{"id":10387,"date":"2019-05-16T20:43:36","date_gmt":"2019-05-17T03:43:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=10387"},"modified":"2025-04-11T18:49:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T01:49:06","slug":"how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Can a Car Battery Sit Unused?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column10387_f5f516-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column10387_f5f516-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column10387_f5f516-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column10387_f5f516-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column10387_f5f516-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column10387_f5f516-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column10387_f5f516-cb{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column10387_f5f516-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column10387_f5f516-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column10387_f5f516-cb inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-2cacf8  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-4383e9\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading10387_a01f12-d6, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading10387_a01f12-d6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading10387_a01f12-d6\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading10387_a01f12-d6 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading10387_a01f12-d6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading10387_a01f12-d6\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading10387_a01f12-d6 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading10387_a01f12-d6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading10387_a01f12-d6\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading10387_a01f12-d6 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading10387_a01f12-d6\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Generally, you can safely let the car battery sit for less than three weeks.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connect the battery to a trickle charger if there&rsquo;s a power outlet nearby.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you plan to put the car battery in deep storage, disconnect it from your vehicle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Before putting the battery in deep storage, charge it completely, keep it in a cool and dry location, and put it on a battery maintainer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The key to prolonging a vehicle&rsquo;s battery life is to avoid going on short trips, minimize parasitic drain, not leave the car parked for too long, and avoid using electronic functions when the engine is off.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>So how long can a car battery sit unused?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, it depends on whether or not the battery is in a vehicle. A battery that isn&rsquo;t in a vehicle will hold its charge a lot longer than if that same battery is in a newer vehicle with a lot of electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Storing Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While planning on storing your vehicle, one of the first things you must consider is how long you can leave your battery unused. <strong>There is no exact answer that applies to all vehicles, but it should be okay to let your battery sit for less than three weeks.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/removig-car-battery-1024x687.jpeg\" alt=\"removing car battery\" class=\"wp-image-10388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/removig-car-battery-1024x687.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/removig-car-battery-300x201.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/removig-car-battery-768x516.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/removig-car-battery.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">WCar batteries usually last for about three to four years&mdash;but leaving your car sitting for far too long hastens the decay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Note that this rule of thumb isn&rsquo;t universal. Some vehicles require one of the fuses to be removed for extended storage. Chryslers from the mid-1990s through the 2000s referred to this as the &ldquo;ignition off draw&rdquo; fuse (IOD). It&rsquo;s well marked in the instrument panel or underhood fuse box. Some vehicles will have the IOD fuse(s) in a plastic cage so you can simply pull the cage to disengage the fuses and push it back to re-engage the fuses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Others simply have the fuse marked and a place to put it in the panel while the vehicle is being stored. The IOD fuse typically disables accessories like the radio, along with the power seats, mirrors, and windows.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column10387_a85b28-56 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column10387_a85b28-56 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column10387_a85b28-56 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column10387_a85b28-56 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column10387_a85b28-56 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column10387_a85b28-56 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column10387_a85b28-56{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column10387_a85b28-56 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column10387_a85b28-56 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column10387_a85b28-56 kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical inner-column-1 pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:20px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-right:16px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id10387_d76eef-3a alignnone pro-tip-wrap wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-mobile-layout-right-golden kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;}.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:0px;column-gap:0px;}.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column10387_f40a65-67 kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal inner-column-1 pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image10387_fc3024-5c.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image10387_fc3024-5c .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image10387_fc3024-5c.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image10387_fc3024-5c .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image10387_fc3024-5c figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image10387_fc3024-5c .image-is-svg, .kb-image10387_fc3024-5c .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image10387_fc3024-5c .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image10387_fc3024-5c\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column10387_ef2d13-8a > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column10387_ef2d13-8a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column10387_ef2d13-8a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column10387_ef2d13-8a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column10387_ef2d13-8a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column10387_ef2d13-8a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column10387_ef2d13-8a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column10387_ef2d13-8a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column10387_ef2d13-8a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column10387_ef2d13-8a inner-column-2 pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n            There are numerous modules that receive a whisper of voltage that, left long enough, will drain the battery.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most modern vehicles require power even while parked and their engine is off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your alarm system, electronic control settings, and evaporative emissions system will continue to draw <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-does-a-car-battery-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"battery power\">battery power<\/a>. Your vehicle may not start if you leave it parked for months with the battery connected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have access to a power outlet, you can connect your battery to a trickle charger which will keep it topped up and prevent it from being drained completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But if you plan on storing your vehicle long-term and it doesn&rsquo;t have an IOD fuse (check your owner&rsquo;s manual to be sure), it&rsquo;s better to disconnect the battery. This will preserve the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-your-car-battery-last-with-a-single-charge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"battery&rsquo;s charge\">battery&rsquo;s charge<\/a>, allowing your vehicle to start right back up once it&rsquo;s reconnected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just keep in mind that you may need to reprogram things like your radio presets and seat memory buttons. It&rsquo;s also important to drive your vehicle for a while before your next emissions test in order for the system to get a passing result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Store a Car Battery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you intend to keep your vehicle in long-term storage, you&rsquo;ll need to make sure to do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Give it a full charge prior to storage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Store it in a cool and dry location<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put the battery on a battery maintainer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After taking your battery out of storage, inspecting the case for any signs of damage or leakage is important. Check the battery cable terminals for any corrosion that could cause poor contact and prevent proper charging and current flow.