Hooking a CTEK charger up?

-15 woah, I can’t remember the last time it was that cold here!

Well the X5 still hasn’t moved since Sunday, or started, so I’ll need to remember to beat the glow plugs first. Hadn’t noticed that until it first started getting frosty.

Would love to keep the MINI battery charged until it hits the number 8, but just don’t have the set up to do that.

Whilst number 7 is fully charged, my welcome home lights still don’t work, I wonder if it would do this if it hit number 8.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

Who knew that a thread on setting up a battery charger would run over 180 posts.......

 

I was looking at these, since the car is just sitting there now. Bought from halfords a Ring charger? I think it's called that, forgotten the name already. It's got a really good repair mode brought the battery up from zero% a few times when the normal cycle charger did nothing.

Sent from my YOTA 3+ using Tapatalk

 

Any other year...

Peter

 

in my 45 years of driving l have never had to put a battery on charge because the cars have always been regularly used and in all that time l have had to fit two new batteries one for a 1981 metro city and one fitted by BMW to my 520D a week after l bought it

But 2020/2021 has been different

 

Went out in the F30 to the shops for the first time in a couple of weeks, and got a "Low Battery Warning - keep the engine running". That was surprising as I charged in on the CTEK only a couple weeks ago (admittedly only for a couple of days). It started fine - good engine turnover - not sluggish at all. So I'm wondering whether it was just a glitch due to the extremely cold temperature last night. Anyway, it's back on the CTEK and I will leave it charging for a few days. I do hope that it's not an indication that the battery is on the way out, as it's only 6 years old.

 

Fingers crossed @Mieke .

I went out in mine last week after it sat not moved for 1 week and I got in all ok, pressed the start button... nothing, no sound, no lights on the dash for what seemed like a age but probably just couple of seconds then it came to life... Not warning msgs etc... just not as immediate as normal.

not had to use the car this week but will be using again next week so hoping it all ok as its been lower temperatures etc.

Kev

 

Thermals at the ready

 

To follow up on my weather reports , I went out at 8 [ish] to get ready for the trip, appointment had been set for 11 a.m. Uncovered the w/screen and fired her up to run while I cleared the other windows. Temp was showing as -17.5 degrees - and it seemed accurate as a neighbours was reading -17 . Then I noticed that although she started on first key turn like yesterday, the iDrive was dull, a bit flickery and refusing to respond to most functions. You can imagine how I felt....

The washers were frozen, but the air was so dry [30% humidity ] that any slush was dry so other motorists weren't throwing buckets of the stuff over you as they met you. I drove through a bit where it dropped to -19 two miles from here .

I made better time than expected on the minor road, it wasn't as bad as I'd been led to believe - that and Winter tyres and DTC saw the car feeling really stable, I averaged around 50 mph for that bit. When I reached the A9 trunk road [14 miles distant] it was free of any snow/slush/ice and I made good progress then.

But, when I got to the hospital car park 50 miles away, the washers were still frozen When I came back an hour and a half after treatment they were just starting to dribble - I'd had the foresight to buy a big bottle of water in the hospital shop which I poured over them and the h/light washer covers. A cup of coffee from the flask [never travel without that and sandwiches/biscuits at this time of year ] and all was good.

Got back home at 4 after petrol & Lidl shopping and it was still -7 degrees. I'll be topping up the washers with neat fluid tomorrow.....

 

There's loads of mileage yet in this thread Wynne, today I got this in the post.



Oddly the only ones Ctek list with an inline fuse are the led indicator versions, which are no benefit under the bonnet where you can't see them anyway, the standard versions are oddly unfused.
As I think it needs to be fused if attached permanently, then I will cut off the + ring, solder an inline fuse & fit a new ring terminal with some heat-shrink to make as new.
Pics to follow, ensuring everyone is completely bored.

 

No... the excitement (or is it anticipation?) continues.

Peter

 

I never lock the car when it's in the garage for that reason. It's secure anyway. I'll leave it charging for a week, which will hopefully restore it to full health.

 

Edited to add that iDrive seems to have come back to life and is firing on all cylinders again!

 

was that a low voltage issue or just a cold related issue ?

 

My I drive equivalent in the MINI came up with a red screen in the past. Apparently that can be linked to cold or battery issues. Probably come hand in hand.

Anyway tonight I was very excited to see, I unlocked the MINI and the welcome home lights come on! I honestly can’t remember the last time that happened. Also no increased battery discharge warning. So the good ol CTEK and the few days of use must of done wonders to the battery.

The X5 must be wondering what is going on with no use so far this week. Both cars will get a nice wash this weekend if my hose isn’t frozen


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

Must have been temp related, new battery recently and she started first turn on Wed and yesterday.
A can of Irn Bru in the cupholder was frozen solid - good job it didn't burst, imagine the clean up after that!