I'll be on vacation for about a month, should I disconnect the battery before I leave? Will the factory alarm drain the battery dry if I leave the battery connected and the factory alarm armed and the car locked?

Why not just get a 'trickle charger' for extended periods of non-use? Of course this only applies to garaged cars at home. I have used one for my lawn tractor during the winter months and it works well.

For a week I'd say no but a month, definately. The battery will be dead if left connected.

Good idea but just make sure the negative cable doesn't touch anything which may cause it to ground out and make sure you have your radio security code since it will have to be reset when you reconnect the battery.

Jim

yes the alarm will drain the battery. I usually disconnect the negative cable whenever I am leaving the car for more than about a week, even at the airport. I just leave the 10 mm wrench in the driver's side pocket and reconnect the battery when I get to the car.

Not that it happens very often, but a non-functioning car is probably less appealing as a potential theft item.

Just install a disconnect fitting (mine is a blue rotary knob) on the cable NOT grounded (i.e. the one coming from the alternator - I'm in my office and don't know right off if it's the neg or pos). I do this all the time for extended airport parking. ⏫ T-5R]