Anyone have any issues after starting the XKR after a long sit (about 8 weeks)? Should I expect any adverse affects?

 

Somewhat flat-spotted tires? I have that after a few months of sitting. Otherwise, zero else.

 

What Cee Jay said.

 

Well….one more thing. Unless you have had the car on a battery maintainer, the battery will not be at full voltage after sitting that long. In these cars (and many others) the multiple electronic modules need full voltage. So if you battery is low you might see odd warning lights, various systems not working properly, the touch screen blank or lazy, the convertible top not latching…it is always the battery. Battery at full voltage, the problems disappear.

 

curious...Any issues with adding a battery shutoff on the negative cable?

I've had one on my 928 for about 15 yrs and it is proved to be a very handy thing when you want to store the car or just work on it and have to disconnect the battery....let alone a fire via a short. The switch was mounted where it was easily and quickly accessible. Like the XKR the 928 battery is in the rear.

this is what i use in the 928

 

I had my old F150 on an Automatic Battery Disconnect Switch. That sucker saved me several times. It disconnected the battery if it fell below 12.2~12.4 volts.

 

That's a hellava switch.

 

Just took mine out after about 4 months of hibernation on a battery maintainer. No issues. Even the tyres rounded out quite quickly although I had again forgotten to up the pressures for the sleep.

 

Fairly standard switch on the boats I have owned for both House and starting batteries

 

Yup - my 27 Catalina has one, although I have a small bypass switch for the bilge pump.

 

I do have an "OFF" switch on the rear of my drag car, required by the NHRA. A bit different as these ones must also disconnect any installed alternator output so the engine stops.

 

Even if our cars had the off switch....wouldn't the battery over time discharge (at a slower rate) anyway without a Battery maintainer?

 

You will loose all your custom setting, radio, mirrors, seats may need to be reprogrammed with a SDD as it might not tilt forward etc.

 

yep just at a much slower rate of discharge.

 

What should be done with the tire pressure during hibernation? Thanks.

 

Depending on how long you want to store it? Where you live? If there is a large temperature variation like snow in winter and stinking hot summer, then ideally in a temperature control garage.

For long term storage, I would inflate the tyres to max PSI, like 45psi, then raise the car and place it on jack stands. If you don't have jack stands then marine grade carpet etc between the garage floor and tyres.

 

I agree with the max PSI, which I do, but not sure about the jack stands. I’ve read that it’s not a natural thing for the suspension to hang like that for a long period. Carpet probably works, but I use four (18”x18”) squares of 1/2” plywood to keep the rubber off the concrete.

 

Jack stands UNDER the suspension. At least that's how I've always done it.

 

Now that makes sense. Just seems kind of tricky to get the four corners up (and down) on moving components. I’ll stick to parking on plywood, and keeping some tasty mousetraps around to keep the critters out.

 

I put my 07 XKR away in late November with a battery maintainer. About 3 weeks ago I took it out for a 10 mile drive, it was flawless after the tires went back to round. I put it back for a bit more hibernation, locked the doors and forgot to put the battery maintainer back on. Last Thursday I realized that the battery maintainer wasn’t connected. To my surprise it started and didn’t have any warning lights on. That’s 2 1/2 weeks holding a charge good enough to start and operate all the electrical items properly. Connected the battery maintainer and by Sunday it went green, full charge.