Winterize- battery tender? PLEASE HELP!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: CHICAGO IL
Winterize- battery tender? PLEASE HELP!
I have a 2010 GS Vette... 3 Dealers told me 3 different things!!! 
Dealer 1) Battery tender will mess up the computers on the car (I have no idea what he meant) he suggested NO Battery tender.
Dealer 2) Battery tender should hook up under the hood...
Dealer 3) Battery tender should hook up directly on battery...
Any help on how to winterize my 2010 GS!?!? It gets very cold in Chicago below zero of course... It would be nice to know EXACTLY what to do to properly winterize my BRAND NEW VETTE.. first time I purchased a Chevy... (I called GM they said they will get back to me) So I went here..... (Str8 to the pro's hopefully you guys!!) lol
Thanks! Let me know if you need any more information! I just got it 10/1/10
Dealer 1) Battery tender will mess up the computers on the car (I have no idea what he meant) he suggested NO Battery tender.
Dealer 2) Battery tender should hook up under the hood...
Dealer 3) Battery tender should hook up directly on battery...
Any help on how to winterize my 2010 GS!?!? It gets very cold in Chicago below zero of course... It would be nice to know EXACTLY what to do to properly winterize my BRAND NEW VETTE.. first time I purchased a Chevy... (I called GM they said they will get back to me) So I went here..... (Str8 to the pro's hopefully you guys!!) lol
Thanks! Let me know if you need any more information! I just got it 10/1/10
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,678
Likes: 1
First Congrats on the new Baby..
Second, dealer #2 with a tender hooked up to the battery for me here in Chicago. I have a 09 and had her on a tender last winter with no issues. I do have a heated garage kept just above freezing though.
This is what I do and, I'm sure others will chime in.
Clean car, Oil change, fill tank with top tier gas (Shell), inflate tires to 34-35 psi, park on carpet and, cover.
Good luck and, wave when you see me in my Black 09.
Second, dealer #2 with a tender hooked up to the battery for me here in Chicago. I have a 09 and had her on a tender last winter with no issues. I do have a heated garage kept just above freezing though.
This is what I do and, I'm sure others will chime in.
Clean car, Oil change, fill tank with top tier gas (Shell), inflate tires to 34-35 psi, park on carpet and, cover.
Good luck and, wave when you see me in my Black 09.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 12
From: "No matter where you go... there you are"...."You cannot drive a dollar bill". ...and remember... "D
I have mine hooked up to the battery...in the rear on a Z...no problems.....Number 1 choice is bogus.....2 and 3 are fine
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 783
Likes: 1
From: MONTGOMERY ALABAMA
I use the CTEK 3300. Hook your red or positive cable to the positive terminal and the black which is negative to the negative terminal. Then leave it alone. Fill the tank,overinflate the tires and pour in a bottle of fuel stabilizer. It is not a big deal. WELCOME ABOARD!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 2
From: Woodland Hills Utah
I use the CTEK 3300. Hook your red or positive cable to the positive terminal and the black which is negative to the negative terminal. Then leave it alone. Fill the tank,overinflate the tires and pour in a bottle of fuel stabilizer. It is not a big deal. WELCOME ABOARD! I do the same with my Vette, boat, Harley and ATVs. Been doing it for years with no issues. Don't forget the fuel stabilizer in the gas tank. 
Retired & lovin' it!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,475
Likes: 549
From: Jackson NJ
I have a 2010 GS Vette... 3 Dealers told me 3 different things!!!
Dealer 1) Battery tender will mess up the computers on the car (I have no idea what he meant) he suggested NO Battery tender.
Dealer 2) Battery tender should hook up under the hood...
Dealer 3) Battery tender should hook up directly on battery...
Any help on how to winterize my 2010 GS!?!? It gets very cold in Chicago below zero of course... It would be nice to know EXACTLY what to do to properly winterize my BRAND NEW VETTE.. first time I purchased a Chevy... (I called GM they said they will get back to me) So I went here..... (Str8 to the pro's hopefully you guys!!) lol
Thanks! Let me know if you need any more information! I just got it 10/1/10
Dealer 1) Battery tender will mess up the computers on the car (I have no idea what he meant) he suggested NO Battery tender.
Dealer 2) Battery tender should hook up under the hood...
Dealer 3) Battery tender should hook up directly on battery...
Any help on how to winterize my 2010 GS!?!? It gets very cold in Chicago below zero of course... It would be nice to know EXACTLY what to do to properly winterize my BRAND NEW VETTE.. first time I purchased a Chevy... (I called GM they said they will get back to me) So I went here..... (Str8 to the pro's hopefully you guys!!) lol
Thanks! Let me know if you need any more information! I just got it 10/1/10
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,641
Likes: 80
From: Florida
Been using a tender on my batteries for years, never a problem. Just be careful when hooking it up to the batteries. Leave the tender unplugged (AC outlet) 'till you connect the cables. Also unplug the tender before you remove the clips. Make sure polarity is correct. Avoid sparks, hook up the Positive cable first.
