Leaving van for weeks on end

[rmaxibiza]

I have a home in Spain and keep a smart Roadster here. When I leave, I disconnect the battery and put a cover over it. The wee thing has been a gem, it's left over winter and summer and although packed with electronics, it has started first time every time for the last 6 years. Now I need something a little more practical and having had a Berlingo ten years ago it seems the perfect choice for visiting kids, bikes and kayaks. What I need to know, apart from any general info on this subject, is whether I can manually lock the van with the key/s when the battery is disconnected. I don't want to slam the bonnet shut and find I canny get in.

And, if anyone has any experience of this kind of thing, please pass it on, e.g. is there any engine config. that is more suited to this. I am planning on buying one locally which will have about 50k kms and be 1-2 years old. 

All advice welcomed (I think).

[Johny555]

That's a good question,mines got a slight battery drain OK for 3 or 4 days without using it,but any longer the battery only just turns van over,im going to Italy for a month soon so I was thinking is it OK to disconnect battery for so long,and how do I lock it with no battery,hope some one can give us a answer.

[Jed Clampit]

They say in the hand book if your leaving for more than 4 week's disconnect the battery if you look at the front door's you can lock them by the key.

[clintoncrookes@gmail.com]

ive got a puzzle like this my brothers van (he lives in the states) its been stud for 3 years (am suprized its not rotted inside and out) am chargeing the battery now and seeing if life sparks in to it

[ricc]

ive got a puzzle like this my brothers van (he lives in the states) its been stud for 3 years (am suprized its not rotted inside and out) am chargeing the battery now and seeing if life sparks in to it

id prefer to leave battery connected with a solar panel hooked up to keep it topped up.

its what i do with a couple of rarely used tractors.

[Col]

Make sure you follow the safe disconnection / reconnection method

[Johny555]

The thing is,if its OK to disconnect battery for a month,will the bsi be OK? And it says before disconnecting battery wind window down,and go threw bsi reset,how can you wind electric window down with battery disconnected? So you can do bsi rest.?

[Col]

The most important part is the 3 minute rule.
Open bonnet, close and lock door-wait 3 mins then disconnect battery

[Johny555]

The most important part is the 3 minute rule.
Open bonnet, close and lock door-wait 3 mins then disconnect battery

Won't the van unlock its self if I disconnect the battery?
Then after a month or so when I get home from holls just unlock van with the key then connect battery and all will be OK?,just start and drive as normal,no reset bsi or anything??

[Col]

The 3mins are to allow the bsi to go to sleep.