Don’t Let Phoenix Sky Harbor’s Long-Term Parking Leave You Stranded: Essential Battery Death Prevention for Extended Travel

Returning from an extended vacation or business trip only to find your car won’t start in Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport’s long-term parking is a nightmare scenario that affects thousands of travelers annually. Airport parking facilities acknowledge this common problem, with many offering assistance for dead batteries and flat tires, but prevention is always better than roadside rescue.

Why Car Batteries Die During Extended Airport Parking

Leaving your car parked for an extended period without driving can drain the battery because many modern vehicles have electronic systems that continue to draw power even when the engine is off, and over time, this power usage can deplete your battery’s charge, especially if it’s already weak or old. When your car sits, the battery still powers all of the memory stored for the various computer systems, and while this battery drain may not seem like a lot, it adds up over time and may drain your battery to where it may not crank the engine.

Batteries power things like clocks, radios, and alarm systems even when your car is not running, including security alarms, onboard computers, power doors, power locks, and preset settings like seat position, radio, and climate control, and all of these functions consume power, which drains the battery over time.

How Long Can Your Battery Last in Airport Parking?

A car should be able to sit parked for at least a month without the battery dying, unless it’s a higher-end car with plenty of power-hungry gadgets and computers. However, for BMWs and some Mercedes, it’s possible for a battery to die in two weeks, and some people used to have to install chargers for clients who left their cars at airport parking lots for two or three weeks.

Extreme temperatures, frequent short trips, and general everyday use could shorten the life of your battery to two to three years, making older batteries particularly vulnerable during extended parking periods.

Prevention Strategies Before You Travel

Disconnect Your Battery

If you don’t have access to an outlet in a long-term airport parking lot, you can disconnect the battery, which will preserve the battery’s charge, so when you reconnect it, the truck should start right up. You could disconnect the negative battery terminal to prevent parasitic draws from draining the battery, though this may require some assistance from a professional technician to reset some of the computer systems afterwards.

Use a Battery Maintainer or Trickle Charger

To prevent battery drain when parking your vehicle for long periods of time, consider using a trickle charger to maintain the battery’s charge level. You can use a battery maintainer if you don’t want the hassle of removing the battery from your car – a maintainer will provide enough energy to keep your battery going, and it turns off once your battery is fully charged, then reactivates when your battery charge drops to a certain level.

Turn Off Unnecessary Systems

When parking your car for an extended period, make sure to unplug any unnecessary accessories that may cause a parasitic draw on the battery, including phone chargers, dash cams, and other electronic devices, and always double-check that all lights and electronic accessories are turned off. If your car has a security system and is parked in a secure garage, consider leaving the alarm off, because if you do leave it on, it will only drain your battery faster.

What to Do If Prevention Fails

Even with the best preparation, batteries can still fail during extended travel. Some parking facilities offer battery jump and tire inflation service, but having a reliable backup plan is essential.

Phoenix travelers have access to professional roadside assistance services that specialize in airport parking emergencies. On Time Emergency Roadside and Battery Service provides top of the line roadside assistance and towing in the Maricopa County, AZ area. Since opening their doors, they’ve been committed to providing service of the highest quality, paying particular attention to working efficiently while keeping the lines of communication with their clients clear and concise.

At On Time Roadside, they offer battery service as part of their comprehensive roadside assistance package, coming to your location to test your battery to make sure it’s in good working order, and if it’s not, they’ll replace it for you so you can get back on the road as quickly as possible. For travelers who need car battery replacement phoenix services, they provide mobile battery service directly to Sky Harbor’s parking areas.

Additional Airport Parking Battery Tips

To keep a car battery from dying when not in use, drive at least once a week for 30 minutes or use a battery maintainer to prevent parasitic drain. For shorter trips, you don’t have to start your car too often — every 3-4 days is fine — but make sure you set aside time to get out to your car and run the engine to ensure that your car’s battery is fully charged and isn’t at risk of going dead over a long term of being parked.

To ensure your battery stays in good condition, you should store it in a dry environment with temperatures between forty and sixty degrees, and consider buying a battery box to ensure it stays in optimal condition when storing it.

Emergency Preparedness

On-Time Emergency Roadside And Battery Service LLC offers 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, battery jump starts, and tire changes in Maricopa County. They’re located at 4648 W Cavalier Dr, Glendale, AZ 85301, and operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making them an ideal resource for travelers returning to find battery problems at Sky Harbor.

Don’t let a dead battery ruin your return from travel. By implementing these prevention strategies and knowing where to turn for help when needed, you can ensure your Phoenix Sky Harbor parking experience ends with a smooth drive home rather than an unexpected roadside emergency.