&nbsp;You should also look for the date of manufacture and consider it when deciding whether a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-replace-a-car-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"battery replacement\">battery replacement<\/a> is necessary. With age, the battery&rsquo;s capacity may be reduced which can cause slower-than-normal engine cranking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prolong Car Battery Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to prolong your car&rsquo;s battery life, it&rsquo;s important to keep these handy tips in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Don&rsquo;t leave your car parked for too long<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid going on short trips<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watch out for parasitic draw<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Refrain from using electronic functions when the engine is off<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Find a Car Battery Replacement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don&rsquo;t have a battery stored, and you find yourself in need of one, you can check out our extensive selection here at <a href=\"http:\/\/carparts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We offer high-quality car batteries sourced from reputable brands in the industry. Whether you drive a compact car, SUV, truck, or any other vehicle type, we have the perfect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/battery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"car battery\">car battery<\/a> for your ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To start, simply visit our website and use our vehicle selector to view compatible batteries. Then, use the search filters to find the ones that match your preferred brand, price, type, and series. Our catalog includes accurate and detailed fitment information, so you&rsquo;re sure to get exactly what your car needs to get back on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our distribution centers are strategically located across the country, so expect your orders in as fast as a few days. Take a look at our selection now and order today!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>So how long can a car battery sit unused? Well, it depends on whether or not the battery is in&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[73],"ppma_author":[2607,2855,2985],"class_list":["post-10387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-diy","tag-battery","entry"],"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Long Can a Car Battery Sit Unused? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you have a battery that&#039;s been sitting in your garage or car for quite some time? Read this article to find out if you can still use it.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Long Can a Car Battery Sit Unused? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Do you have a battery that&#039;s been sitting in your garage or car for quite some time? Read this article to find out if you can still use it.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-05-17T03:43:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-12T01:49:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/car-battery.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1001\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com Research Team\",\"jobTitle\":\"Expert Automotive Writer\",\"description\":\"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com&#039;s thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/thecpteam\\\/\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom, https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/CarPartscom, https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/, https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"William Guzenski\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"William \u201cBill\u201d Guzenski has produced hundreds of how-to videos for the automotive community. He\u2019s an ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician, and is affiliated with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). He loves attending race events and car shows throughout the country, as well as traveling in his 40-foot motorhome, exploring abandoned mines and ghost towns.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/williamguzenski\\\/\",\"sameAs\":\"\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"Richard McCuistian\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Richard McCuistian has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, and a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others. Richard is ASE certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/richardmccuistian\\\/\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\\\/, https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/McCuistian\"}],\"headline\":\"How Long Can a Car Battery Sit Unused?\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-05-17T03:43:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-12T01:49:06+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":931,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/car-battery.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"battery\"],\"articleSection\":[\"DIY\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/\",\"name\":\"How Long Can a Car Battery Sit Unused? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/car-battery.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-05-17T03:43:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-12T01:49:06+00:00\",\"description\":\"Do you have a battery that's been sitting in your garage or car for quite some time? Read this article to find out if you can still use it.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/car-battery.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/car-battery.jpeg\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":1001,\"caption\":\"car battery\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":398,\"caption\":\"CarParts.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How Long Can a Car Battery Sit Unused? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"Do you have a battery that's been sitting in your garage or car for quite some time? Read this article to find out if you can still use it.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How Long Can a Car Battery Sit Unused? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","og_description":"Do you have a battery that's been sitting in your garage or car for quite some time? Read this article to find out if you can still use it.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/","og_site_name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","article_published_time":"2019-05-17T03:43:36+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-04-12T01:49:06+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1500,"height":1001,"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/car-battery.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@carpartscom","twitter_site":"@carpartscom","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","$id":"4","name":"CarParts.com Research Team","jobTitle":"Expert Automotive Writer","description":"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com&#039;s thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/thecpteam\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom, https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarPartscom, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/, https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom\/"},{"@type":"Person","$id":"4","name":"William Guzenski","jobTitle":"ASE Master Automobile Technician","description":"William \u201cBill\u201d Guzenski has produced hundreds of how-to videos for the automotive community. He\u2019s an ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician, and is affiliated with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). He loves attending race events and car shows throughout the country, as well as traveling in his 40-foot motorhome, exploring abandoned mines and ghost towns.