How Long does a dead Battery take to recharge with a CTEK? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Big C CamaroSS · 12-03-2013, 08:47 PM

My CTEK 3300 came this morning. I correctly hooked the red clamp to the positive post and black clamp to a bolt and plugged it in. No flashing icons, just a lit up half battery icon. I read the directions and I think I did it correctly

. I figured there would be enough juice in the battery by mid afternoon to have the interior light come on and the windows go down when the door is opened. NO.....so that's why I'm now concerned. Is the process that slow or did I do something wrong?

Its supposed to get up to 10*C on Thursday so I was going to try to install my rear seat delete kit.

ripcard · 12-03-2013, 09:05 PM

I haven`t had much luck using my CTEK hooked up from the front. Not sure why it doesn`t work, but it just doesn`t. So I always hook it up with the supplied quick connect mounted right on the battery. Usually indicates full charge within a couple of hours.

That`s the way I leave it for storage season. The charger itself is outside the car so I can check the indicators occasionally. The trunk is closed but not latched with the lead running out the back.

2SSCAMARO · 12-04-2013, 11:15 AM

In order to not waste a lot of time and effort, if the car cannot be driven somewhere for a load test, pull the battery and have it load tested. Many times when a battery gets fully depleted to the point it will not even light up the lights, it is shot and needs to be replaced.

Big C CamaroSS · 12-04-2013, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2SSCAMARO

In order to not waste a lot of time and effort, if the car cannot be driven somewhere for a load test, pull the battery and have it load tested. Many times when a battery gets fully depleted to the point it will not even light up the lights, it is shot and needs to be replaced.

Geez I hope that's not the case.....I've only had the car 6 months and I bought it brand new. Its a Super Garage Queen. I will make sure to hook up the CTEK so I won't have this problem again. I'm climbing through the back seat and pulling the emergency trunk handle in order to pop the trunk. I'll hook up the charger and wait. I should have an idea before I leave for work. Thanks for both replies

2SSCAMARO · 12-04-2013, 01:28 PM

It's much easier to connect your charging cables to the grounding post and the positive post under the hood in the area of the air filter.

Big C CamaroSS · 12-04-2013, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2SSCAMARO

It's much easier to connect your charging cables to the grounding post and the positive post under the hood in the area of the air filter.

I did that yesterday for 6hrs and it did nothing. This is the second time the battery went dead. The first time I charged the battery with a different charger and under the hood was how I did it. I popped the trunk and hooked up the charger directly to the battery. The half full battery icon light is flashing (orange colored) and the full battery icon light is solid (green color). I hope its the desulphating process that CTEK will supposedly do. If it hasn't stopped in 15mins, I'll stop the process. Could I have a dud battery? I believe I can get the battery checked out at Canadian Tire. Thanks 2SSCAMARO

Big C CamaroSS · 12-04-2013, 02:45 PM

I am on the CTEK website looking for answers. BTW I removed the charger until I find out what's going on. According to the CTEK website, I'm not supposed to clip the negative clamp directly to the battery. OK so if I'm in the trunk charging the battery terminals directly, where or to what, should I attach the negative clamp?

If I couldn't get the battery to charge using the post under the hood, is my battery really gone after 6 months?

ripcard · 12-04-2013, 03:03 PM

The warning not to connect to the battery directly with the clamps must be for sparks that could, under very rare circumstances, cause an explosion (hydrogen gas vapours). All chargers warn against this. I use the quick connect lead which is supposed to be connected to the battery directly. This has ring terminals on one end to connect to the battery terminals and the quick connector on the other end to hook up the charger. This lead stays on the car so I can top off the battery any time I need to.

If you're using the alligator clip lead just make sure the charger is off/unplugged before you connect and there will be no sparks.

Not sure what the lights you're getting mean. I don't have the info that came with the charger handy.

2SSCAMARO · 12-04-2013, 03:11 PM

I charge from the posts under the hood all the time and the battery charges up fine. If your battery is good it should take a charge from the posts under the hood and you are not connecting to the negative post of the battery. It is possible the battery is defective even though it is relatively new. My first battery appeared to be functioning fine, then one day after the car had not been started for about three days, it wouldn't even light an interior light and it would not accept a charge. A new battery......problem solved.

Big C CamaroSS · 12-04-2013, 03:30 PM

Well that sounds like the situation I'm in.....battery won't accept a charge to even power up the interior light. So if my battery is beyond dead and I need a new battery, should GM supply one since I haven't even had the car 6 months? I need to stop into the dealership and talk with them don't I?

Big C CamaroSS · 12-04-2013, 03:45 PM

Just did a "live chat" with a rep from the dealership I bought the camaro from. She'll pass on my information and they'll get back to me. First she asked if I was going to bring my car in for servicing. I asked how I was going to get it in if the battery is beyond dead?

12-03-2013, 08:47 PM	#1
Big C CamaroSS Drives: Black Camaro 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belleville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,145	How Long does a dead Battery take to recharge with a CTEK? My CTEK 3300 came this morning. I correctly hooked the red clamp to the positive post and black clamp to a bolt and plugged it in. No flashing icons, just a lit up half battery icon. I read the directions and I think I did it correctly . I figured there would be enough juice in the battery by mid afternoon to have the interior light come on and the windows go down when the door is opened. NO.....so that's why I'm now concerned. Is the process that slow or did I do something wrong? Its supposed to get up to 10*C on Thursday so I was going to try to install my rear seat delete kit.

