Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Battery Protection During Vehicle Storage

In order to maintain the battery state of charge while storing the vehicle for more than 30 days:
1. Make sure that the green dot is visible in the built-in hydrometer.
2. Disconnect the battery ground (negative) cable to protect the battery from discharge by parasitic current drains.

When the battery cannot be disconnected:
1. Maintain a high state of charge.
2. Establish a regular schedule for recharging the battery every 20-45 days.
3. When a battery is found without a green dot visible in the hydrometer, promptly recharge the battery. Refer to Battery Charging. Service and Repair
A battery that has remained in a discharged state for a long period of time is difficult to recharge or may be permanently damaged.
To reconnect the battery ground (negative) cable refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnect/Connect