I prefer hooking up directly to the battery.
I prefer hooking up directly to the battery.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 9
From: Upstate New York
I have a 2010 GS Vette... 3 Dealers told me 3 different things!!!
Dealer 1) Battery tender will mess up the computers on the car (I have no idea what he meant) he suggested NO Battery tender.
Dealer 2) Battery tender should hook up under the hood...
Dealer 3) Battery tender should hook up directly on battery...
Any help on how to winterize my 2010 GS!?!? It gets very cold in Chicago below zero of course... It would be nice to know EXACTLY what to do to properly winterize my BRAND NEW VETTE.. first time I purchased a Chevy... (I called GM they said they will get back to me) So I went here..... (Str8 to the pro's hopefully you guys!!) lol
Thanks! Let me know if you need any more information! I just got it 10/1/10
Dealer 1) Battery tender will mess up the computers on the car (I have no idea what he meant) he suggested NO Battery tender.
Dealer 2) Battery tender should hook up under the hood...
Dealer 3) Battery tender should hook up directly on battery...
Any help on how to winterize my 2010 GS!?!? It gets very cold in Chicago below zero of course... It would be nice to know EXACTLY what to do to properly winterize my BRAND NEW VETTE.. first time I purchased a Chevy... (I called GM they said they will get back to me) So I went here..... (Str8 to the pro's hopefully you guys!!) lol
Thanks! Let me know if you need any more information! I just got it 10/1/10
Dealer #2: Bonus points for knowing where the battery is...though some are in the trunk.
Dealer #3: That's the way I have done it on everything from cars/tractor/bikes over many years.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,200
Likes: 233
From: "Nowhere Man"
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Been using a tender on my batteries for years, never a problem. Just be careful when hooking it up to the batteries. Leave the tender unplugged (AC outlet) 'till you connect the cables. Also unplug the tender before you remove the clips. Make sure polarity is correct. Avoid sparks, hook up the Positive cable first.
I prefer hooking up directly to the battery.
I prefer hooking up directly to the battery.
Last edited by LUVMINE; Dec 7, 2010 at 04:41 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 368
Likes: 1
From: Winterville NC
Battery Tender
I use a Battery Tender. I saw it on TV on one of the Car Shows. So I went to their web page http://www.batterytender.com/ and I use one of there- http://batterytender.com/automotive/...-at-1-25a.html. I use summer and winter it doesn't matter to me. My car sits alot because of my job. So, it's charged and ready to go reguardless of what time of the year. I know there are alot of tenders out there, and I'm not knocking them. I'v used this one and have not had any issue's.
TIM$VETT
TIM$VETT
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
If you are going to let it sit (I did for 6 months, for many years), put 40 psi in the tires, put some Sta-bil in the tank and run it for a few miles before storing, change the oil, and enjoy winter.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,024
Likes: 13
From: Loveland CO to Central Coast CA
Like many folks on the forum, I use a good battery maintainer for winter storage.
-- My 1st winter I connected directly to the battery.
-- My 2nd winter I used a cig adapter connected to the console outlet. You can also use the cig lighter outlet.
All these work well, continuously for months, no problems.
Whichever method you use, make sure your connections are secure... or it won't work. The lights on a CTEK tell you when it's working.
IMO the cig adapter is a little more convenient than connecting to the battery. Also, I'm less likely to drive away while plugged-in.
I prefer using the console outlet -- rather than the cig outlet -- because that's where I keep the adapter.
With my CTEK 3300, I use the CTEK 56-263 "Comfort Connect Cig Socket" power point adapter. Works great. $9 at amazon.
And the slot in the door is handy for running the cord:
-- My 1st winter I connected directly to the battery.
-- My 2nd winter I used a cig adapter connected to the console outlet. You can also use the cig lighter outlet.
All these work well, continuously for months, no problems.
Whichever method you use, make sure your connections are secure... or it won't work. The lights on a CTEK tell you when it's working.
IMO the cig adapter is a little more convenient than connecting to the battery. Also, I'm less likely to drive away while plugged-in.
I prefer using the console outlet -- rather than the cig outlet -- because that's where I keep the adapter.
With my CTEK 3300, I use the CTEK 56-263 "Comfort Connect Cig Socket" power point adapter. Works great. $9 at amazon.
And the slot in the door is handy for running the cord:
Last edited by CO Lightfoot; Dec 7, 2010 at 05:38 PM.
