Vampire draw

[Traveler74]

How long will a new battery last long enough to start the truck if it is just sitting and not being driven ? I only use it a few times/month . Anyone know if the computer and clock will drain the battery in 2-3 weeks ?

 

[Bumbo]

Kinda hard to tell… but you should be able to make it 2-3 weeks without help. The draw might vary from truck to truck, especially if you have aftermarket accessories, along with your battery health.

A small 20 watt solar panel on the dash and a cheapie charge controller will do wonders for you. That’s how I have been keeping my car healthy because I don’t have an outlet for a battery tender.

 

[phattyduck]

It *should* be fine for 2-3 weeks at a time. But the 'recharge' drives will have to be for some time - the battery takes more than a few minutes to recharge.

I'd second the suggestion for either a Battery Tender (or similar trickle charger) or a small solar panel, depending on the parking situation.

-Charlie

edit: I personally try to have a battery tender on any of my cars that get parked for more than a week.

 

[Traveler74]

It *should* be fine for 2-3 weeks at a time. But the 'recharge' drives will have to be for some time - the battery takes more than a few minutes to recharge.

I'd second the suggestion for either a Battery Tender (or similar trickle charger) or a small solar panel, depending on the parking situation.

-Charlie

edit: I personally try to have a battery tender on any of my cars that get parked for more than a week.

Hmm, great idea. I never thought of that. I looked on Amazon and they have a few that cost only $25. Apparently, they just plug into the cigarette lighter and do not need to be clamped onto the battery.

 

[TheDurk]

I spend much of the winter in Brazil, normally. Frequently I leave the truck for two, even three months. I just pull the battery negative. When I come back, pop it back on, she starts right up.

 

[Traveler74]

I spend much of the winter in Brazil, normally. Frequently I leave the truck for two, even three months. I just pull the battery negative. When I come back, pop it back on, she starts right up.

Does disconnecting the battery foul up your computer programs ? Mess with idle speed etc ?

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Hmm, great idea. I never thought of that. I looked on Amazon and they have a few that cost only $25. Apparently, they just plug into the cigarette lighter and do not need to be clamped onto the battery.

Our cig lighter is not hot with key off so you would need to hardwire your cig lighter directly to the battery to do that.

Depending on engine condition, disconnecting the battery to store your vehicle may or may not cause low idle/drivability issues while it relearns it’s adaptive parameters.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TheDurk]

Does disconnecting the battery foul up your computer programs ? Mess with idle speed etc ?

It relearns quickly. I barely notice anything being off, if at all. Biggest problem is the time and radio presets on the head unit.

Still a lot better than a dead battery.

 

[96RedRunner]

Anyone know if the computer and clock will drain the battery in 2-3 weeks ?

It shouldn't, if it does you have other problems.
96Red would sit from 21 to 36 days at Heliport while I did my hitch.
One time in 10 yr it didn't start, 5 yr old Battery was done.

 

[phattyduck]

Our cig lighter is not hot with key off so you would need to hardwire your cig lighter directly to the battery to do that.

It is pretty easy to put a jumper wire in one of the relays in the engine bay to have the lower two (and back hatch) plugs hot all the time. No permanent vehicle changes needed.

-Charlie

 

[Bumbo]

I back-feed thru my 12v cig/accessory jack. Very convenient way of using a solar tender inside the car.

 

[LittleCaesar]

For me I have found that through experience usually an AGM battery will not lose its charge as quickly as a lead acid one so that may figure into your future plans if your 4Runner sits for some time.

If not, another vote for a battery tender of some kind.

 

[Devbot]

I've used my battery tender more times than I can count, WELL worth my money. Been a life saver at times.
Batteries can be a real crap shoot. One time I did a timing belt job on a early 00s Civic (maybe it was a 90s Sentra?) that was sitting for well over a year and it started up somehow on the old batt - then there was another time back in high school I replaced the one in my Dakota on a sunday, went to class on friday, came out at lunch 4 hours later and it was dead as a doornail. Couldn't find a drain on it, and Napa even ended up giving me a free replacement for it. It's ALWAYS smart to keep a tender around, it can be a real ace up the sleeve