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/williamguzenski\/","sameAs":""},{"@type":"Person","$id":"4","name":"Richard McCuistian","jobTitle":"ASE Master Automobile Technician","description":"Richard McCuistian has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, and a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others. Richard is ASE certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\/, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/McCuistian"}],"headline":"How Long Can a Car Battery Sit Unused?","datePublished":"2019-05-17T03:43:36+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-12T01:49:06+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/"},"wordCount":931,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/car-battery.jpeg","keywords":["battery"],"articleSection":["DIY"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/","name":"How Long Can a Car Battery Sit Unused? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/car-battery.jpeg","datePublished":"2019-05-17T03:43:36+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-12T01:49:06+00:00","description":"Do you have a battery that's been sitting in your garage or car for quite some time? Read this article to find out if you can still use it.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/car-battery.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/car-battery.jpeg","width":1500,"height":1001,"caption":"car battery"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"CarParts.com","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","width":2048,"height":398,"caption":"CarParts.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/x.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/car-battery.jpeg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/car-battery.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-a-car-battery-sit-unused\/"},"authors":[{"term_id":2607,"user_id":1651,"is_guest":0,"slug":"thecpteam","display_name":"CarParts.com Research Team","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/thecpteam.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/thecpteam.jpg"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/thecpteam\/","last_name":"","first_name":"CarParts.com Research Team","job_title":"","description":"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust."},{"term_id":2855,"user_id":1645,"is_guest":0,"slug":"williamguzenski","display_name":"William Guzenski, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/william-bill-guzenski-carparts-ase-certified-technician.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/william-bill-guzenski-carparts-ase-certified-technician.png"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/williamguzenski\/","last_name":"Guzenski","first_name":"William","job_title":"ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","description":"<div class=\"auth-social-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/The-Gearhead-in-the-Videos-2205358439540319\/\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"facebook\" aria-labelledby=\"facebook\">Facebook<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/theGuyintheVideos\/\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"instagram\" aria-labelledby=\"instagram\">Instagram<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/bill-guzenski-07ba57142\/\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"linkedin\" aria-labelledby=\"linkedin\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\nWilliam \u201cBill\u201d Guzenski has produced hundreds of how-to videos for the automotive community. When not working in the Contact Center in Grand Prairie, Texas for CarParts.com, he\u2019s attending race events and car shows throughout the country. He also loves to travel in his  40-foot motorhome, exploring abandoned mines and ghost towns. He\u2019s currently building another car for Bonneville Salt Flats and will be campaigning a drag car at several events.\r\n\r\n<strong>Credentials:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"author-list\">\r\n<li><p>ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician<p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Automotive community affiliation: Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)<p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>"},{"term_id":2985,"user_id":1646,"is_guest":0,"slug":"richardmccuistian","display_name":"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/","last_name":"McCuistian","first_name":"Richard","job_title":"ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","description":"<div class=\"auth-social-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\/\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"linkedin\" aria-labelledby=\"linkedin\">LinkedIn<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/McCuistian\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"instagram\" aria-labelledby=\"instagram\">Youtube<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\nRichard McCuistian grew up in Alabama learning from his father who ran an automotive repair shop. Richard has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others (published every year since May 2000). He has developed training courses and written or edited training material for companies in the U.S. Canada, and the Netherlands, and even Bulgaria. He maintained an \u201cask a mechanic\u201d website for 10 years answering questions emailed to him from all over the world.\r\n\r\nRichard has an instructional automotive YouTube channel \u201cMcCuistian\u201d with 13,500 subscribers and over 1,300 videos. Much of his professional work requires photography and videography in shop environments, but Richard also enjoys taking pictures of landscapes, skyscapes, old barns and houses, small towns. He has produced a coffee table book of digital watercolors called \u201cMemories of South Alabama\u201d created from his personal photos, along with a dozen Christian fiction short original novels and a collection of short stories, all available in Kindle or softcover format. Richard has written a 2,500-word Bible study every week for the past 20 years and uses it to teach a small group at his church every Sunday morning.\r\n\r\n<strong>Credentials:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"author-list\">\r\n<li><p>ASE Certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Professional Mechanic\/Technician for 25 years with experience on diesel and gasoline engines, vehicles and equipment (including hydraulics).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Spent 5 years in fleet maintenance, 20 years in independent shops and dealerships (VW, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln), specializing in driveability and electronics for the last 14 years of his career at the same dealership.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Senior Contributing Editor at Motor Age Magazine, first published in Motor Age in May of 2000 and every year since. He has won two International Automotive Media Awards for technical articles published in trade magazines.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has attended hundreds of hours of automotive training from OEMs including GM, Volkswagen, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Chrysler, as well as additional training at events like KC Vision and MACS (Mobile Air Climate Systems Association).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Taught college level auto mechanics for 19 years.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has written for automotive training companies (including course development work for training companies in Canada and the Netherlands) and has been hired to teach professional trade show technician courses at multiple training events in Texas and Alabama.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>While still teaching at the college level, Richard launched a new automotive program in Geneva, Alabama, setting up a dual enrollment department in a new building, organizing the shop and classroom, teaching morning classes to high school students for 2 years while still teaching at the college in the afternoon.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Richard\u2019s college program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College worked at professional shop speed during his tenure to prepare graduates for production level work in the real world.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10387","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10387"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10387\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10387"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=10387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}