Help with a quick battery charging question...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: New York NY
Help with a quick battery charging question...
Been hooking up the float charger and leaving it in place but not on the battery, instead, on the jump start terminal at the fuse box location for the (+) and engine block for the (-). It seems to keep things charged. The battery has been going dead without doing this, if I dont drive for a few days (Yes, always leave it in reverse when parked) May be time for a new battery.
I looked in the OM and it does not state that it is harmful to the system to float or trickle charge in this manner. I have an early MY 06 with 7,600 mile on it.
1.Does anyone else trickle or float charge this way?
2.Is there any danger to the electrical system in maintaining the charge in this fashion?
Thanks...
I looked in the OM and it does not state that it is harmful to the system to float or trickle charge in this manner. I have an early MY 06 with 7,600 mile on it.
1.Does anyone else trickle or float charge this way?
2.Is there any danger to the electrical system in maintaining the charge in this fashion?
Thanks...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
When you say "float charger" you mean a Battery Tender or CTEK or similar model right? If so, then you are fine. Many of us use these and have them hooked up during the winter months when we don't use the car at all.
If you are using a standard trickle charger of some kind then that is bad, it is not designed to do what you are trying to do.
Most of the auto parts stores or Sears will do a free battery check to see if you need a new battery.
If you are using a standard trickle charger of some kind then that is bad, it is not designed to do what you are trying to do.
Most of the auto parts stores or Sears will do a free battery check to see if you need a new battery.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,281
Likes: 8,558
From: Rochester, NY
When you say "float charger" you mean a Battery Tender or CTEK or similar model right? If so, then you are fine. Many of us use these and have them hooked up during the winter months when we don't use the car at all.
If you are using a standard trickle charger of some kind then that is bad, it is not designed to do what you are trying to do.
Most of the auto parts stores or Sears will do a free battery check to see if you need a new battery.
If you are using a standard trickle charger of some kind then that is bad, it is not designed to do what you are trying to do.
Most of the auto parts stores or Sears will do a free battery check to see if you need a new battery.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 465
From: Southern Utah
Ultimately though, you need to measure the current draw (in milliamps) from the battery when the car is turned off and has been sitting for a while. It should be between 11 and 17 ma. If the current draw is higher than that, then a new battery is just a masking of the symptom without a cure of the disease. If a weak battery lasts a couple of days under these circumstances, then a good one might last twice as long...still unacceptable. You may need a new battery, but excess current draw is a separate issue....check out both.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
If your batt. only lasting a few days before being dead, it is time for a replacement, imo. By going dead several or more times, it's lost its capacity to fully charge up.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,642
Likes: 9
From: Dalllas/Ft Worth Area TX
Hard to get good ground connection on "06 A6
I was having alot of trouble getting a good ground connection on 06 C6 by using the exhaust manifold bolt when trying to jump start. On the front end of the passanger head there are two empty tapped stud holes; therefore, I moved an electrical cable fastner to the rear hole (near the middle of the engine) and put a sleeve on a bolt and screwed in tight in the outer hole toward the fender. Now I have a very good ground connection to hook to, GM instructions and setup is very poor, yes, very poor! It was so poor, I had to use additional cable to get adequate ground connection, yes, I had "big" cables but poor connection area on GM's bolt. Now you know why GM is not grounded well today, poor planning (financial), etc. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,515
Likes: 255
From: Rochester New York
Ultimately though, you need to measure the current draw (in milliamps) from the battery when the car is turned off and has been sitting for a while. It should be between 11 and 17 ma. If the current draw is higher than that, then a new battery is just a masking of the symptom without a cure of the disease. If a weak battery lasts a couple of days under these circumstances, then a good one might last twice as long...still unacceptable. You may need a new battery, but excess current draw is a separate issue....check out both.
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My Battery Tender is hooked up all the time direct to the two little studs on the battery posts using the pigtail that came with the Battery Tender. No problems for me. Sounds like that you may need a new battery.