Riot Nrrrd

I'm going to Africa for a few weeks at the end of this month.

Obviously, if I take a shuttle to LAX and do nothing, I'll come back home to 2 dead batteries in my 2 Benzes.

Having had to pay for a new battery for the CLK55 once already (forgot to drive it at least once a week too many times), I don't want to repeat the experience.

I know the obvious thing is to disconnect the negative terminal, but I actually failed my Smog Test this year because I'd done that shortly before the test and it reset some counter/device in the car. Seems like that wasn't a good idea.

I could take the other Benz to the airport and park it long-term at a place with cables/charger and leave the CLK on a 2 amp trickle charge, but that seems really risky. I have visions of coming home to a charred CLK and garage

What do you guys do when you leave home & car(s) for extended periods of time?

Riot Nrrrd

Wow ... guess our cars are so expensive that nobody can afford to take the whole family and go away on long trips that would make the batteries die in the interim???

sick430

i left my clk unplugged for almost 6 months while on vacation and it was fine when i reconnected BOTH cables. just disconnect both terminals and you should be fine. i also do the same in the boat and it works just fine.

MarcusF

When I'm in New York, my car sits at Burbank airport for weeks on end. It's never been a problem. Then again, I do change batteries every four years . . . .

Riot Nrrrd

Wow, that's trippy ... if I go even 2 weeks without driving my CLK55 it won't start when I get in it after that. Has happened to me several times now. Wore that battery out already. Don't want it to happen with the new(ish) battery I got recently.

Guess I'll try the "disconnect both cables" trick. Thanks sick430!