If for whatever reason you must store a car for a long period of time, you cannot leave the battery connected like you normally would. Instead, you must take steps to store the battery so that it continues to work and doesn’t end up damaging the car as it sits. If possible, have someone drive the car for half an hour at least once a month if you can, since that will make storing the battery completely unnecessary.
Before you begin, you must be properly equipped. You will need a wrench to remove the battery. Also, wear clothing that you wouldn’t mind be ruined, just in case. The final piece of preparation is to wear protective goggles and heavy gloves, just in case the battery’s fluids discharge.
The first thing you must do is disconnect and remove the battery from the car. This means you must disconnect the negative or black cable first, then the positive cable. If your car has a tie-down for the battery, you must remove that as well before lifting the battery out of the car.
With the battery out of the car, you must inspect it thoroughly. Look over the entire case, including on the sides, top, bottom and corners for any signs of damage. Pay particularly close attention to signs of fluid leaking out of the battery. If the battery seems to be in good shape, pour baking soda over any areas with corrosion, like the terminals, and then pour on some water and use a wire brush to remove any leftover corrosion.
If the battery has filler caps, check the fluid level in each one. Top them off with distilled water if the level is below what’s recommended. Hook the battery up to a charger. Once the battery is fully charged, check the fluid levels again and top them off if necessary.
Place the battery in a cool, dry area. Choose somewhere the battery will be free from freezing temperatures before you reinstall it in the car. Hook up the battery to a tender to help it keep a charge while it sits. When it is time to use the car again, remove the charger and install the battery back in the vehicle.
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