Replacing the Flat Battery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[McIntoshWeeks]

Having owned a TVR Chimaera for 7 months, my local TVR guy said that they eat batteries and that once per year I'd have to replace it! Sure enough with a lack of driving opportunity over the last few weeks the battery died. I bought a new battery and finally managed to get it (sort of) into the most ludicrous battery compartment I have ever come across! It strikes me a huge pain in the rear to take out all the carpets, the plastic cover, disconnect all the various wires and the attempt to lever the battery out of the wedge shaped plastic thing it is caplmped into! A huge fuss indeed!

If I need to get a trickle charger can anyone recommend one?

Alternatively has anyone ever had a mod done to a Chimaera and put the battery in the boot?

Cheers

Antony

[DavidLScott]

The Accumate charger is very popular and mine plugs into the cigarette lighter. You just leave it on all the time as it regulates its charge itself.

I don't tend to use it in the summer as the car is used a lot more but I can go 3 weeks in a wet/salted winter without driving it so I keep it plugged in all the time.

2 years seems to be the consensus on battery life but mine lasted at least 3½ years but just gave up overnight. I cheated and got a man in to replace it and it was worth every penny.

[bigdods]

My last battery lasted 3 years + , it finally died when I allowed it to go totally flat several times. If your battery goes flat when left for say 2 weeks then something is draining it. I often leave mine for 2 weeks between drives in the winter and it always starts first time and is never sluggish. Some common causes of battery drain are interior light relay fault causing power drain even when off and leaving the face plate on the stereo causing it to be active and use more power.

Had mine changed by Topcats last time, took them about 15 minutes. Planning to have the battery moved to the boot next year (funds allowing of course) to get some extra legroom on the passenger side.

Edited by bigdods on Friday 4th January 16:52

[mdotrutherford]

McIntoshWeeks said:

Having owned a TVR Chimaera for 7 months, my local TVR guy said that they eat batteries and that once per year I'd have to replace it! Sure enough with a lack of driving opportunity over the last few weeks the battery died. I bought a new battery and finally managed to get it (sort of) into the most ludicrous battery compartment I have ever come across! It strikes me a huge pain in the rear to take out all the carpets, the plastic cover, disconnect all the various wires and the attempt to lever the battery out of the wedge shaped plastic thing it is caplmped into! A huge fuss indeed!

It's precisely because of 'features' like that that are the attractions to TVR ownership !

[Codshead]

Buy a battery with a 2/3 year guarantee; it could be the last battery you ever pay for.

[over_the_hill]

I have had my Chim for almost four years now and it's still on the same battery. The first two years were regular usage all year round, but less so in the alst two years after a change of job. I have an Accumate and leave it on all the time the car is in the garage. The battery is Unipart but I can't remember anything more specific than that.

[chim666]

McIntoshWeeks said:

Alternatively has anyone ever had a mod done to a Chimaera and put the battery in the boot?

Antony, YHM

[bsdnazz]

My Chim got a new battery after I'd had it for over 4 years. I don't know how old the battery was when I replaced it. As my Chim is my daily drive the battery is kept well charged.

It's my understanding that lead acid batteries don't like to be flat for long periods of time. I also have a trickle charger for when I'm away on holiday.