal was another matter! Instead of returning the arm to the default position, you have to move it in the same direction to switch it off - it took me quite a while to figure it out (I actually had to ask someone what the heck was going on) but not before I'd driven about a couple of hours with the indicators going left and right and no doubt confusing the drivers behind me as to what on earth I was intending to do!

That's what happens when you only drive "old" cars at home!!

all the best

Larry

 

Welcome home, Larry!

Glad you had a successful trip, and congratulations on graduating from CATS (Confusing Automotive Technology School.)

Cheers,

Don

 

Nice report, Larry. Welcome back and glad to hear the that the 'old' Jag welcomed you home by not missing a beat.

Cheers!
Scott+

 

Larry,

I guess my ticket and itinerary must have gotten lost in the mail!!!

Glad you had a great time, welcome back.