The previous threads about X100 storage considerations speak about removing the battery for the storage period. I wonder whether there are any battery reconnection considerations to contemplate in that process. Does prolonged power disruption to all of the vehicle modules require any reconnection/ restart consideration or process? Perhaps even minor issues like radio preset memory, or compass calibration, or remote doorlock pairing?

 

Removing the battery for a few months will have no adverse effect on the car.
The BATTERY TRANSIT ISOLATION DEVISE is designed to do just that during long transit times between the manufacture and destination.
We removed the devise when the the car arrived from the UK before delivering to the customer.
The fuel pump might fail during the dormant period but that will be because of the age of the parts.

 

Thank you for the reply, it is quite comforting.

The BATTERY TRANSIT ISOLATION DEVISE was designed to do what, exactly?

 

isolate the battery

 

🤣

How?

 

solitary confinement @ Alcatraz

 

If you remove the battery negative you have isolated it. You could connect a charger via a timer ..say comes on for 1 hr every 7 days

 

My concern is related to my storage facility which has no power access, and storing it for 3-4 months.

 

Take the battery home !!
Solar panel on roof or slung on the door

 

It was designed to stop the battery from draining during shipping, but still allowed the engine to start and the windows to drop when opening the doors. It's only function now is to confuse people as to why there are loose connectors by the battery.

I think you will be fine just disconnecting the battery.

 

If you disconnect the battery, when reconnecting, you will need to recalibrate the door windows or they will just keep dropping a little every time you open the handle. It is an easy procedure, simply push and hold the down button on each until the window drops fully, then wait a few seconds and you will hear / feel the motor / relay go off, then do the same in the up direction. Then the car will remember and all work fine.

 

Battery off means learned values will be lost. When started it relearns but may run a bit rough as it does.

It will also unset OBD monitors needed for smog if that applies where you are.

Put max air into tyres. Try to reduce effects of damp e.g. membrane on top of concrete then car on that.

Best to change oil on or soon after restarting it.

 

Perhaps it's just a false concern, but I'm a little skeptical about leaving old electronics without power for long periods of time. I have power in my garage, so I can use the maintainer and periodically turn on the ignition and test the electrical devices with the engine off.

 

aside from the alarm, trunk, and doors, what electronics are connected to the battery when the key is out of the ignition switch ? IDK.

Z

 

I'm pretty certain that most (if not all) modules have a permanent supply as well as switched by the ignition key, in the same way that the radio has a permanent supply so it doesn't forget its settings. What deterioration happens to the sleeping circuits during long term switched off or battery disconnection is anyone's guess.

I think we all agree though that using these cars is the best form of preventative maintenance. Personally I would want to start the engine every so often during the winter, even if the car wasn't going to be driven. Warm the engine up, operate every switch you can on the car multiple times, then put it back to bed and keep the battery charged at home.

The alternative is to start a thread in March saying "Car won't start, multiple warning lights on, 600 codes found. Help!"

 

That's why I prefer not to disconnect the battery, and once a week I turn on the dashboard and operate the various electrical devices. This also activates the fuel pump for a few seconds, preventing it from seizing up. I don't start the engine to avoid condensation in the exhaust system and engine block (being Nikasil, it could suffer). In my region the storage period is relatively short, lasts for a maximum of two or three months a year, depending on the weather and the salt on the roads.

 

Hello,
I briefly looked into AI. Ultimately, the electronics die from heat damage, such as cold solder joints, defective capacitors, etc. So continuous operation of the control units is rather harmful.
For decades, I have been disconnecting the battery during the winter storage period. When restarting the XK8, all I have to do is programme the windows and enter the radio code.
Best regards, Willi

 

Will my 2004 car have a required radio code? Where might I find that code?
It is a Alpine system with CD changer in the boot.

 

I suspect NA cars don't have a code but I am not sure.

(Over here (& various other countries) thefts resulted in codes...)

 

FWIW, My 2002 XKR does not need a radio code after a disconnect of the battery.