Winter storage

[MisterX]

Thinking about 'laying up' the GTO3 for the winter - partly due to lousy weather and also cos its more fun in daylight.

Anyone any tips on what if anything should be done to look after it when sitting in garage for couple of months (car sitting in garage, not owner!). Eg should I fire it up every week or so.

Its just had annual service so there's new oil in the sump.

[stuh]

MisterX

From my experience it's a good idea to get a trickle charge for the battery as the tracker has a habit of draining the battery after a couple of weeks. Also the discs can get a bit rusty on the pads so it might be worth rolling the car onto a slight gradient or blocks in the garage ?

I drove mine all through last winter though and it was great. Those turbo's love the cold dry air

It's also good to see peoples reactions as the car creates it's trademark rooster tail water jet at the back on wet roads !

[micknall]

A trickle charge is definitely a good idea to keep the battery in good health. But make sure the charger you use is sophisticated enough to turn itself on and off depending on the level of charge.

[amg merc]

micknall said:

A trickle charge is definitely a good idea to keep the battery in good health. But make sure the charger you use is sophisticated enough to turn itself on and off depending on the level of charge.

Simon, can you suggest any specific models?

[actech]

The TVR Car Club do one that is supposed to be pretty good. I think the topic has been raised before so do a search on the forum or NOC site.

[3rtt]

The accumate battery conditioner is very good.

Try accumate.co.uk

Rob, If you ask the guys at the factory, they will run a cable from the car battery to inside the engine bay (near the clam fixing) so that you can connect to the conditioner much more easily. Expect a small labour charge.

Cheers,
Ian.

[amg merc]

3rtt said:

The accumate battery conditioner is very good. Try accumate.co.uk Rob, If you ask the guys at the factory, they will run a cable from the car battery to inside the engine bay (near the clam fixing) so that you can connect to the conditioner much more easily. Expect a small labour charge. Cheers, Ian.

Thanks Ian, will do!

[micknall]

AMG,

Draper (www.draper.co.uk) do one called the Intelligent Battery Charger. It retails at £41.13.

[amg merc]

micknall said:

AMG, Draper (www.draper.co.uk) do one called the Intelligent Battery Charger. It retails at £41.13.

Thanks Simon.

[sidekick]

Great minds and all that....just ordered a Leven Technologies "intelligent" battery charger/conditioner and cigarette lighter lead (so it can be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket in the cabin rather than having to open up the rear clam and put connectors on the battery). Ordered it online from TVRCC (www.tvrcc.com), total price £58.50 incl. VAT and shipping. I think Joust has a similar device which he purchased via SELOC, don't know much he paid tho.

[MisterX]

Thanks all. Have ordered the same one as Sidekick.

[MisterX]

Ok, now have received the trickle charger. Good service from supplier (TVR club).

Next question: Do I set it for 6v or 12v, as incorrect setting 'can cause explosion'? Nothing in the Noble handbook to say what type of battery is installed, and contrary to the branded one illustrated in the handbook, the battery actually installed is an anonymous black lump with no markings whatsoever!!!

[3rtt]

It's 12 volt. Very few (if any) cars run 6 volt these days. Mainly bikes I believe.

Cheers.
Ian

PS. Don't be surprised how long it takes to fully charge the battery.



>> Edited by 3rtt on Monday 22 December 10:34

[MisterX]

Thanks Ian, that's what I suspected but I wasn't sure and wouldn't have wanted to blow up the neighbours just before Xmas (well, thinking about it, blowing up the neighbours would be fine as long as I could do it without exploding the GTO3 at the same time....)

[sidekick]

Also received the one I ordered from TVRCC (echo Mister X's comments on good service), it's actually the Accumate charger/conditioner.
Before connecting it to the car I tried to start the engine - not even enough juice in the battery to engage the starter motor properly (haven't had the opportunity to run the car for about 9 weeks ), so I guess it was pretty close to the alarm etc starting to play up!
I plugged in the charger at about 10am Sat and it was still charging (as opposed to conditioning) when I looked at it at about 8:30am this morning (however I did fire the car on Sun morning just to make sure the battery was re-charging OK).
Overall verdict: an essential piece of kit if the car is garaged for any length of time.