Discussion
Why oh why didn’t TVR at least fit a lights on warning buzzer? 
So I left the lights on overnight and not surprisingly very dead this morning. Does anybody reckon leaving the trickle charger connected through the cigar lighter will be enough to get it going? I haven’t got a full on charger.
So I left the lights on overnight and not surprisingly very dead this morning. Does anybody reckon leaving the trickle charger connected through the cigar lighter will be enough to get it going? I haven’t got a full on charger.
Alan_D350 said:
It will probably charge, but if it’s really flat it could be a looooong time before it’s back in a reasonable state, ready to start.
Look for a deal on a CTEK or similar as it’ll charge and maintain. Now we have one I wouldn’t have anything else.
Excuse my ignorance but what’s a CTEK please? I have found a Halfords battery charger but it says ‘for cars up to 2000cc’. I don’t understand why the size of the engine would make a difference.Look for a deal on a CTEK or similar as it’ll charge and maintain. Now we have one I wouldn’t have anything else.
bad company said:
Alan_D350 said:
It will probably charge, but if it’s really flat it could be a looooong time before it’s back in a reasonable state, ready to start.
Look for a deal on a CTEK or similar as it’ll charge and maintain. Now we have one I wouldn’t have anything else.
Excuse my ignorance but what’s a CTEK please? I have found a Halfords battery charger but it says ‘for cars up to 2000cc’. I don’t understand why the size of the engine would make a difference.Look for a deal on a CTEK or similar as it’ll charge and maintain. Now we have one I wouldn’t have anything else.
Other brands available.
Nick
CTEK is a brand, I use the MXS10, they are spot on IMO.
Get a comfort connector, then just plug it in when you are not using the car for a while.
I've attached mine to the wall of the garage.
Ctek Battery Chargers by The Rain Maker, on Flickr
Get a comfort connector, then just plug it in when you are not using the car for a while.
I've attached mine to the wall of the garage.
Ctek Battery Chargers by The Rain Maker, on Flickrbad company said:
I have found a Halfords battery charger but it says ‘for cars up to 2000cc’. I don’t understand why the size of the engine would make a difference.
It's not so much the size of the engine that matters, more the size of the battery required for the size of engine. EG a 1.0 litre Micra battery might only be 40Ah but a 5.0 litre Chim might be 80Ah. A battery charger for a small engined car might only output 3 Amps but a battery charger for a larger engined car might output 6 Amps. It's all to do with the charging rate of the charger and battery combo. IIRC you shouldn't charge at more than 10% of the Ah capacity to ensure the battery is maintained in good health - or something like that......So as above the battery conditioner initially brought back some life but it’s been on for a few days now and the car is completely dead again so I guess:-
1. The battery conditioner may have failed, is there a way of testing it?
2. The cigy lighter has disconnected so not taking the charge.
3. The battery is knackered, it’s 5 years old.
I can only think of getting the RAC to get it going and drive it to a TVR specialist to check all of the above.
Any other ideas?
1. The battery conditioner may have failed, is there a way of testing it?
2. The cigy lighter has disconnected so not taking the charge.
3. The battery is knackered, it’s 5 years old.
I can only think of getting the RAC to get it going and drive it to a TVR specialist to check all of the above.
Any other ideas?
1) Test smart charger with multi-meter. +VE probe to centre/sprung terminal and -VE probe to body contact on output plug.
2) Push cigarette lighter in to socket - does it get hot? Is the light on?
3) Most likely scenario - battery is too old and will not take charge. Any motor factors should be able to load test a car battery.
4) Shouldn't need to take to a specialist if you can perform above checks.....At the very least get a mate/wife/neighbour's car to get a jumpstart. Will have to leave engine running on 'jump' car for at least 15 mins to allow the Chimaera battery to get enough in it before attempting to start.
Nick
2) Push cigarette lighter in to socket - does it get hot? Is the light on?
3) Most likely scenario - battery is too old and will not take charge. Any motor factors should be able to load test a car battery.
4) Shouldn't need to take to a specialist if you can perform above checks.....At the very least get a mate/wife/neighbour's car to get a jumpstart. Will have to leave engine running on 'jump' car for at least 15 mins to allow the Chimaera battery to get enough in it before attempting to start.
Nick
My advice would be to jump start it, drive it to the nearest Halfords and get them to fit a new battery - the most expensive you can afford.
The reason I say Halfords is because they charge less than a tenner for fitting, whatever the car. And the job is an absolute pain to do on a Chim. You have to unbolt the battery box container from under the car - fine, but then lining up the bolts/holes when you put the new one in is a nightmare.
I wasted a good few hours of my life (and a fair bit of skin off my knuckles) trying to save a few quid changing the battery in my old Chim by myself. When the battery went in the Tuscan a few years ago, I didn't even think twice about it - after all, there aren't many things you can get fixed on a TVR for under £150!
The reason I say Halfords is because they charge less than a tenner for fitting, whatever the car. And the job is an absolute pain to do on a Chim. You have to unbolt the battery box container from under the car - fine, but then lining up the bolts/holes when you put the new one in is a nightmare.
I wasted a good few hours of my life (and a fair bit of skin off my knuckles) trying to save a few quid changing the battery in my old Chim by myself. When the battery went in the Tuscan a few years ago, I didn't even think twice about it - after all, there aren't many things you can get fixed on a TVR for under £150!
nawarne said:
1) Test smart charger with multi-meter. +VE probe to centre/sprung terminal and -VE probe to body contact on output plug.
2) Push cigarette lighter in to socket - does it get hot? Is the light on?
3) Most likely scenario - battery is too old and will not take charge. Any motor factors should be able to load test a car battery.
4) Shouldn't need to take to a specialist if you can perform above checks.....At the very least get a mate/wife/neighbour's car to get a jumpstart. Will have to leave engine running on 'jump' car for at least 15 mins to allow the Chimaera battery to get enough in it before attempting to start.
Nick
4a) Once jump started, leave the 2 cars connected, both engines running, for at least 10-15 mins. If you disconnect the 'doner' car after your car has started, your car will 'instantly' see a knackered battery and the alternator will ramp up its output and could blow the diodes/charging circuit (or so an AA man told me once).2) Push cigarette lighter in to socket - does it get hot? Is the light on?
3) Most likely scenario - battery is too old and will not take charge. Any motor factors should be able to load test a car battery.
4) Shouldn't need to take to a specialist if you can perform above checks.....At the very least get a mate/wife/neighbour's car to get a jumpstart. Will have to leave engine running on 'jump' car for at least 15 mins to allow the Chimaera battery to get enough in it before attempting to start.
Nick
Not sure about a chim, but on a griff it’s a bit of a fiddle, what with the ecu resting on top of it and a ton of wires - not sure i would want anyone carelessly yanking things about too much in there - might be worth telling him to take his time and do a good job for a bit extra cash.
eliot said:
Not sure about a chim, but on a griff it’s a bit of a fiddle, what with the ecu resting on top of it and a ton of wires - not sure i would want anyone carelessly yanking things about too much in there - might be worth telling him to take his time and do a good job for a bit extra cash.
you’re right. I tried to get to the battery myself, at the moment the ecu and wires are in the passenger footwell. As I said I’m going to ask the RAC to get it going then drive it to Kerridges in Needham Market. They can do what’s needed and put all that stuff back.Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff