can I leave the key in?

[karenishere]

I'm going to be camping in my Matrix.  Assuming I'm not running anything I know about - lights, fan, radio, ac etc. - can I leave the key in the ignition in the Accessory or On position overnight without running the risk of draining the battery?   It would be hugely helpful to be able to roll up the electric window while in bed. (and yes, I can just leave the key in the ignition overnite and test it for myself, but really, it would be so much easier if you could just tell me.  )

 

[Almost There]

I'm going to be camping in my Matrix.  Assuming I'm not running anything I know about - lights, fan, radio, ac etc. - can I leave the key in the ignition in the Accessory or On position overnight without running the risk of draining the battery?   It would be hugely helpful to be able to roll up the electric window while in bed. (and yes, I can just leave the key in the ignition overnite and test it for myself, but really, it would be so much easier if you could just tell me.  )

I don't know about overnight but I did it in my Montana for several days and it took major efforts to boost it. I'd not just flattened the battery, I almost killed the darn thing...

 

[anewbiewannabe]

Karen, I'm sure others have better information, but ultimately it will depend on how healthy your battery is. If it's in accessory position where all you have to do is touch the button to put the windows down then the battery is being discharged, albeit at a low rate, by having the key in accessory position.

Personal experience: No key in the ignition, door accidentally not totally closed when somebody unloaded my groceries, no dome light on, discharged my battery where I had to hook it up to a charger in order to start the car. Since it was about 4 or 5 days before the next use, I'm not sure how quickly the battery went too dead to start the car. I'm sure that my car could use a new battery, but it works for now and I'm not away from civilization and I have other repairs that have to come first. If you aren't driving every day then I wouldn't want to do it for more than a night if it were me.

 

[highdesertranger]

never leave the switch in the on position without the vehicle running. as far as the accessory position goes it depends on the car, but most of the time this puts a drain on the battery even though you think everything is off. highdesertranger

 

[SternWake]

No one here who does not own your vehicle, can answer your question. The person who does own your car would have to be able to measure the parasitic load with the key in the accessory position to give you a valid answer.

Do you have a digital Multimeter?

 

[ZoNiE]

Many newer cars "Time-out" anyway. After 30 min, it'll shut everything off anyway.
Go try it and see.

 

[karenishere]

Well ... so far what I've come up with is that the key has to be On (not accessory) for the windows to work. When the key is On, the dash lights also come on, I'm pretty sure that's too much juice (and also annoying, as I'm trying to sleep). I doubt there's a way to stop that from happening without pulling the fuse every night.

@highdesertranger - why do you say the key should never be left in On position?

 

[karenishere]

Many newer cars "Time-out" anyway. After 30 min, it'll shut everything off anyway.
Go try it and see.

It's a 2004, it doesn't seem to have a time out.