Hey Everyone,

Will be going on a 2 month vacation for the summer months, just wondering if i need to do anything for the NX since it will be parked in the garage for the full 2 months with out being driven or turned on. I read that I can buy a battery minder to help maintain the battery. Does anyone know if I really need this battery minder? Could I just have some one come and start the car and let it idle once a week instead?? Or does anyone else have any other recommendations. Thanks in advance

 

I would recommend picking up a small battery tender (Schumacher brand). It never hurts to keep the battery charged since Toyota doesn't have the intelligence to have their cars cut power when left sitting for long periods of time.

I store my Camaro for 6 months at a time. Since you'll be shorter than that, you don't need to do as much. I would recommend the following:

1. Top off the gas tank - You could use stabil, but since its 2 months, I wouldn't.
2 Overpressure the tires - get them upward to 45psi
3. Connect battery tender, leave on the 2A setting
4. If your garage has any "openings" for mice, feel free to throw some moth ***** under the car
5. Take yours keys to the furthest point of your house away from the car, that way they don't try to "see" each other and add added draining to both.

Do not have someone come and let it idle, its summer time and that would be unnecessary.

 

All I would do is to use the remote app on your phone to start your NX once a week and let it run for the allotted time (10 minutes?).

 

I'm not sure if leaving a car running in a closed garage is such a good idea...

 

I use one of these. Does the job. Just make sure not to use a GFCI outlet that may pop.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...ger-42292.html

 

You're probably right.

However, if there is no one is going to be in there (people, animals), I think the 10-minute maximum unattended limit is fine.

I don't think emissions from vehicle are flammable, so having a gas hot water heater's pilot on shouldn't make a difference.

 

You can also let me have the keys to your car and I can keep it nice and warm till your return

 

Swacer, thanks for the great information.
Unfortunately my NX did not come with the phone app remote starter, I don't think we get that feature up here in Canada. I also agree that I probably would not be comfortable with starting the car in a closed garage especially with nobody home.

 

This may be one of the most dangerous and ill-advised things I've ever seen someone say...

Unless filling your house with CO or potentially burning it down is your plan....

I will repeat again, you do NOT need to start the car. its actually WORSE to start it and let it run for 2 reasons:

1. You are putting corrosive agents into the water that is ponding in your exhaust, and you're not running it enough to evaporate all that water, so those agents sit in your exhaust and accelerate rusting
2. You foul the living day lights out of spark plugs as your car runs richest upon startup.

My Camaro, as I said, sits for 6 months at a time, under a car cover, on carpets, with a battery tender, and is never started once. Spring comes, car starts right up. Been doing that for years.

FWIW, as I said before, since its only 2 months, I wouldn't bother with Stabil. But if you want, buy the bottle, and only put 1/4 bottle in. It works well for long term storage of gas, but its terrible on spark plugs. I ate up 2 plugs on the Camaro with that, and had to replace all 8 last spring after 3 winters of stabil use.

 

how long does the car need to run to avoid these challenges?
I need to move NX to center of garage each morning after the RX leaves so i have room to move around in garage to do laundry, yard work, etc.

 

Two months isn't really all that long to sit for a late model vehicle. Many cars sit on dealer lots, in transit (especially imports) and in staging lots at the point of manufacture for extended periods. Routine precautions, especially during warmer months should be all that is necessary.

 

Battery tender and Stabile. E10 has a 6 week life span, 6 weeks from when it's delivered to the station. You should be fine for 8 weeks but the Stabile will certainly prevent fuel issues.