# Car Left Standing for Months: the Battery in Málaga > Back at your second home and the car will not start? Free battery check in Málaga, no appointment: we tell you if a charge recovers it. 952 31 01 18. Back in Málaga and the car will not start? That is completely normal after months standing. We will tell you if it can be recovered or needs replacing. Call 952 31 01 18 WhatsApp A car left standing for months at your second home It is one of the most common situations on the Costa del Sol: you leave the car in the garage space at your place in Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Nerja or Rincón de la Victoria , you come back six or nine months later… and it will not start. It is not bad luck: it is what happens to any battery in those conditions. At Málaga Baterías we can tell you in five minutes whether the battery can be brought back with a charge or whether it is finished. We are at C/ La Orotava, 100 (29006 Málaga) , no appointment needed , and we are an Official Varta Distributor . Why a car that never moves goes flat - Standby drain: the alarm, central locking, control units, clock and tracker keep drawing current. A modern car uses a fair amount even when it is "switched off". - Natural self-discharge: every battery loses charge on its own, and the heat in Málaga speeds the process up. - Sulphation: if the battery spends months half charged, sulphate crystals form on the plates. Beyond a certain point the damage is irreversible. - Heat in the garage: a closed basement in August is an oven for a battery. As a guide: a modern car with a battery in good condition can stand for 4-8 weeks . With a 4-year-old battery, it may not even manage three weeks. What to do before you leave - Leave it fully charged. One long run before you park helps more than several short ones. - Connect a trickle charger if there is a socket in your parking space. It is by far the best solution and it costs very little. - If there is no socket, disconnect the negative terminal : that removes the standby drain (you will lose your radio presets and some settings, and on some cars the windows have to be re-initialised). - If someone can, have them start it and drive it for 20-30 minutes every two or three weeks. Starting it and switching it straight off is worse than not starting it at all. - Park in the shade or in a ventilated garage whenever you can. It is already flat: can it be recovered or does it need replacing? It depends on how long it has been standing and on the age of the battery. A recent battery that has run out of charge can usually be brought back with a slow charge . One that is four or five years old and has spent the summer flat is normally sulphated, and even if it starts the car it will fail again. We measure it: with Midtronics equipment we see the real condition (SoH) and tell you, with data, whether it is worth charging or replacing. The check is free of charge . Be careful about jump-starting it and driving straight off: the alternator is not designed to recharge a deeply discharged battery; you can end up with a damaged alternator and a battery that is just as bad. Frequently asked questions How long can a car stand without going flat? With a battery in good condition, between 4 and 8 weeks. With a battery over 4 years old or a heavy standby drain (alarm, tracker), sometimes less than three weeks. I come back in summer and the car will not start, what should I do? Drop in without an appointment at C/ La Orotava, 100 and we will check it free of charge, or call us on 952 31 01 18. We measure the real condition and tell you whether a charge will recover it or whether it needs replacing. Is a trickle charger worth it? Yes, it is the best solution if you have a socket in your parking space: it keeps the battery in good shape for months and prevents sulphation. It costs far less than a new battery. Is it better to disconnect the negative terminal? It is a good alternative if there is no socket: it removes the standby drain. You will lose your radio presets and some settings, and on certain models the electric windows have to be re-initialised. Can a battery that has been flat for a long time be recovered? If it is recent and has not spent months at zero, usually yes with a slow charge. If it is old or has spent the summer flat, it is normally sulphated and is best replaced. Before you leave, get it ready Free check · advice for months of standing · no appointment. Call 952 31 01 18 WhatsApp ## Buy or change this battery in Málaga Málaga Baterías — official Varta distributor. No appointment needed. Free quote and recycling of your old battery. - **Phone:** [952 31 01 18](tel:+34952310118) - **WhatsApp:** [+34 952 31 01 18](https://wa.me/34952310118) - **Address:** C/ La Orotava, 100, 29006 Málaga - **Directions:** https://maps.google.com/?q=Málaga+Baterías+C/+La+Orotava+100+Málaga ### Areas we cover Málaga city: Centro, Teatinos, El Palo, Pedregalejo, Ciudad Jardín, Cruz de Humilladero, Carretera de Cádiz, Churriana, Campanillas, Puerto de la Torre, Bailén-Miraflores, Palma-Palmilla. Costa del Sol: Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Rincón de la Victoria, Vélez-Málaga, Torrox, Nerja, Alhaurín. --- [See the full product page](https://malagabaterias.com/en/car-left-standing-battery-malaga)