Car Owners Hub UK - Built by Drivers, for Drivers

I have disconnected the battery from cars that were left unlocked for several weeks or months at a time in the past, but only in a secure, off-street parking spot (like the underground garage of an apartment building) and never in plain sight of the public.

I am currently confronted with the difficult task of abandoning a Kia Picanto that has its battery disconnected, yet is parked in an unprotected private parking lot where anyone can stroll in from the street because there is no barrier.

The problem is that I can physically lock the car with the emergency key and no alarm set up, but I can't figure out how to lock the tailboard; it only locks with the electric lock, which sets off the alarm. Even more peculiarly, the Picanto's tailboard lock doesn't require a physical key, unlike the ones on my MB vehicles.

Are you having any ideas?

Does the Picanto really require the battery to be disconnected? Also, how long will you be away from it this time?

Over the past 30 years, I have left the majority of my cars for four weeks every other month and never had a single problem. Of course, I started using a conditioner during this time with my AMGs, but a lot of other cars weren't and didn't either.

Another option would be to install a solar trickle charger while keeping the battery plugged in.

Although it's a good idea, it may be overly optimistic to expect global warming to maintain sunny weather well into November. It's already the middle of October, so it might not happen.

Several months, if not longer, could pass.

I get it, short days and all that, but the alarm and other systems that don't completely power off don't require a huge amount of charge power.

However, a solar panel in the windscreen is a hint that the vehicle has been left unattended for some time.

Locate the wire or plug that supplies power to the tailboard latch (you may have to remove the hatch panel to do this), lock the car while inside, disconnect the latch, unlock the car, get out and continue as you normally would, but be aware that the tailboard latch will not receive 12V power no matter what you do.

It might be difficult to climb around inside it being a small Picanto :p.