Ctek annoyance
Discussion
Replaced Vantage battery couple of years back with suspicion over the ctek going wrong
Kept the new battery in shape with a Halfords/ AA charger but also bought a ‘time to go’ ctek when they were on offer.
The Halfords one gave out and so I started using the new ctek. All good.
However the ctek is now refusing to start charging with the comfort extension cable in use. Was fine up until recently. If I put straight to battery, no problem.
Is it just me that has no luck with these ctek?
Battery seems fine by the way and car did 150 miles prior to last attempt to connect ctek
Kept the new battery in shape with a Halfords/ AA charger but also bought a ‘time to go’ ctek when they were on offer.
The Halfords one gave out and so I started using the new ctek. All good.
However the ctek is now refusing to start charging with the comfort extension cable in use. Was fine up until recently. If I put straight to battery, no problem.
Is it just me that has no luck with these ctek?
Battery seems fine by the way and car did 150 miles prior to last attempt to connect ctek
I have had one CTEK failure (AM branded, so was probably 7 years old), but the replacement has now been in use for 6 years.
I always attach the circular plug to the boot connection point, but occasionally that does need a 'jiggle', if the CTEK does not show the expected indicator lights when first switched on. Apart from that, it has worked well.
To clarify
I did use the point in boot but binned after issues
So I have the short battery connector wired to posts. But then I had an extension into that to make life easier. Just put behind seat when not in use. But now it won’t start charging with the extension.
I can put straight to the very short battery connector but of course have to remove battery cover etc to do so
I did use the point in boot but binned after issues
So I have the short battery connector wired to posts. But then I had an extension into that to make life easier. Just put behind seat when not in use. But now it won’t start charging with the extension.
I can put straight to the very short battery connector but of course have to remove battery cover etc to do so
I have had a couple of units fail over the last 15 years or so I have used CTEK's but never an extension cable.
On my of my cars occasionally the extension cable plastic connector even when I think its firmly connected shows not working so a quick " wiggle " and all seems ok - I would just double check ( keep the CTEK on so you will instantly see if there is no connection ).
On my of my cars occasionally the extension cable plastic connector even when I think its firmly connected shows not working so a quick " wiggle " and all seems ok - I would just double check ( keep the CTEK on so you will instantly see if there is no connection ).
Extension cable connectors often only make tenuous internal contact, to the extent that the slightest disturbance to the lead causes loss of connection.
The answer is to bend the connector pins very slightly; this makes the connection much more secure.
The cigarette lighter socket in the boot is much more dodgy and needs checking at least daily to ensure the battery stays alive.
The answer is to bend the connector pins very slightly; this makes the connection much more secure.
The cigarette lighter socket in the boot is much more dodgy and needs checking at least daily to ensure the battery stays alive.
Just to add another data point, I've been using a CTEK Multi-US 7002 on my 2006 DB9 for eight years now and never had any kind of charger failure or battery problem. My DB9 has the round 3-pin charging receptacle in the boot, so I bought a matching 3-pin plug from Amazon and grafted it to one of the CTEK extensions myself.
Over those eight years I've probably accidentally yanked it out of the boot receptacle or semi-violently separated it at the extension connector three or four times by backing out of my garage without remembering to unplug the charger. It's still never failed.
I'd guess that my car is "on charge" at some point for more than 300 days a year on average.
Over those eight years I've probably accidentally yanked it out of the boot receptacle or semi-violently separated it at the extension connector three or four times by backing out of my garage without remembering to unplug the charger. It's still never failed.
I'd guess that my car is "on charge" at some point for more than 300 days a year on average.
I had to give up using the 12V socket in the boot, by the end, no amount of jiggling would make it work. Connections are too tenuous, resistance too variable/high. Intelligent chargers must have a secure connection as they are working by detecting minute changes in the form and shape of the voltage profile over time and reacting accordingly.
I now use only the comfort leads directly and securely bolted to the battery or an earth with a secure clamp on an underbonnet jumper post on all bikes and cars. All Ctek and Aston-branded charger have been faultless since
I now use only the comfort leads directly and securely bolted to the battery or an earth with a secure clamp on an underbonnet jumper post on all bikes and cars. All Ctek and Aston-branded charger have been faultless since
And CTEK tech support is non existent. I don't think anyone has gotten a warranty replacement under their 5 year coverrage.
I had a second CTEK failed on me recently just shy of 4 years. It can't get beyond stage 5. To a point, I thought my battery is a goner. Replaced with a NOCO charger and everything is good. No more CTEK for me.
I had a second CTEK failed on me recently just shy of 4 years. It can't get beyond stage 5. To a point, I thought my battery is a goner. Replaced with a NOCO charger and everything is good. No more CTEK for me.
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