Maintaining battery during winter storage

[clickman]

This is my first winter storage. The car has a Moll Kamina 580 42 80Ah battery, and I just got a CTEK Multi US 3300 smart charger. I want to leave the battery in the car and hooked up while the charge is attached and running. I plan to run the car every couple weeks or so to circulate fluids. Any issues?

thx Norm

2001 Boxster, 5 spd

[amegarth]

Norm

No help just in the same situation with First winter for our 97 2.5l Tiptronic in the garage on SilverStar Mtn. BC. We have it covered but no battery charger yet. Last run 1 week ago. Plan on monitoring the battery. I would guess that if you run it every week long enough to recharge the battery that it wouldn't need a charger . I have a battery charger but it is noisy and uses a lot of power even when it is not charging(cooling fan) I need to get a battery maintainer type of charger. I will look up CTEK Multi US 3300 smart charger and read about it.

Thanks

Garth

[Dave S.]

I too am new to owning a Boxster this year, but I have stored Triumph sports cars, motorcycles and Jeeps every winter since the late 1970's.

My advice is:

1. Best to remove the battery from the vehicle and charge it every month during the winter

2. If you don't want to remove it, get a float charger and hook it up and let it maintain the battery charge while in the vehicle

3. Don't start the vehicle up on any regular interval while it is stored. Unless you actually drive it and get everything up to full operating temp. You will do more damage to everything by occasionally starting it up as this condition creates the most engine wear you will experience and will add moisture to the exhaust system.

What ever you do, don't leave the battery in the vehicle and allow it to go completely dead. Not only will this damage the battery but it can also spread corrosion around the battery and also to switches and connections in your car's electrical system.

Dave S.

Edited November 7, 2008 by Dave S.

[jmatta]

Leave the battery in the car and put it on a float charger, such as the "Battery Tender". If you remove the battery, you will clear all the codes and programs in the DME and will need to drive the car a week or so next spring to "reprogram" the unit. There are a dozen or so "ready" codes that need to be maintained in the DME and they will be lost if the battery is disconnected. Do not start the car, as Dave mentioned in the prior post; you will do more harm than good and introduce alot of moisture to the intake and exhaust. Put a can of "Sea Foam" in with the gas, so it does not go foul over the winter and you will have a clean fuel system come next spring. I've been storing my various Porsches like this for many years and have never had any problems. BTW, did you change the oil before winter storage? Don't want the old fluid sitting in there until next spring, either.

[mikefocke]

The Boxster in Winter

I've collected Winter Storage and Winter Driver thoughts from various places and added my own experiences here.

[Westcoaster]

Hey Norm, not a bad price from Canadian Tire huh? ;)

I just picked up one from there last week. Also ordered the cig adapter so I can keep the battery maintained during the time I don't drive it over the next few months.

[White987S]

I plug my Porsche Battery Maintainer into the car at all times it's sitting in the garage between drives and during the +5 months of winter storage.

[clickman]

Hey Norm, not a bad price from Canadian Tire huh? ;)

I just picked up one from there last week. Also ordered the cig adapter so I can keep the battery maintained during the time I don't drive it over the next few months.

Lordco. CT had their own that cost $30 more and which they were out of stock of. I'm connecting mine directly to the battery.

[Westcoaster]

Hey Norm, not a bad price from Canadian Tire huh? ;)

I just picked up one from there last week. Also ordered the cig adapter so I can keep the battery maintained during the time I don't drive it over the next few months.

Lordco. CT had their own that cost $30 more and which they were out of stock of. I'm connecting mine directly to the battery.

Really, didn't know they sold them there as Lordco was not listed by CTEK as a reseller. Mine cost $59... $15 for the adapter.