Car batteries
 

My uncle has three vehicles that are parked. How do I maintain the battery life?
He is working out of state and has asked that I turn the vehicles on once a week, keepin them running for several minutes.

I have connected the batteries to a charger. I get a reading that the batteries are losing between 30-50% of their charge weekly.

Re: Car batteries
 

Do whst he said. Start each car and let run for a while

Re: Car batteries
 

I do. The charge still drops. I just checked the battery to my truck. It wa at 72% and I drive like Nascar all the time. I am thinking that maybe it's the life of the batteries causing the drop. I charge them to 100% but they can not maintain 100...???

Re: Car batteries
 

I'd just disconnect one of the battery cables and only hook it back up when you want to run the vehicle. If it still loses that much charge in a week, unhooked and just sitting there, you have battery problems. Even if you didn't unhook them though, they still shouldn't lose that much of their charge, I don't think.

I'm thinking battery problems either way. Just unhooking them while they're sitting there would tell you for sure if it was the battery or something in the vehicle.

Re: Car batteries
 

How old are the batteries?

Re: Car batteries
 

No idea. He's cheap. So probably old...

Re: Car batteries
 

They may be nearing the end of their life cycle.
Still allowing the car to idle for awhile once a week is needed.

Re: Car batteries
 

Well, actually, idling a vehicle will not maintain the batteries--or so I understand--as most alternators do not begin charging until about 1800rpm's is reached. You should check to insure that the fluid level is over the charging plates, and refill with distilled water; but a cell less than half full would prolly need more acid.

I like the 'disconnect' option; this will tell you if a fully filled and charged battery has a bad cell. Disconnect the negative (assuming a neg ground.)

Re: Car batteries
 

They make a battery maintainer. You hook them up and leave them on.