Winter storage

[Dave rsb]

Hi all, I don't use my car through the winter. It's garaged with a CTEK battery conditioner connected and the bonnet left open. In the past I have locked the car with the 3 button key. This year I have had a broken GT alarm fob fixed and have been using it to lock the car.

My question is can I leave the bonnet open with the charger connected and lock the car with the GT alarm fob.
Thanks Dave.

[Clayton]

Hi Dave,

If you set the GT alarm or the Ford alarm you will need to close the bonnet as the bonnet catch not being locked will trigger and sound the alarm.

Is there any reason you prefer to keep the bonnet open? I would close the bonnet and if you are concerned about the CTEK cable you can run this down either side of the front upper grille. (wrap something around the cable to avoid marking the front bumper - I use kitchen roll )

I would also recommend setting both alarms as the Ford Key remote when pressed twice will double lock your car doors so more secure.

[Dave rsb]

Thanks for the reply Clayton. I only leave the bonnet open because I was concerned about the cable, I'll try running it beside the grille like you have suggested.

Regards Dave

[DanT404]

I have run the trickle charger cable underneath the bumper before now and up into the engine bay from the gearbox sort of area.
This allowed me to keep the bonnet shut and the cable nowhere near the paintwork.
Depends how far away the trickle charger is I guess.

[Dave rsb]

Thanks Dan
That's another option
Cheers

[Imperial-Blue-RS]

Yes as above, I run mine from underneath so everything remains all nicely shut up, plus if you have a car cover it all still fits spot on.

[AlexRS2782]

If you're leaving the bonnet fully open on the stay, rather than just on the catch / not fully closed, be careful leaving it like that for extended periods or you could end up with a bonnet slightly warped out of shape & not sitting flush towards the front around the driver side headlight.

I'd left mine open for a couple of months back circa 2011 and then dropped it back on the catch. Come 2019, and getting it back on the road, i discovered the pressure / angle of the stay on the driver side had done what's described above mainly because there is no matching stay on the passenger side.

I've since moved to struts which will stop that happening again, but i'm currently left with a bonnet that sits about a few mm proud above the headlight and will probably need a bit of minor panel beating in that area to reshape it / make it sit flush again.

[Dave rsb]

Thanks guys appreciate your advice.