Is there an outlet close by at your place? I imagine there isn't? A battery tender runs off 110v and is the best way to keep the battery charged.

Unless you're planning to disconnect the battery and charge it that way?

I don't know how the remote start works on your corolla, but I'd advise using it. Since you won't be close by.

 

my take is you have three options.
charge it somehow. I wouldn't recommend remote starting it with a car cover on, as that might interfere with engine cooling and exhaust. my recommendation for that is a good quality battery charger/maintainer. I bit the bullet and got a noco 5 amp model here as I wanted one powerful enough to recharge to near full overnight on my Sequoia, but the 1 or 2 amp model would work fine for maintaining, and usually it would run much less current than that. just enough to keep it full after the initial absorption charge. 2 amp here, 1 amp here. if power is unavailable, you could get a solar battery maintainer, though I have no experience with these. a 10W model should do the trick, like this

Second option is to unplug the battery. use a wrench (probably 10mm) and loosen and remove the battery ground clamp. you can leave the positive on, removing one is enough to break the circuit. I say ground first because if the ground is still connected and you have a wrench on the positive, if your wrench hits the frame you create a short, but if it hits the frame while your wrench is on the ground, nothing happens.
Third option is to make sure you turn off all of the lights and hope that the battery doesn't die in 3 weeks. I'd guess it'll make it but i'm not sure.

 

I don't know a ton about them, but would a trickle charger work here?

 

Thanks for the replies. If I leave the front grill and tail pipe uncovered will that work? Remote start keeps all doors locked, only runs for 10 minutes and automatically shuts engine off. I guess to be safe I can just remove the negative terminal.

 

As others suggested, buy a battery tender and charge it without disconnect your car battery. You can leave it charged for even two months long.
I always used the battery tender with 1.2 Amp to charge my cars in the garage once every two weeks to keep the battery healthy and fully charged even thought I drove daily.

 

Battery tender would be best. I have a Stanley 1 amp(since replaced with the same unit, but with everstart branding, model BM1E) unit and an everstart 3 amp I got from Walmart for $15 and $20 respectively. Both work wonderful. I’ve been using the 1 amp to keep my lawn mower battery maintained over the winter for the last four years and that battery is still performing perfectly. Though between the two I would recommend the 3 amp if for nothing other than that it supports 6V batteries if you ever needed. Also the 3 amps is much more useful for actually charging a dead battery.

 

Do the easiest thing- namely get a battery tender float charger. Take the battery out of the car and into the house, connect the charger to it and plug up the charger. Don't worry about the car while you enjoy your vacation.

 

One idea is to take advantage of the remote start will this work and how often?

As other have mention, a battery maintainer is your best option. Although a 3 week period is not that critical, unless your battery is weak in the first place. I would definitely not recommend remote starting, for security reason (an unattended car working...) but mostly because it might do the opposite of what you hope. To maintain/recharge the battery, the car need to be driven about 30 min at 40+mph. Repeated starts without ever really recharging the battery by driving might actually accelerate depletion of the battery.

 

Was thinking this probably be the true outcome.

 

I didn't drive my 2020 Corolla SE 3 weeks during the March 2020 (because of covid lockdown). Nothing happens to battery.

 

That's good to know!

 

Your best bet would be to disconnect the battery if you don't want to risk coming back to a pile of smoldering amber.

 

The battery should be good 3 months + unless it has issues or there is a power drain somewhere.

 

I would also recommend against remote starting and leaving the car at idle, for the security and battery drain reasons given above. Starting the engine and idling for 10 minutes is probably going to result in a net loss in battery charge.

Where exactly will the car be parked? In a private garage? On the street? Airport?

Find a way to hook up a trickle charger to the battery. If you can’t do that and you’re still concerned, get one of those portable battery banks that the roadside assistance services use in case you need to jump start the car.

 

I don't think you'll have any issue with three weeks

 

3 days is nothing. But if you like many others only drive few days a week, best to put battery maintainer once a week/month.

 

It's actually 3 weeks... He could remove battery, give it a good full charge, then store it in a cool dry spot.

He could also take his battery on vacation with him for a well deserved break.

 

Just disconnect the battery. In addition, three weeks is not such a long time for the battery to be discharged. Last year I was on vacation for 2 weeks. The car was in the garage. I just locked the garage and went on vacation. Upon arrival, the car started the first time. I also plan to go on vacation for a month to Europe this summer. Tickets have already been purchased at https://www.dbfahrplanauskunft.com/de/. I also think that my car will start without problems after a month of inactivity in the garage.

 

How many of you guys out there use a battery tender on your newer 2023 Corolla if you only drive it a few times a week. (not everyday) With all of those electronics and a tiny battery should one be concerned?
I have a CTEK 3300 battery tender and was considering using that. Any suggesions?

 

Yes, it's always best for the battery to keep it fully charged as much as possible... I use my Yuasa 1 amp battery charger and maintainer once in a while. I've already upgraded to a 650CCA H5 battery and gold plated solid brass terminals. I also upgraded the ground strap and improved the chassis ground connections.

Gold Top Post Terminal 1 Pair | Allstar Performance

 

You should be fine if the battery is relatively new and the weather outside is warm.

 

But if you do hook up the battery tender it can't do any harm can it?

 

Seems like a battery tender would work best and will help protect your battery. Please don't get a trickle charger, as it may overcharge your battery.

I've kept a battery tender on my Z in the garage during winter for months without issue.

 

That is for sure no battery charger but a battery tender. As previously mentioned I use a CTEK 3300 on my other car and have a second CTEK 3300 to be used.

 

When it's cold or I know It'll be a few weeks before I use it I put the battery charger on at 2amps and take it off next day.
Avoids premature battery death and don't have t deal with the car needing to relearn everything.
I bought a battery maintainer but with 15 cars in a strip row garage I'm worried about fire hazards as I'd leave it for weeks. I do plug the block heater and leave it on when it gets really cold here. Hydro included in garage rental. Since heat rises it keeps the battery warmer too.

 

When it's cold or I know It'll be a few weeks before I use it I put the battery charger on at 2amps and take it off next day.
Avoids premature battery death and don't have t deal with the car needing to relearn everything.
I bought a battery maintainer but with 15 cars in a strip row garage I'm worried about fire hazards as I'd leave it for weeks. I do plug the block heater and leave it on when it gets really cold here. Hydro included in garage rental. Since heat rises it keeps the battery warmer too.

That is alot of cars to maintain.😁
I have been using the CTEK battery tender for about 15 + years, can't remember anymore. Costco was selling a "Deltran" battery tender for around $60. and I heard that was also a great brand.

 

How long of downtime is the car going to be on the battery tender?

 

One week to one month.

 

If it’s a week, you’ll be okay without using a battery tender.

No family members can help by starting the car once every 2 weeks for 30 mins?

 

Remove battery, top off its charge, store it in a cool dry spot... Lead-Acid batteries discharge faster in warmer ambient temperatures.

Leave it in your fridge while you're gone for maximum preservation! 😅