Ford Transit Forum

by **a1jonuk** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 11:53 am

Hi all and merry christmas,
My van will be parked up for a couple of weeks over christmas.
I know if I leave it for 2 weeks in this weather I will have a problem starting it.
Would it be best to start it and let it idle for 10 minutes or so every couple of days or does it need to be taken for a run?

Andy.

by **AndyG** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:39 pm

Remove battery and take it indoors, charge it up while indoors and refit when you next want to use your van

by **fastmower** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:17 pm

Agreed.

If that's not an option then a run would be better - leaving a diesel idling isn't the best approach.

Andy

by **trigger** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:30 pm

Deffo a run, less hassle than removing and refitting batterys

by **simplyshaker** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:39 pm

I took the battery off and kept it on trickle charge. When I put it back on the van it started first time.
If you want to charge your battery up after starting, your going to have to have a good ten minutes drive I would think.

by **winterheating** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:44 pm

simplyshaker wrote:I took the battery off and kept it on trickle charge. When I put it back on the van it started first time.
If you want to charge your battery up after starting, your going to have to have a good ten minutes drive I would think.

this wont charge a battery correctly like trickle charging does, you could start a vehicle with battery at half capacity drive round all day and it will still be at half capacity.

best keeping battery indoors charging, and top it up,then you'll know you have a good fully charged battery.

by **jolly olly** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 1:45 am

would one of these be any good, Solar Powered 12V Battery Trickle Charger-Boats/Cars
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Solar-Powered-12V ... 2c52426fd3

by **knighty1981** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:44 am

not really.... 1.5watts is nothing

it's only about 0.125amps at 12v..... you'd be lucky to get 4 hours of power out of it... it'll need direct sunlight... and if there's a shade over a small part of the solar pannel, the entire thing stops working...

better to take your battery inside if you can where it's a bit warmer

by **GBBiker** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:35 am

Take it for a good run and doughnut round the chavs in Maccy D's car park. Quite easy in this weather :twisted:

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Let it idle or take for a run ?

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