Battery tender help!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 207
Likes: 54
From: Trail BC
Hi Doug, I'm in Trail, BC. I wonder if somehow GM wired the trunk outlets differently for Canada? Who knows but I looked this morning again and all is good. The charger is still on the 7th stage with a green light and the CTEK tech said it will stay there for up to 10 days and then go to "pulse" mode for the remainder of the year.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 917
Likes: 708
From: Sidney, Vancouver Island
Was wondering on your cars origin because our local dealer had a collector GS convert that had so many electrical problems the purchaser talked them in to taking it back.
He then bought a ZO6 convert off the showroom floor.
Just tested my trunk plug with the lid closed completely ...Still have voltage after 1/2 hour.....will check it at the 2 hour mark.
---- 2 hours with the trunk closed and I still have voltage at the rear plug.
Last edited by dyoung; Nov 20, 2019 at 08:08 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
I think it would be best to hook the clips directly to the battery for long term storage. I have the Corvette maintainer hooked up at the plug in the trunk and have to wiggle it around to maintain contact once in awhile. I leave the trunk open and check it as I walk by once a day.
Last edited by iclick; Nov 20, 2019 at 07:59 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 917
Likes: 708
From: Sidney, Vancouver Island
Same here. I also have the GM version of the CTek and I have had trouble with it as you describe from the beginning. I called Ctek who had me ship the unit to them for service, and in one week it was returned with a new connector. Great service, but that one lasted a few months when the problems returned, which was intermittent disconnection. Rather than repeatedly be shipping the unit to Ctek I just accept the flaw and keep an eye on it. When it disconnects, which is not that often, I just reinsert the connector. By contrast I used a 14-YO Deltran Battery Tender Plus on my first C7 with a $10 lighter adapter and never had this problem.
Unfortunately the stock battery charger from GM only has the cheap cigarette plug.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 180
From: Payson AZ
I've had my tenders for years and prior to the C7 connected the plug directly to the battery. When I purchased the C7 I ordered a Deltran Battery Tender 12 Volt Cig Plug Adapter from Amazon for $2.40... have never had an issue with it, is always plugged in whenever the Beast is in the garage.. That and a 12.5 foot Tender Extension Cable to run to the back of the car. And I keep the trunk closed all the time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 400
From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
I have a Battery Tender.
I stays amber when charging and remains green when charged.
I plug it into the trunk. I got an adapter off amazon for $7 and Tender for $30. Much cheaper than the CTeck $100 price.
I leave the truck cracked under the cover when I don't drive it for a week. (assuming I was able to wash it, otherwise, I leave the cover off and plug it in the same way.)
I stays amber when charging and remains green when charged.
I plug it into the trunk. I got an adapter off amazon for $7 and Tender for $30. Much cheaper than the CTeck $100 price.
I leave the truck cracked under the cover when I don't drive it for a week. (assuming I was able to wash it, otherwise, I leave the cover off and plug it in the same way.)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 207
Likes: 54
From: Trail BC
I have a CTEK MUS 4.3 and when I plugged it into my trunk plug (with the trunk open), the power light came on "green", I set the mode to "Snowflake" (colder temperature maintenance) and immediately it went to the 4th stage amber LED. I got this from the CTEK technician (they make the OEM tenders for GM as well
Right now your picture indicates that charger is in absorption (step 4) so everything is working as it should . Ultimately, the charger will reach step 7 (float maintenance) and 10 days later, step 8 (pulse maintenance) which is where it will remain until removing it from your battery. Eventually all 8 lamps will be lit which is what you want to see. You can leave the charger like this for the remainder of your storage period.
A flashing power lamp is never a good thing to see if your plan is to charge and maintain your battery. If the socket does lose power eventually going directly to the battery with clamps or eyelets is recommended.
I now have the 8th stage (green) LED illuminated and it is in "pulse" mode for the duration of the storage. I still left the trunk cracked however - no harm, cover is back on the car.
Right now your picture indicates that charger is in absorption (step 4) so everything is working as it should . Ultimately, the charger will reach step 7 (float maintenance) and 10 days later, step 8 (pulse maintenance) which is where it will remain until removing it from your battery. Eventually all 8 lamps will be lit which is what you want to see. You can leave the charger like this for the remainder of your storage period.
A flashing power lamp is never a good thing to see if your plan is to charge and maintain your battery. If the socket does lose power eventually going directly to the battery with clamps or eyelets is recommended.
I now have the 8th stage (green) LED illuminated and it is in "pulse" mode for the duration of the storage. I still left the trunk cracked however - no harm, cover is back on the car.
Last edited by Tweedy; Nov 23, 2019 at 03:18 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 400
From: DFW TX
Mine has been relocated to the driver's side cubby in my 84 LS swap car. It was that way when I bought it as the 411 ECM is located in the stock battery location. Red Top Optima with a master disconnect switch mounted on the cubby wall behind the seat.
Definitely some good weight transfer to be had.
Definitely some good weight transfer to be had.