Apartment Car Parks and Flat Batteries in Inner Sydney

This guide is for people in Sydney apartments whose cars live in a basement car park, from Waterloo and Surry Hills to Chatswood, Mascot and Hurstville. It covers why those cars go flat, how to keep the battery charged without breaking strata rules, how to jump-start in a tight space and how to make it easier for help to reach you underground.

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Why basement cars go flat

In the inner city a lot of people barely need a car. You walk, catch the train, Metro or light rail, and the car comes out once a fortnight for a trip to the in-laws or a big shop. Meanwhile it sits in a basement bay for weeks at a time.

Even switched off, a modern car keeps drawing a small current for the alarm, keyless entry, clock, radio memory and the computers that wait to wake up. Over a week or two that is normally fine. Over a month, especially with an older battery, it can be enough to stop the car starting. Add one extra load, such as a dashcam, a glovebox light that stays on or a door that isn't quite shut, and it happens much faster.

Dashcams in a shared car park

Plenty of apartment residents run a dashcam in parking mode to catch scrapes in a busy basement. The catch is that a car that only moves every few weeks never gets the charge back. If you'll be away or not driving for more than a few days, the simplest fix is to turn parking mode off or unplug the camera. Some people use a separate dashcam battery pack that powers the camera without touching the car's starting battery.

If the camera is hardwired, make sure it has a working low-voltage cut-off and was fused properly. See where to put the fuse when wiring an accessory. It is also worth reading your building's by-laws, since some schemes have rules about cameras and recording in common areas.

Battery maintainers and the strata question

A battery maintainer, sometimes called a float charger, is the best way to keep a car that sits for weeks ready to go. It tops the battery up slowly and then holds it at full charge without overcharging. The problem in an apartment is power. Most basement bays don't have their own power point, and the ones that exist are usually on common property.

Common property belongs to all the owners, and the owners corporation pays for the electricity it uses. Don't just run a lead from a car park power point because it is there. Ask your strata manager or strata committee first and get the answer in writing. Some buildings will say yes, some will want a by-law or a cost arrangement, and some will say no because of trip hazards or fire rules. The NSW Government's page on strata by-laws explains how by-laws and common property work.

If you get the go-ahead, use a maintainer designed to be left connected, keep the lead out of walkways and check it now and then. Any new power point or fixed 240V wiring in the car park must be installed by a licensed electrician, not done yourself.

If you can't plug anything in

Many residents won't have a power option at all. These approaches can still help.

• Drive the car for at least half an hour every week or two, preferably at steady speed rather than round the block.
• Before a long trip away, take the battery to full with a charger. Our guide on how to charge a car battery covers the options.
• Lock the car, close every door and the boot, and keep the key fob away from the car so it can go to sleep.
• Keep a charged lithium jump starter in your unit so you can get yourself going without needing another car.
• Disconnecting the negative terminal stops the drain, but on many newer cars it resets settings, and some need the windows, steering angle or battery sensor reset afterwards. Check the owner's manual first.
• Small solar trickle chargers won't help underground, so don't rely on one.

Jump-starting in a tight basement

Basement bays are often nose-to-wall with a pillar on one side, which makes it hard to get a second car close enough for jumper leads. A portable jump starter solves that. You only need to reach your own battery or jump points, and you don't need anyone else's car.

Before you start, find where the car wants to be jumped. Many cars have the battery in the boot or under a seat and provide remote jump points under the bonnet. Keep the clamps apart, connect in the order the jump starter's instructions give, and make sure the car park is well ventilated. If the car won't start after a few tries, stop. Repeated cranking can damage the starter. Our guide on how to jump-start a car safely has the full method. If the battery keeps going flat even when you drive regularly, read why a car battery keeps going flat.

Why mobile help can struggle underground

A mobile auto electrician or roadside service can't always just drive down to your bay. Car parks are designed around ordinary cars. The Australian Standard for car parks sets a minimum headroom of 2.2 metres, and many older buildings are tight. A service van with a roof rack, ladder or high roof may not fit under the entry, the sprinkler pipes or the ramp.

Access is the other issue. Security gates, fobs, visitor parking that is full, and no phone reception underground all slow things down. If the car needs to come out to be worked on, getting a dead car up a steep ramp isn't easy, and not every tow truck can fit in either.

Make it easier for help to reach you

Auto electricians cover the apartment-heavy parts of Sydney, including the city and inner south and the eastern suburbs and Botany. Mentioning the basement up front saves time for everyone.

• Tell them the clearance height at the car park entry when you call. It is usually signed at the gate.
• Explain that the car is in a basement, which level, and whether you have phone reception there.
• Arrange to meet them at the gate with your fob or remote.
• Ask building management whether a visitor bay or the loading dock can be used.
• If the car can be jump-started, getting it running and driven up to street level can make the rest of the job much simpler.

Parts for this job

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Questions Sydney drivers ask

How long can a car sit in a basement before the battery goes flat?

It varies a lot. A newer car with a healthy battery and nothing extra plugged in will often sit for a few weeks and still start. An older battery, a car with lots of electronics or a dashcam in parking mode can go flat in days. If the car will sit for more than two or three weeks, plan to charge it, drive it or use a maintainer.

Can I charge my car from the car park power point?

Only with permission. Power points in a shared car park are usually on common property, and the electricity is paid by the owners corporation. Ask the strata manager or strata committee and get approval in writing before you plug in. They may need a by-law or a way to cover the power cost. Any new outlet must be installed by a licensed electrician.

Is a lithium jump starter safe to keep in my apartment?

Generally yes, if you follow the maker's instructions. Charge it on a hard surface away from anything flammable, don't leave it charging unattended for long periods, and stop using it if it swells, gets very hot or is damaged. Many people prefer to keep it inside rather than in a hot car, which is also better for the pack.

Why can't a service van reach my car in the basement?

Many apartment car parks have low clearance, often close to the 2.2 metre minimum in the car park standard. Vans with roof racks, ladders or high roofs may not fit, and security gates and poor reception add delays. Tell the service the clearance height and where the car is when you call, so they can plan around it.

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