Putting Zed to Bed!

M

moodymare

Member
 Brighton, south coast .
:D have allowed myself the slight extravagance of buying a little runabout 4x4 for the winter, so I can tuck the Zed up safely when the bad weather comes..So, I know this is a bit premature, but wondering what folks do on here if your Zed is your 'summer'car?- do you disconnect the battery, or just give it a run occasionally etc? ? 8)
Can't run to having both insured at once, so Zed will be On Sorn when winter comes...
 
Send the tax back for refund, inflate tyres to 50psi and connect to battery maintainer as i do all year round.
 
I sorned mine last September whilst away for 6 months. My Dad came round once a month just to start her up and drive her in and out the garage. When I got back the battery was on its last legs. I hooked it up to the charger overnight and it was all systems go the following day :thumbsup: I won't be taking the zed off the road this winter cos I want to be able to take her out for a run when the sun is out and the roads are dry :wink:
 
I keep mine on taxed and insured through the winter. If it's crap weather for weeks on end, then I make sure I take the car out around the block, in between showers, at least once a week.

Then I take her out on those wonderfuly crisp winter days, Roof down Hat, Gloves and heated seats at full chat. Just have to check they haven't been out salting the night before. But this being Cornwall they don't salt very often. :driving:
 
srhutch said:
Send the tax back for refund, inflate tyres to 50psi and connect to battery maintainer as i do all year round.
Click to expand...
Not only will that make for a very bouncy ride, you're likely to run into trouble with the police for driving an untaxed vehicle :D
 
My car will quite often sit for 6-8 months because of work out the country. I always keep it plugged into one of those intelligent battery chargers which keeps the battery in good condition. I keep the car inside inside with a good breathable cover (i brought a Stormforce) with the windows opened slightly and keep the handbrake off. I've had no problems going back to it after months on end and it starts and drives just like I left it. Don't forget to SORN it either! Olly
 
I too use a battery conditioner and try to use the car once or twice a month weather permitting(ie its dry and no salting), I'm only minutes away from a motorway so a easy run down a to a few junctions, then back into garage :driving: :D
 
I too use a battery conditioner and try to use the car once or twice a month weather permitting(ie its dry and no salting), I'm only minutes away from a motorway so a easy run down a to a few junctions, then back into garage :driving: :D
 
My Zed's first winter plan....

I'm putting my Zed to sleep at the end of September, this is when my road tax runs out! Mine is just a summer play toy along with my gixer750 :thumbsup:

I'm planning use a battery conditoner on mine, though it will be shared between the bike and zed... will swop them over monthly. Also thinking removing the wheels as it will be sitting in the garage for 6 months.... I always track stand the bike but it doesn't have run flats :rofl:

Will be using the bike until the end of oct then... hibernation!
 
I don't even want to think about it yet :o
But, I've got a Freelander for winter etc. but the zed will still be used at any available opportunity. The only time it won't be is if its icy/snowy. Although the wet roads and inevitable new pot holes will be a factor in not using it.
 
c-tec charges are about £40 and will do the job nicely they even come with a nice little cable that you leave permanently connected to the battery and then use a plug to connect to the charger cable. i have to leave my westy on charge almost permanently due it having a poncy battery.

you could pump the tyres up to 50psi or put it on stands. tbh if its only a few months then don't bother. ive never had any issues with and that is with tyres that are bigger in profile and only run at 17psi. 5 mins down the road and all is fine.

starting the car every week for 10 mins is possibly the worse thing you could do unless you go out and have a decent drive. best just clean it thoroughly, give it a decent polish/hoover etc. put a cover over it put the charger on and leave it well alone. maybe the odd check up now and then to have a look at your shiny car.


tbh these are cars, designed and tested to be used in all conditions. they are not temperamental classics, kit cars, race cars or what ever. just use it throughout the winter. maybe investing in some winter tyres is a good idea but apart from that just use it. would you put your 3/5 series or ford focusaway for the winter?
 
Thankyou Guys - very helpful :D
And yes, Dom- you are right , other than icy conditions, we don't really need to put them away- it's just we love them so much, we want to pamper them ! :roll:
 
I have a CTEK comfort indicator permanantly connected to the battery in the boot and threaded through so it's visible above the carpet, it has colour-coded (red/amber/green) LEDs which flash about once per second to show you the state of the battery and lets you know if it could do with charging - the comfort indicator lead isn't essential as the charger comes with a similar lead with eyelets to connect to the battery at one end and the in-line plug for the charger at the other, just no LEDs.

When the car is on charge in the garage, the ctek charger sits in the boot and plugs into the comfort indicator, or normal lead, and the mains lead will loop over the boot sill enough for the boot to be shut (not latched) and the car locked - I wrap an old towel around the mains lead to avoid it rubbing on the rear bumper paintwork

This is the comfort indicator installed in my car
CTEK_1.jpg


This it it in use to charge the battery - forgive the old rubber mats I use to stop things sliding around in the boot
CTEK_2.jpg


And this is how the car is left on long-term maintenance charge - I've lifted the cover back so you can see properly
CTEK_3.jpg
 
i think mine is the next model down mxs5.0 but it does all the same stuff in terms of conditioning and monitoring. very handy little box.
 
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