Just got my new Karoq but unfortunately will not be able to use it for a few weeks due to cateract surgery, if I start it and run it for 30 mins every two weeks  do you think that will be enough to keep the battery charged, that's what nissan said in their manual for the Qashqai, but there is no mention of the same in the Karoq manual, they just say trickle charge....

2 hours ago, Bryfly said:

do you think that will be enough

No.

Use a smart charger suitable for your stop/start battery and check how to connect it to the car.

Don't use the Negative terminal!

 

Thanks. AG Falco

CTEK or similar, works for ours nicely for leaving the car in our garage for months (up to 5) at a time, however for a few weeks I wouldn’t bother if I know it’s had a reasonable run beforehand.

Thanks for the tips, Will be kept in the garage,  but awkward to get power there, hence my question...cheers

As a precaution, store it locked but with the bonnet popped (able to open but not lifted).  Then if there is an issue you can easily get to the battery terminals without having use the emergency lock to get into the car and force the bonnet release leaver if you can’t get the passenger door unlocked and open.  My car’s sitting like that at the mo as prob won’t be using it for a good while. 

Edited 10 August, 20241 yr by DSL

I too would have recommended a CTEK charger to maintain the battery, but if mains power is an issue then have you considered a solar trickle charger for example ProPlus Solar trickle charger 12V 1,5W | Euro Car Parts there are plenty of other makes around.  The option to remove the battery and put it on a trickle charge in doors is probably not a good ide given modern cars dont like not having a battery connected. Another option is to buy a battery boost pack which can be charged up elsewhere and used to top the battery up periodically without needing a mains power lead.

 

Must be so disappointing to have a new Karoq sitting there and unable to use it. The advice to have the bonnet left open, being ultra cautious myself I would leave it unlocked with a window partially open bit only if your garage is secure.

4 hours ago, Bryfly said:

if I start it and run it for 30 mins every two weeks  do you think that will be enough to keep the battery charged

 

More than enough, probably 28 minutes too much and not too green but better to let the engine warm through after starting.

 

Are you having both eyes done at the same time? They normally do one and then the other a couple of weeks later.

 

I only have vision in one eye and took a risk having cataract surgery, I was safe to drive the next day as have others I know but I waited the 2 days (weekend) before seeing the opthalmo on the Monday for the all clear, I suspect the problem is not being able to see the UK opthalmo for a very long time after the op, it really should be within a couple of days.

9 minutes ago, J.R. said:

 

More than enough, probably 28 minutes too much and not too green but better to let the engine warm through after starting.

 

Are you having both eyes done at the same time? They normally do one and then the other a couple of weeks later.

 

First one is ok, but the other is so bad my vision does not match, so stuck for couple of weeks waiting for the other eye to be done....

We leave our Karoq on our driveway for up to 2 months at a time as we spend time away in France. No issue starting on return.

1 hour ago, Bryfly said:

First one is ok, but the other is so bad my vision does not match, so stuck for couple of weeks waiting for the other eye to be done....

 

I bet you will see very well from the first operated eye within 24/48 hours, far better than before, with 2 equal eyes one suddenly having correction can throw things out in the brain which takes a while to re-adapt but if the other is bad the operated on eye will already be the dominant one so you should have no problems unless they are doing the bad one first.

 

I speak from experience.

 

How long after the first procedure before your follow up appointment?

 

Are you having a single vision or multi-focal lens implant?

Thanks for all the input, a summary of the advice seems to be getting either

Smart charger, CTEK or similar, suitable for stop/start battery ( no power)
Solar trickle charger. ( Some are not waterproof)
Battery boost pack.

 

If In a secure garage.

Leave unlocked.
Pop the bonnet.
Leave window partially open.

 

Cheers bry

At the beginning of the first lockdown, I wasn't able to use the Karoq, so bought a CTEK charger; it proved very effective. Fortunately, I was able to park in front of my garage and bring the power lead out under the door,

 

I recall that a member had written on these pages about a Karoq being left for a period on an airport car park and, on return, had found the battery as flat as a pancake. The AA (?) chap arrived and gained access to the battery by tugging the release lever until it was sufficiently distorted to flip the bonnet. As a fore-warned is fore-armed sort of bloke, I tested this for myself on the drive and, indeed, it worked; not ideal, though!

