Battery Tender Issues?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 231
Likes: 26
I use my Ctek on my 2016 daily, as I did with my C-5 and C-6. All of these cars act about the same way with short trip driving, inasmuch as they generally are not fully charged at the end of the day. I'm not particularly worried about a no-start condition, but I believe a good float charger will extend battery life if used regularly. Plus, it is really simple to plug the charger into the port on the trunk on my C7 because I have a wall outlet in a convenient location.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 829
From: Chapel Hill NC
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I plug in my charger if Im not going to use the car for a few days because I under the impression a fully charged battery will last longer.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 55
Likes: 24
From: Greer SC
Battery Tender Issues?
Freakin car is like Optimus Prime. I will be in garage and hear it click whirr and purr.....all by itself. I get the onstar info while the car is nite nite....its really a transformer waiting to save the world
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 510
Likes: 67
From: Weeki Wachee Fl.
Tender Plus
My 7k mi. c5 when not being driven has always been on a tender plus since it was new. The original battery lasted 11yrs. But if I'm gone for a extended time like vacation I disconnect the battery. I was gone one winter so I removed it and stored it in the basement till spring. Check out video 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 6,516
Likes: 4,840
From: One Hour From Boston!
Battery is in the hatch of all Coupes, under the carpet. It's easiest to plug into the charger port (looks like a cigarette lighter jack) inside the hatchback. Drape the cable over side of the car and shut the hatchback. That's how I kept mine all winter.
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Verdad Gallardo
Moderator emeritus
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,954
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Most just gently close the hatch or trunk on the cord. Personally, I HATE to squeeze an electrical cord for ANY reason especially for extended periods of time. Were I to store my car for the winter, I would do this: http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread...hlight=battery
As it is, I live in Florida and drive the car year round. I still slap the car on the C-Tek when I park in the garage. I just like to have the battery topped off at all times. There are a lot of days where I do nothing but short trips and might not get the battery fully recharged before I park it for the night.
Elmer
As it is, I live in Florida and drive the car year round. I still slap the car on the C-Tek when I park in the garage. I just like to have the battery topped off at all times. There are a lot of days where I do nothing but short trips and might not get the battery fully recharged before I park it for the night.
Elmer
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 854
My 7k mi. c5 when not being driven has always been on a tender plus since it was new. The original battery lasted 11yrs. But if I'm gone for a extended time like vacation I disconnect the battery. I was gone one winter so I removed it and stored it in the basement till spring. Check out video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_NYOXb5gE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_NYOXb5gE
CTEK is the leading smartcharger that most premium brands of vehicles use.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 35,760
Likes: 148
From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
Most just gently close the hatch or trunk on the cord. Personally, I HATE to squeeze an electrical cord for ANY reason especially for extended periods of time. Were I to store my car for the winter, I would do this: http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread...hlight=battery
As it is, I live in Florida and drive the car year round. I still slap the car on the C-Tek when I park in the garage. I just like to have the battery topped off at all times. There are a lot of days where I do nothing but short trips and might not get the battery fully recharged before I park it for the night.
Elmer
As it is, I live in Florida and drive the car year round. I still slap the car on the C-Tek when I park in the garage. I just like to have the battery topped off at all times. There are a lot of days where I do nothing but short trips and might not get the battery fully recharged before I park it for the night.
Elmer
As the tenders only put out a little before I put vehicle away for winter, I hook up a conventional charger and when that is finished then I plug in the tender rather than wait for the tender only to do its thing!
As far as short driving and recharging, as I live in very cold country even for my DDs I feel it takes at least ten miles to recharge the battery for each start. Thats with a good battery a marginal one it could take much longer.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 854
I choose to go with a permanent connection to the battery terminals. Then use a CTEK Comfort extension. No need to keep putting the cigarette adapter plug in and pulling out in the rear hatch.
It takes less than 5 seconds to make the connection and close the rear hatch lid.
It takes less than 5 seconds to make the connection and close the rear hatch lid.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 158
Old habits die hard. I had some battery failure issues with 2011 C6 and after which I found getting all systems, window index etc. to work right was a pain in the axx. Better safe than sorry. Got GM Battery Protection that came 2015 C7. I understand the C7 in spite of more electronics to drain the battery is less apt to do so than C6. Great! Even so, when I pull into the garage with C7 if I know I am not going to drive the Corvette for a couple days I plug it in to the charger. Little inconvenience for strong start every time and no battery issues.
