Leaving car alone for 5 weeks. Any recommended procedure?

[boggysv]

I'll be away for 5 weeks, and was just wondering if there are any special preparations required for the car?

Do I leave it will a full tank of fuel? Near empty tank? Increase the tyre pressures? Disconnect the battery?

The car is new-ish being 2 months old, so I guess the battery could stand the time?

There will be no-one to drive it around for me while I'm gone, and this is my first car requiring such treatment. Any advice welcomed.

 

[benw123]

The only thing I would recommend is to leave the car in gear with the handbrake off. This prevents the rear calipers from binding to the brake disc - a common problem even when a car is left for a week or so.

Other than that you should be fine - wouldn't worry about the fuel or battery.

 

[newbiecrg]

Fuel or battery will be fine. If your car can stay in a garage that will be better but no biggie... Handbrake off is what you should do. I always park my car with handbrake off at home.

Pedro

 

[SteveTDCi]

yep leave the handbrake off, my escort has been left since october and it still started first time a week or so ago. If you were standing it for 12 months I would have said remove the wheels but for 5 weeks it will be fine.

 

[boggysv]

Thanks guys, will just leave it in gear and handbrake off then.

Seems like I overreacted.

 

[Caesium]

how new is the car? on later models you can put the car in transport mode with VAG-COM and it will save the battery.

 

[A3simon]

i leave mine for 5 months at a time and all i ever do is leave it in gear with the handbrake off. And it starts first time everytime i come home

 

[PNH80]

i leave mine for 5 months at a time and all i ever do is leave it in gear with the handbrake off. And it starts first time everytime i come home

Sorry to hijack this thread (i should probably PM) but... A3simon, noticed you've got an 07 A3 2.0TFSI quattro S-line like me. Just out of interest how are you finding it? Any major complaints/issues so far? What other options did you look at before buying the A3? Any regrets?

Cheers!

Paul.