 

Best wishes for a successful cataract procedure.

Edited 11 August, 20241 yr by StEdmund
Addition

@Bryfly

 

Well the other option is to do nothing, as I pointed out our Karoq, now with a 6 year old battery, starts immediately even when been left for nearly 2 months

7 minutes ago, sussamb said:

@Bryfly

 

Well the other option is to do nothing, as I pointed out our Karoq, now with a 6 year old battery, starts immediately even when been left for nearly 2 months

Guess I'm a bit paranoid I had a 2021 Karoq where the battery was always letting me down due to not much use, fingers crossed this one will be better...

The standby consumption after the settling down period would normally be between 15 and 25 ma, if the battery is good that would give you more than enough autonomy.

 

That is not taking into account accessories like dashcams etc or chargers left plugged in, trackers etc etc. My cars autonomy is reduced by 40% because of the towing relay, it is activated when car locked up because one might have left the vehicle and trailer with the parking lights on for  safety, it takes far less than previous generations but is still significant enough that I cant be sure my battery would start the car after a month, I have fitted a switch to disable it for that purpose which I seem to knock on a regular basis loading stuff disabling the towing lights.

If I go the charger route I guess this is the charger I Would need, CTEK  CT5 START/STOP UK,  does anybody use this one and do I need this to go with it CTX INDICATOR PLUG 12V....tia

 

I've just been out to the garage to check, and this is the exact model (CT5 start/stop) that I've got.

 

Whilst Ctek chargers are expensive, their service is pretty good. I hadn't had the charger for long, and was charging up my wife's B-max when one of the crocodile clip covers flicked off and disappeared deep into the engine bay; I feared that I would have to take the engine out in order to find it. I wrote to Ctek, and they very kindly supplied me (FoC) with a replacement.

 

I don't know about the CTX indicator plug, I don't have one.

You don't need the indicator plug unless you are determined to connect via the cigarette lighter instead of  the terminals under the bonnet.  And if so, the cig lighter socket has to remain live indefinitely.  It is live when first entering the car, with ignition still off, but I don't know whether it may shut down after some time. Someone who has powered a dash cam from it will know.  But it's easier to forget about the indicator plug.

Might be worth looking at the Maypole range of chargers https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/page/9373D16E-B430-4421-A0A6-28F968CA5F3B?ingress=2&visitId=108ab252-6983-4728-8415-fd04dc77ed01&ref_=ast_bln .

 

They're UK manfactured and seem to have a good reputation although I've not used one myself.

18 hours ago, Bryfly said:

If I go the charger route I guess this is the charger I Would need, CTEK  CT5 START/STOP UK,  does anybody use this one and do I need this to go with it CTX INDICATOR PLUG 12V....tia

If you can afford it and want it then buy it but you don't need such an expensive make and model, my mate has a couple of them and they show different on the same battery, not impressive to me.

 

A neighbour and others I know have bought the £15 ones from Lidl or Aldi (I always mix the two shops up) and they have all worked great, my neighbour's must be at least 6 years old and is used frequently on his very low use car.

 

Here is just (another now)  example (4-amps is a good size) RingRSC904 (4-amp Smart Battery Charger & Maintainer)  I've had the previous version for a few years now for my wife's 2015 Fabia (I prefer numbers to lights as you can tell where you are more). - https://www.ringautomotive.com/en/product/RSC904

 

 

On 10/08/2024 at 16:31, sussamb said:

We leave our Karoq on our driveway for up to 2 months at a time as we spend time away in France. No issue starting on return.

Just because the cart starts doesn't necessarily mean the battery is fully good, good enough to start the car yes but it could still be in a low state of charge that upset the car's computers and programs (numerous posts threads on here about the issues that can arise) until the battery is charged by driving the car or use of a battery charger and the battery's useful life could have been shortened.

