I will be leaving my 2001 V70 in the garage for up to 6 months at a time. I plan to hook it up to a battery tender. Can I hook it up to the jump points under the hood mentioned in the owner's manual, or must I hook it up directly to the battery?

 

Read your manual, since mine is an 06, not an 05. But mine says use jump points under the hood for jump start. A trickle charge is a slow jump start.

Note, we also have a Chrysler Sebring convertible "00 which has its battery mounted inside the front fender behind the wheel/tire, so you have no choice but to use its jump points. Which I have done every winter for 5 straight years without a problem on that vehicle.

Only if the battery were detached from the car's electrical system would I directly put a charge to it. There's just too many circuits that are "live" in newer cars to trust direct charging when both cables are attached.

Remember your Stabil (or equivalent) and run the car long enough so you'll smell the Stabil odor in the exhause. That was gas in the lines and injectors is kept fresh, too. And, of course, fill the tank and change the oil before long-term storage.

 

I have been storing 2 boats, 2 cars , 2 riding lawn mowers and other stuff during the winter using battery Tender brand connecter to the battery. No problems BUT do not drop this brand, I have broken a number thru the years.

Cb