CTEK battery maintainer issue
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,949
Likes: 2,667
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
The local dealer has a Corvette tech who is fairly young but a real mechanic, not just a parts changer. We are under warranty, I should talk to him.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
I suspect you are correct. Unfortunately, we had a different CTEK for our C6 and it had the same problem with the cig lighter plug up front, and then when used on our C7 in the back. So two different CTEKs on two different Corvettes, not encouraging.
The local dealer has a Corvette tech who is fairly young but a real mechanic, not just a parts changer. We are under warranty, I should talk to him.
The local dealer has a Corvette tech who is fairly young but a real mechanic, not just a parts changer. We are under warranty, I should talk to him.
Originally Posted by Foosh
This is a common problem on plug-in 12v connectors in general, not just on CTEK battery maintainers. Alligator clips, and, of course, direct connectors to the battery are more reliable.
Last edited by iclick; Oct 30, 2017 at 10:29 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,949
Likes: 2,667
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
I've tried a couple of different sizes that didn't seem to help much. Last few days I've had good results from squeezing the two side contacts as I push in the plug and using an O-ring just barely larger than the middle ring on the red cap.
If I don't report back more in a week, PM me.
If I don't report back more in a week, PM me.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,949
Likes: 2,667
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
EDIT: All ok for a month now.
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; Dec 13, 2017 at 10:23 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 173
From: Nevada
The plug's side clip thing came off, it's pretty fragile. I am wondering if it's ok to use this long term, I keep it plugged in 1 month, 2 months sometimes more.
https://i.imgur.com/8VK3uiU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/GkCX8iV.jpg
My car is still under the bumper to bumper warranty, are the accessories under warranty as well?
Thanks for reading /help
https://i.imgur.com/8VK3uiU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/GkCX8iV.jpg
My car is still under the bumper to bumper warranty, are the accessories under warranty as well?
Thanks for reading /help
Last edited by okaythen; Dec 13, 2017 at 02:14 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,949
Likes: 2,667
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
You could ask the dealer about replacement, mine would replace my charger under warranty if I continued to have troubles with it.
I think the missing piece just helps stabilize the plug inside the socket, but that does seem like a slightly sloppy situation even when the missing piece is there.
I think the missing piece just helps stabilize the plug inside the socket, but that does seem like a slightly sloppy situation even when the missing piece is there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
The plug's side clip thing came off, it's pretty fragile. I am wondering if it's ok to use this long term, I keep it plugged in 1 month, 2 months sometimes more.
https://i.imgur.com/8VK3uiU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/GkCX8iV.jpg
My car is still under the bumper to bumper warranty, are the accessories under warranty as well?
https://i.imgur.com/8VK3uiU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/GkCX8iV.jpg
My car is still under the bumper to bumper warranty, are the accessories under warranty as well?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 173
From: Nevada
You could ask the dealer about replacement, mine would replace my charger under warranty if I continued to have troubles with it.
I think the missing piece just helps stabilize the plug inside the socket, but that does seem like a slightly sloppy situation even when the missing piece is there.
I think the missing piece just helps stabilize the plug inside the socket, but that does seem like a slightly sloppy situation even when the missing piece is there.
One time I left the charger on the car and pulled extension cord and it scratched the clearcoat, just wanted to let you guys know that it will scratch and leave something under it.
I think you're onto something here. I just checked mine and both black clips are intact, but one is very loose (thus no spring) and flush with the connector barrel. The other is elevated slightly and has much more spring to it. It could be it isn't providing the support needed which is why I often don't get a good connection. A dealer visit is in the near future.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 273
Likes: 44
From: Arnold Maryland
I've had a similar problem since my GS was new. When first connected, the CTek would show a solid orange LED indicating a charge, but after a while it would lose its connection and blink orange the same as if it was disconnected. If I apply normal force to push it back in it would move a very small amount and reconnect. Wiggling the connector slightly will also cause it to move in and out of a good connection. I cleaned the connections on both ends of the lighter connector and applied a small amount of dielectric grease, but that didn't help. I'm not sure if the problem is with the car or CTek connector.
I seem to have found a solution by simply making sure the male connector is straight going into the car's female connector by routing it through the cargo net (see photo). It seems that the weight of the harness will pull it slightly and cause the disconnect if I don't route it this way.
I seem to have found a solution by simply making sure the male connector is straight going into the car's female connector by routing it through the cargo net (see photo). It seems that the weight of the harness will pull it slightly and cause the disconnect if I don't route it this way.
Starts out normally showing charge then goes to solid green, when I open the door goes back to charge but then sometime overnight I get the green solid charge but a rapid blinking orange also. Your right about reposition of the connector and goes back to normal function. I agree the issue is the connector somehow
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
Took my Ctek to a trusted dealer this past week but the service personnel there were clueless, so I came back home with the original unit. They also didn't have a replacement in stock. I'll call Ctek tomorrow and see if I can resolve the sporadic connection problems in some other manner. As I mentioned earlier one of the small black clips on the side of the male connector on the maintainer has collapsed and causes it to be very loose inside the female socket. I can usually keep a fairly reliable connection by making sure the cord stays straight and doesn't pull to one side while in use. I've started using a clothes pin attached to the aftermarket cargo net to achieve this. Shouldn't need to jury rig a $100 maintainer to work right when my Deltran BT+ has worked fine for 12 years with all kinds of connectors.
Last edited by iclick; Jan 14, 2018 at 09:20 PM.
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
As a result of this thread, I almost did not buy a Cetek. However the Schumaker that I was using, with the modified lighter plug end soldered in. It has worked perfectly. Decided to up the game and buy a new Cetek 4300 and would modify the end of one of the cords that came with it with an aftermarket lighter end. Once I got the unit, I decided to just permanently attach the ring end version to the battery and sneak the cord up past the carpet way in the back corner. Plugged in, perfect. Don't have to worry about a less than perfect connection with the lighter connection. ... and no worry about voiding some warranty down the road.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 305
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
SoCal Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12
Flashing green is telling you your connection at the plug has a problem. When mine did it I found the plug was not pushed in all the way. Give it a push and it should take care of the problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,949
Likes: 2,667
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
On my "Corvette" CTEK, if the unit is plugged into the wall but not properly connected into the car socket, it's the orange light that flashes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
I called CTek and the support rep was very willing to help. Wants me to send them the maintainer so they can install another connector. Will send today and report back when received and tested.
I didn't check the clips until recently, so I don't know when it collapsed.
I didn't check the clips until recently, so I don't know when it collapsed.
Last edited by iclick; Jan 18, 2018 at 01:58 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 401
From: Naples, Florida
I gave up on the CORVETTE CTEK battery tender. I bought three Black & Decker battery tenders for under $25 each and they all work perfectly on our cars. How can anyone have confidence in a product that makes you feeling like you're "Whistling past the grave yard" every time it's used. 