 

Another neighbour had a car that sat for about 2-3 months outside, it had to be driven to try to clear the rust off the brakes disks, of course the engine started fine but the battery wouldn't fully charge even when taken off the car.  The car remained parked up, later the car was taken for it's annual service and first MoT, a couple of miles away, then returned to remain parked up.  Bit later and the car is bought by one of the big dealerships and I'm sure the same battery will be on the car when it's sold but will need replacement soon after.

 

ETA: minus 2c or 3c overnight

 

Edited 12 August, 20241 yr by nta16
ETA

Nope. Never an issue with lights etc. The battery is now 6 years old so clearly life hasn't been affected.

Edited 12 August, 20241 yr by sussamb

44 minutes ago, sussamb said:

Nope. Never an issue with lights etc. The battery is now 6 years old so clearly life hasn't been affected.

6 years old need not be very old for a battery, it depends on it's use/abuse and possible neglect.  With the more modern cars the battery has to be really on its arse for it not to start the car but that doesn't mean the battery is good just good enough to start the car.  Perhaps your battery is good, without testing/readings that is an assumption though, same as it hasn't been affected.  A 6 year old car generally has less on it than a 2024 car and 2022 car.  If you left your 2022 car for two months you might notice more - or perhaps you wouldn't without taking readings.

 

As I put my neighbours car's battery wasn't good more like 5.5 cells out of 6 when I first looked at it and it wouldn't improve by later being left longer to drain - but the car would have started easily and lights seem bright enough (not measured).  The car was only just over three years old (2021) and presumably (never dated) the battery not much older.

 

Not that I follow all the dictates of VW but the 2018 Karoq 'Owner's Manual' has - "If the vehicle is not used for longer than 3 to 4 weeks, then disconnect the negative terminal  or charge the battery constantly with a very low charging current".

 

 

2022 Kamiq Owner's Manual has -

"Functionality – Protection against discharge of the 12 volt vehicle battery

Possible causes for the discharge of the 12 volt vehicle battery

• Worn 12 volt vehicle battery
• Frequent short journeys
• Low temperatures
• Vehicle stationary for a long period of time

Recommended measure to be taken when vehicle is stationary for more than three weeks

• Disconnect the [ negative ] terminal of the 12 volt vehicle battery."

 

My Citroen C4 diesel had to be left for 6 months, after my licence was suspended (diagnosed with Sleep Apnea). Car was only a few months old, but started immediately (or near enough), having been left parked up for those 6 months. Probably the fact it was a nearly new car, that the battery could cope.

1 hour ago, Choclab said:

My Citroen C4 diesel had to be left for 6 months, after my licence was suspended (diagnosed with Sleep Apnea). Car was only a few months old, but started immediately (or near enough), having been left parked up for those 6 months. Probably the fact it was a nearly new car, that the battery could cope.

There are many variables, time of year and temperatures will make some difference.  As I put before a battery that is good enough to start the car doesn't mean it's on a good state of charge and health.  If you're not keeping the car long and/or a need to change the battery and 'coding' aren't a concern then that's fine.  The life of the battery will have been diminished against had the car not stood still so long or if the battery had been disconnected.  I'd not suggest trying such a thing with a modern VW car.

 

On 11/08/2024 at 20:49, mumpsim said:

You don't need the indicator plug unless you are determined to connect via the cigarette lighter instead of  the terminals under the bonnet.  And if so, the cig lighter socket has to remain live indefinitely.  It is live when first entering the car, with ignition still off, but I don't know whether it may shut down after some time. Someone who has powered a dash cam from it will know.  But it's easier to forget about the indicator plug.

 

Depending on the age of the car, the sockets may remain permanently live. They are on our late 2021 Karoq, and I wish they were switched.It meant I had to get a special adapter when using our car fridge, and it may cause me issues with a dashcam. I don't have the car at present as it is in having its SOS system sorted for the third time, but in the 73 reg VW T-Roc I have as a loan car, the socket (front anyway) is switched so the later Karoqs may have reverted to switched sockets.

Edited 14 August, 20241 yr by Routemaster1461