Moderator emeritus
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,954
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Old habits die hard. I had some battery failure issues with 2011 C6 and after which I found getting all systems, window index etc. to work right was a pain in the axx. Better safe than sorry. Got GM Battery Protection that came 2015 C7. I understand the C7 in spite of more electronics to drain the battery is less apt to do so than C6. Great! Even so, when I pull into the garage with C7 if I know I am not going to drive the Corvette for a couple days I plug it in to the charger. Little inconvenience for strong start every time and no battery issues.
Yup, I concur.Elmer
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 854
Originally Posted by [B
James Bertuca[/B];1590760376]Does that CTEX have a cover over the female plug in side or do you have it hidden from sight?
I am not sure if your questions relates to my post in #32 above.
I have the CTEK MUS 4.3 ...8 Step Smartcharger. Great value under $55.00 at Amazon.com. As you can see from the photos above the eyelets from the CTEK MUS 4.3 are connected directly to the battery terminals. The battery terminals on the C7 have a 10mm extra post on both the Negative and Positive sides. I simply cut the eyelet so I could slip the open end of the eyelet onto the 10mm post and tightened the nut. On the C7 there is a square plastic cover that goes over the Positive side of the battery terminal. Seen in the photos above #32. So the direct connection from the CTEK is well protected.
I have all of my vehicles connected this way to the CTEK smartchargers. I have never had an electrical issue of any kind, including my Jaguar XKR which are known for eating up battery power.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 802
Likes: 122
From: Goodyear Arizona
The Battery Tender brand has been well known to smoke and cause fire. I use the CTEK brand of chargers on all my vehicles and all CTEK chargers are connected to the vehicles daily. Extends battery life and provides a fully charged battery 100% of the time.
CTEK is the leading smartcharger that most premium brands of vehicles use.
CTEK is the leading smartcharger that most premium brands of vehicles use.
Have used a Battery Tender for almost six years on three different cars, never a problem - and my garage gets over 100 degrees in the summer.
Instructor
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 208
Likes: 8
James Bertuca:
I am not sure if your questions relates to my post in #32 above.
I have the CTEK MUS 4.3 ...8 Step Smartcharger. Great value under $55.00 at Amazon.com. As you can see from the photos above the eyelets from the CTEK MUS 4.3 are connected directly to the battery terminals. The battery terminals on the C7 have a 10mm extra post on both the Negative and Positive sides. I simply cut the eyelet so I could slip the open end of the eyelet onto the 10mm post and tightened the nut. On the C7 there is a square plastic cover that goes over the Positive side of the battery terminal. Seen in the photos above #32. So the direct connection from the CTEK is well protected.
I have all of my vehicles connected this way to the CTEK smartchargers. I have never had an electrical issue of any kind, including my Jaguar XKR which are known for eating up battery power.
I am not sure if your questions relates to my post in #32 above.
I have the CTEK MUS 4.3 ...8 Step Smartcharger. Great value under $55.00 at Amazon.com. As you can see from the photos above the eyelets from the CTEK MUS 4.3 are connected directly to the battery terminals. The battery terminals on the C7 have a 10mm extra post on both the Negative and Positive sides. I simply cut the eyelet so I could slip the open end of the eyelet onto the 10mm post and tightened the nut. On the C7 there is a square plastic cover that goes over the Positive side of the battery terminal. Seen in the photos above #32. So the direct connection from the CTEK is well protected.
I have all of my vehicles connected this way to the CTEK smartchargers. I have never had an electrical issue of any kind, including my Jaguar XKR which are known for eating up battery power.
First photo of the pigtail does that have a safety cover when not in use, my deltran's have safety covers when not in use. I'm sure the CTEX is a good maintainer.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 499
From: Northern Virginia
A small number of every electronic device will fail, especially as they get old, but BT's are very reliable.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 6
From: Daytona Beach Florida
I just got back from extended trip across America on Route 66 driving my wife's 32 Ford 3 window coupe. Left the C7 in the garage with no battery charger on it and it started right up after having been sitting for 4 weeks. So did my 1968 Cutlass Oldsmobile. So did my 1963 Chevy II Nova. No battery tenders for me.