12-03-2013, 09:05 PM	#2
ripcard INJACC Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS CGM/IO 6M Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Burritts Rapids, ON Canada Posts: 770	I haven`t had much luck using my CTEK hooked up from the front. Not sure why it doesn`t work, but it just doesn`t. So I always hook it up with the supplied quick connect mounted right on the battery. Usually indicates full charge within a couple of hours. That`s the way I leave it for storage season. The charger itself is outside the car so I can check the indicators occasionally. The trunk is closed but not latched with the lead running out the back. __________________ Pedders Xa Coilovers & Sways w/Fe4, Pfadt Rear Trailing Arms & Tie Rods, Forgestar CF5s, ZL1 Brakes, 1LE 3.91 Diff, Pedders Cradle Bushings, MGW STS, BTR Stage II Cam, Fluidampr U/D Pulley, Performance Redline Dyno Tune, CAI & Apex Scoop, Pfadt Tri-Y Headers w/HF Cats, Magnaflow 3" Cat Back, RX Catch Can, VMax TB, Billet Tunnel Brace, SRP Pedals, Skip Shift, Seibon CF Hood & ST Trunk, 1LE Splitter, ZL1 Rockers & Diffuser, Heritage Grill, F & R Sparks "SS" badges, Billet Door Handles, Tint, Technostalgia Tail Lights, AAC Side Markers, BlackVue dash cam and my favourite accessory...Litho #163.

12-04-2013, 11:15 AM	#3
2SSCAMARO Drives: 2010 Camaro Auto Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Fl Posts: 1,164	In order to not waste a lot of time and effort, if the car cannot be driven somewhere for a load test, pull the battery and have it load tested. Many times when a battery gets fully depleted to the point it will not even light up the lights, it is shot and needs to be replaced. __________________ Just livin' life

12-04-2013, 01:28 PM	#5
2SSCAMARO Drives: 2010 Camaro Auto Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Fl Posts: 1,164	It's much easier to connect your charging cables to the grounding post and the positive post under the hood in the area of the air filter. __________________ Just livin' life

12-04-2013, 03:03 PM	#8
ripcard INJACC Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS CGM/IO 6M Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Burritts Rapids, ON Canada Posts: 770	The warning not to connect to the battery directly with the clamps must be for sparks that could, under very rare circumstances, cause an explosion (hydrogen gas vapours). All chargers warn against this. I use the quick connect lead which is supposed to be connected to the battery directly. This has ring terminals on one end to connect to the battery terminals and the quick connector on the other end to hook up the charger. This lead stays on the car so I can top off the battery any time I need to. If you're using the alligator clip lead just make sure the charger is off/unplugged before you connect and there will be no sparks. Not sure what the lights you're getting mean. I don't have the info that came with the charger handy. __________________ Pedders Xa Coilovers & Sways w/Fe4, Pfadt Rear Trailing Arms & Tie Rods, Forgestar CF5s, ZL1 Brakes, 1LE 3.91 Diff, Pedders Cradle Bushings, MGW STS, BTR Stage II Cam, Fluidampr U/D Pulley, Performance Redline Dyno Tune, CAI & Apex Scoop, Pfadt Tri-Y Headers w/HF Cats, Magnaflow 3" Cat Back, RX Catch Can, VMax TB, Billet Tunnel Brace, SRP Pedals, Skip Shift, Seibon CF Hood & ST Trunk, 1LE Splitter, ZL1 Rockers & Diffuser, Heritage Grill, F & R Sparks "SS" badges, Billet Door Handles, Tint, Technostalgia Tail Lights, AAC Side Markers, BlackVue dash cam and my favourite accessory...Litho #163.

12-04-2013, 02:45 PM	#7
Big C CamaroSS Drives: Black Camaro 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belleville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,145	I am on the CTEK website looking for answers. BTW I removed the charger until I find out what's going on. According to the CTEK website, I'm not supposed to clip the negative clamp directly to the battery. OK so if I'm in the trunk charging the battery terminals directly, where or to what, should I attach the negative clamp? If I couldn't get the battery to charge using the post under the hood, is my battery really gone after 6 months?

12-04-2013, 03:11 PM	#9
2SSCAMARO Drives: 2010 Camaro Auto Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Fl Posts: 1,164	I charge from the posts under the hood all the time and the battery charges up fine. If your battery is good it should take a charge from the posts under the hood and you are not connecting to the negative post of the battery. It is possible the battery is defective even though it is relatively new. My first battery appeared to be functioning fine, then one day after the car had not been started for about three days, it wouldn't even light an interior light and it would not accept a charge. A new battery......problem solved. __________________ Just livin' life

12-04-2013, 03:30 PM	#10
Big C CamaroSS Drives: Black Camaro 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belleville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,145	Well that sounds like the situation I'm in.....battery won't accept a charge to even power up the interior light. So if my battery is beyond dead and I need a new battery, should GM supply one since I haven't even had the car 6 months? I need to stop into the dealership and talk with them don't I?

12-04-2013, 03:45 PM	#11
Big C CamaroSS Drives: Black Camaro 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belleville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,145	Just did a "live chat" with a rep from the dealership I bought the camaro from. She'll pass on my information and they'll get back to me. First she asked if I was going to bring my car in for servicing. I asked how I was going to get it in if the battery is beyond dead?