Re: [FWDLK] Batteries (only)

[David Homstad <dhomstad@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael,

My cars don't have the issues that Tom described for his Viper. Every fall,
I disconnect the battery cables on my old cars and usually remove the
battery, but not always. After up to 6 months of storage, they usually start
fine without even a recharge. For shorter periods of a month or 2 during the
driving season, I don't disconnect the cable. I think that an Optima would
probably do even better, but they don't have the right appearance for a 56
vintage car.

Another storage solution for an outdoor car is a solar cell battery charger.
Just lay it on the dash and plug into the cigarette lighter. The sun does
the rest.

Dave Homstad
56 Dodge D500

-----Original Message-----
From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List
[mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Tom Stroup
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 8:22 PM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Batteries (only)

I fought the battery in my car for years.   If you don't drive it all the
time,
it goes down.  Unhooking it will help a lot.    I hope you don't have a
theft
system.  One of my cars disabled the stereo when the power was unhooked.
Hook battery back up, no stereo.  have to know the secret owner's code for
it.
Learn it before the battery is unhooked.  Best option is to buy a battery
Tender
for about $45 and leave it hooked up.  The battery won't discharge and it
won't boil it dry... just keeps it charged.   On some cars with a
constantly-on
cigar lighter, you can just plug it in there.  Other, you can mount the
small
unit to the car with wires to the battery terminals, plug the cord into a
wall
outlet, and just unplug it when driving away.

I just today hooked up an Optima for my Viper and I plan to get a battery
Tender for next fall when I stop driving the car for a couple of months. The
anti-theft system in a Viper will drain a great battery in less than 60
days,
more like three weeks in my car.  Much worse than a clock and computer.

Last year it was nasty weather even if it is southern Ohio.

Tom


Michael Clark wrote:

> Thanks everyone for your responses on and off list about my battery
> question.  Right now it's running about 50/50 on Optima or just
> disconnecting the regular battery.
>
> I think I'll just leave the regular battery in there and disconnect it,
and
> see how it does.  I'll get an Optima if that doesn't work out.

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