Trickle Charger Question
Discussion
Big Ry said:
When I bought it the Barista told me the biggest issues that they see with them (in general) are when people let the battery go flat...........if I want that sort of pain in my life I'd buy a secondhand Alfa 
I agree. Hence mine is always left being conditioned.And to help me remember
Even though my Vantage v8 S is my only/daily car I use the battery conditioner. I was told by an auto electrician (Aston specialist) that the initial heavy drain on the battery especially with cold starts can take up to 30 miles driving to return it to full charge. The battery’s life is 3-5 years and will benefit from use of the conditioner. I experienced problems in the middle of a 2500 mile road trip as I was messing about with the sat nav and generally showing off the car to people we were staying with for a couple of days. I think using the conditioner is just part of good car care and would recommend it’s use even for daily drivers.
Did I read somewhere that the charger MUST be plugged in to the cig lighter in the boot to charge the battery?
Something about the cabin socket being isolated when the ignition is switched off.
Can someone confirm? It's maybe in the Owners Handbook which is about 2000 miles from me at the moment!
Something about the cabin socket being isolated when the ignition is switched off.
Can someone confirm? It's maybe in the Owners Handbook which is about 2000 miles from me at the moment!
rovcallum said:
Did I read somewhere that the charger MUST be plugged in to the cig lighter in the boot to charge the battery?
Something about the cabin socket being isolated when the ignition is switched off.
Can someone confirm? It's maybe in the Owners Handbook which is about 2000 miles from me at the moment!
At least for my 2006 V8V, the cabin socket works fine for charging with ignition off (and I have used the boot too in the past, so both work for me).Something about the cabin socket being isolated when the ignition is switched off.
Can someone confirm? It's maybe in the Owners Handbook which is about 2000 miles from me at the moment!
rovcallum said:
Did I read somewhere that the charger MUST be plugged in to the cig lighter in the boot to charge the battery?
Something about the cabin socket being isolated when the ignition is switched off.
Can someone confirm? It's maybe in the Owners Handbook which is about 2000 miles from me at the moment!
It depends on your car charger. It must be plugged into the boot on early cars as they have a special type of socket in the boot which pairs with the charger. Oh my 2007 Vantage, the cabin and boot sockets are standard sockets, as is the plug on my charger. Something about the cabin socket being isolated when the ignition is switched off.
Can someone confirm? It's maybe in the Owners Handbook which is about 2000 miles from me at the moment!
Amazon usually cheapest and no end of accessories / connectors also available.
MXS 5 is from experience the better one for cars
although Porsche branded version based on the 3.8 Model which I use on smaller battery quad / lawn tractor etc.
Ry , as already answered you want the car symbol programme but switch to the cold programme only if it gets really cold for a prolonged time - I have only switched once I think. The final programme is for a really old discharged battery that needs reconditioning which should " apparently " only be used very occasionally - I know nothing of the technicalities of this and have never used on any ctek.
MXS 5 is from experience the better one for cars
although Porsche branded version based on the 3.8 Model which I use on smaller battery quad / lawn tractor etc.
Ry , as already answered you want the car symbol programme but switch to the cold programme only if it gets really cold for a prolonged time - I have only switched once I think. The final programme is for a really old discharged battery that needs reconditioning which should " apparently " only be used very occasionally - I know nothing of the technicalities of this and have never used on any ctek.
Big Ry said:
When I bought it the Barista told me the biggest issues that they see with them (in general) are when people let the battery go flat...........if I want that sort of pain in my life I'd buy a secondhand Alfa
Well all I can tell you is that my two second hand Alfas were the two most reliable cars I've ever owned, closely followed by my two Vantages. Least reliable car - VW Passat. So there you go, reputations (both good and bad) linger long after the brand has changed beyond all recognition.the battery life mentioned in the manual is quite conservative....I had the OE battery in my last Vantage for 9 years/75K miles ish...only changed it because it started holding charge a bit less in winter months when I didnt trickle charge
Of course a dealer will sell you a new one every 4-5 years as part of the service
Of course a dealer will sell you a new one every 4-5 years as part of the service
V8V Pete said:
Big Ry said:
When I bought it the Barista told me the biggest issues that they see with them (in general) are when people let the battery go flat...........if I want that sort of pain in my life I'd buy a secondhand Alfa
Well all I can tell you is that my two second hand Alfas were the two most reliable cars I've ever owned, closely followed by my two Vantages. Least reliable car - VW Passat. So there you go, reputations (both good and bad) linger long after the brand has changed beyond all recognition.The Alfa Spider I bought in March has been generally reliable. A few minor problems - e.g window regulator - but that can happen on any car (and has for me on several cars) . But for a 10 year old Alfa, it seems fairly well made and almost everything works as it should.
Almost everything....
That damn roof..... It was failing when I viewed the car, and was fixed at a specialist before purchase. It failed a few months after purchase and was fixed again.
It failed a few months later and was fixed again.
It failed again on Monday.
I hate it! Overall, the Alfa is a far better car than I expected and I really like it. But unless the next visit to the roof specialist finally gives me a reliable roof, it's likely to be for sale in the spring. Unless I push it off a cliff first!
davek_964 said:
V8V Pete said:
Big Ry said:
When I bought it the Barista told me the biggest issues that they see with them (in general) are when people let the battery go flat...........if I want that sort of pain in my life I'd buy a secondhand Alfa
Well all I can tell you is that my two second hand Alfas were the two most reliable cars I've ever owned, closely followed by my two Vantages. Least reliable car - VW Passat. So there you go, reputations (both good and bad) linger long after the brand has changed beyond all recognition.The Alfa Spider I bought in March has been generally reliable. A few minor problems - e.g window regulator - but that can happen on any car (and has for me on several cars) . But for a 10 year old Alfa, it seems fairly well made and almost everything works as it should.
Almost everything....
That damn roof..... It was failing when I viewed the car, and was fixed at a specialist before purchase. It failed a few months after purchase and was fixed again.
It failed a few months later and was fixed again.
It failed again on Monday.
I hate it! Overall, the Alfa is a far better car than I expected and I really like it. But unless the next visit to the roof specialist finally gives me a reliable roof, it's likely to be for sale in the spring. Unless I push it off a cliff first!
V8V Pete said:
One of the reasons I've never bought a car without a proper roof.
Don't know what you're missing Pete.....wind in your hair....warmth of the sun..etc.You remind me of a bloke who told me he once had a date and didn't enjoy her company so he never ever went out with a woman again.
Mind you he was a bit strange.
p.s. I thought doctors were overworked and underpaid yet you spend 24/7 on this forum.
V8V Pete said:
One of the reasons I've never bought a car without a proper roof.
I debated actually, because I didn't trust convertible roofs. However - I decided that if I bought a "normal" version, I simply wouldn't use it and this was my first foray into topless motoring. Although it's been a pain, it was the right decision. I like the ability to put the roof down (although would prefer it if I knew I'd be able to put the roof back up). Enough so that - at the back of my mind - I'm thinking:
Wait until spring, flog the Alfa, flog the Vantage and buy a 4.7 Roadster. Only thing putting me off (apart from the £20k or so I'd need to find) is that I get the impression they're 99% automatics, and I don't want that.
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