Battery disconnect for shipping

[gti_travels]

I am shipping my golf overseas and the shipping company have warned me that they will disconnect the battery for transit. It will be disconnected for ~1month. Is there anything I should be aware of in terms of loss of settings etc? Thanks!

[itavaltalainen]

Any specific reason for that?
They could just put it in transport mode, this is what VW do when shipping these overseas from factory.

[Gnasher]

Expect loads of errors and codes thrown on reconnecting it - they should clear within the first 30 minutes.

I'd guess they've had loads of cars with flat batteries at the end of the voyage and would rather spend 10 minutes per car disconnecting/reconnecting the batteries than 30 odd minutes jump starting each one that's flat at the other end.

Never had mine disconnected for sea transit, but mine was only on the boat for a week.

[fredgroves]

Any specific reason for that?
They could just put it in transport mode, this is what VW do when shipping these overseas from factory.

I didn't think you could renable that, it is a one time from factory mode?

[I wanted a GTi]

Any specific reason for that?
They could just put it in transport mode, this is what VW do when shipping these overseas from factory.

I didn't think you could renable that, it is a one time from factory mode?

You can do it with VCDS or OBDeleven.

[bgbazz]

Expect loads of errors and codes thrown on reconnecting it - they should clear within the first 30 minutes.

I'd guess they've had loads of cars with flat batteries at the end of the voyage and would rather spend 10 minutes per car disconnecting/reconnecting the batteries than 30 odd minutes jump starting each one that's flat at the other end.

Never had mine disconnected for sea transit, but mine was only on the boat for a week.

Not going to comment on the errors and codes coming up, but anyone who needs 30 minutes to jump start a car is in the wrong job. I've left my car in hibernation for more than a month and it has always started up within a few seconds...to push the point, my wifes Yaris has been parked up for almost 7 months (due to her illness) and I went down and started it this morning for the first time...about 5 winds on the key, but it started! Outside temp was 4C.

[Gnasher]

Expect loads of errors and codes thrown on reconnecting it - they should clear within the first 30 minutes.

I'd guess they've had loads of cars with flat batteries at the end of the voyage and would rather spend 10 minutes per car disconnecting/reconnecting the batteries than 30 odd minutes jump starting each one that's flat at the other end.

Never had mine disconnected for sea transit, but mine was only on the boat for a week.

Not going to comment on the errors and codes coming up, but anyone who needs 30 minutes to jump start a car is in the wrong job. I've left my car in hibernation for more than a month and it has always started up within a few seconds...to push the point, my wifes Yaris has been parked up for almost 7 months (due to her illness) and I went down and started it this morning for the first time...about 5 winds on the key, but it started! Outside temp was 4C.

I was talking figuratively - time is money to shippers and not being able to get a car started due to a flat battery takes time (an unknown amount, despite your good fortune) costs them money.

Also, they may do it for fire regulations on that particular ship, who knows?

[bgbazz]

I agree...it might be fire regulations or whatever, but I can promise you that to disconnect and then reconnect a battery is going to take more time than to jump start a car. Been there, done that with a fleet of more than 600 vehicles of different types...staff member going to fetch a vehicle carried one of those 'flash packs' with the correct leads...usually good for more than 20 starts! Never had a problem.

[Vwjap]

I thought on modern cars you disconnected the battery for 10 minutes to “reset” the car, and if that didn’t work you disconnected it for 24 hours, pretty sure I’ve done that on some Vauxhall’s that have wired electrical faults, normally turn car off and wait 3-5 minutes for car to shut down, I know in the Volvo if you disconnect the battery before the shut downs completed then you have a good half hour of setting it up again

[gti_travels]

Thanks. I have been told the reason is that the car will count as dangerous cargo with battery connected (it’s going into a container) and it makes paperwork easier and costs less to disconnect the battery. I just want to be sure it doesn’t cause any damage (I can live with resetting clock, radio stations etc)