CTEK Charger

[Vanny]

I tried starting the 80 for the first time in 2014 and no go so I purchased a CTEK US 4.3 charger. I have had it connected for 2 days and the power lamp is on but it isn't able to get to 1. I set the mode to nomal and the power light goes solid but eventually starts blinking. The Error Lamp does not go on so I don't know if something was connected wrong but I don't believe so. Does this mean my battery is done? Anything else I need to do other than what the instructions tell me?

Thanks

 

[AJAEbj42]

Disconnect and put a volt meter on the battery. If you're at 10.5 or lower volts, I'd say you're battery is toast.

How old is the battery?

 

[Vanny]

6 year old red optima. I did have the alternator replaced last fall so the battery has been run down to nothing back then. I also have one of those anti-rust things that draw a constant current which i should have disconnected when it sat. I never thought to disconnect it as the cruiser never sat for more then a few days in the past. I will check the volts.

 

[sailor]

Just buy a battery you cheapskate... If I had your money I'd burn mine...

 

[Enigma]

Lol...anti rust thing....


Try plugging the charger in!

 

[canucksafari]

Lol...anti rust thing....


Try plugging the charger in!

LOL You've done that too?

If the battery is sulfated, then recon mode may work. I have two of these chargers. They brought my wife's Safari batteries back to life twice.

 

[cruiserpilot]

If it starts to flash, put it to maintenance mode for a night. Then next morning see what it its doing. They will go back and forth after it's totally charged, but if it's flashing and still not starting truck, then battery is bad. Take the battery to someone and have it load tested to confirm.

 

[Vanny]

Just buy a battery you cheapskate... If I had your money I'd burn mine...

That's why I drive the domestic 80 right?

 

[Tmax]

once a battery is fully discharged, it will never be the same. it being 6 years old, do yourself a favor and just get a fresh one. you will thank yourself when you need it winching and such. try to pick up a heavy plated battery. ie what they call deep cycle. they hold up better to vibration as well.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Remember, if your truck is sitting, disconnect the neg.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

Read the Optima charging instructions

- they are much different than a flooded cell battery for charging time and their recovery curve.

A thicker plate battery would be a Marine Starting battery - a RV battery is not a good starting battery - it is not designed high starting current loads.

 

[canucksafari]

I am not so sure you want a deep cycle battery for a starting or a winching battery. Polar does sell industrial starting batteries that have heavier plates and hold up better to heavy vibration. I have a set from them and they are going much better than the lighter standard car batteries I got for the wife' rig and are about twice as old. The newer batteries need to be replaced now and are only around 4 years old. I think the industrial batteries were about $40 each more than the standard car batteries of the same size.

 

[Vanny]

Lol...anti rust thing....

Since the battery died I have noticed rust!

No life in the Optima. It is in the original battery location and has all the stock electrical items running off of it. I have a dual battery (yellow Optima) running all the accessories other than the "anti-rust" thingy (hey I figured it was worth a shot the way my old BJ60 rusted out).

I am assuming the accessory battery is probably done as well so I guess I will be searching the "Battery" threads next to see what the 1000 different views are.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

Since the battery died I have noticed rust!

No life in the Optima. It is in the original battery location and has all the stock electrical items running off of it. I have a dual battery (yellow Optima) running all the accessories other than the "anti-rust" thingy (hey I figured it was worth a shot the way my old BJ60 rusted out).

I am assuming the accessory battery is probably done as well so I guess I will be searching the "Battery" threads next to see what the 1000 different views are.

my next 'one' will two Kirkland 27DC

 

[sailor]

Get a good quality lead acid in the biggest case that will fit. I have had excellent luck at Polar Battery but I live close to them. I have no idea what you can put in a gas 80. Costco is likely good because of easy returns etc. right Glenn?

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

If they crap out anywhere in Canada and the US just return those babies

 

[Vanny]

I know there are varying opinions on Optima Batteries but I feel like I had good success with them. I am waiting until April when Lordco has a significant sale on them, or so I am told. There have been complaints that maybe Optima quality has been down graded but that was do to the lower quality battery they sold for a while through Costco.

I do agree Costco has a great return policy. My brother-in-law got the terminals mixed up installing his Costco battery and he took it back with a melted top. They gave him a new one no questions asked.