Leaving An Auris Unused Over The Winter

[supermart]

I have a 2010 Auris 1.6 TR M/M with Smart Start and Smart Entry. I hope to be leaving it unused for a couple of months this coming winter during January and February while I am in a warmer part of the world. It will be left outside on my driveway. How should I prepare the vehicle for this prolonged period of non use? And will it start when I come back?

[tavy]

I've had the same issue with my previous car (6 years old, with an used battery), I left it in a garage unstarted for 7 months; the only thing I did it , I removed the "-" Battery terminal; after that period, I put it back and I started the car; it started rapidly, without any problem... Sometimes I keep my Auris in the garage unstarted even for 3 months, and I don't remove the Battery terminal, Auris starts again without any problem (it has a timed relay, imo which "cuts" the current for all circuits, besides stand-by/immobilizer circuit/LED). So a couple of months isn't such a big period, you can leave your car locked only...

[Mooly]

I would perhaps advise leaving the handbrake off if possible to avoid pads corroding to the discs. Two months outside and surface corrosion of brake discs is a real issue. Make sure the tyres are at the max allowable pressure too during the lay up.

[supermart]

Thanks for the comments so far. Brake disc corrosion was one of the things I was concerned about, but a greater concern is the drain on the Battery caused by the Smart Entry system.

Anyone any views?

[tavy]

remove the "-" Battery terminal then...

anyway, if you leave it unused a couple of months only, nothing notable will happen with Battery drainage, but if you leave it more than 3 months it's possible that you'll find the Battery discharged.