How to Avoid Being the Disappointed Driver with Battery Problems After Surviving a Harsh Winter
For classic cars that have sat in the garage all winter, CTEK, a leading global brand in battery charging solutions, has tips for car owners to put a spring in their step as they prepare for the start of spring on March 21, 2022.
Before taking your pride and joy back on the road after a long winter storage, we guarantee you will ensure:
- The oil is ok
- Washer fluid is full
- Tires are inflated
But what about the battery?
If the battery will not start the vehicle – recharge it, don’t jump start. Following are common misconceptions:
- A jump start, followed by a long drive fully recharges the battery from the alternator.
- The alternator will not fully recharge a battery unless you want to drive 100’s of miles, just a quick drive around a couple of blocks is not enough.
- Trying to recharge a deeply discharged battery via a jump start can cause structural damage within the battery itself, shortening its service life.
- After months of storage, the acid, which along with distilled water makes up the electrolyte of the battery, will have sunk to the bottom of the battery (stratification) this causes several issues - poor performance of the battery, sulphation and reduced service life.
“You want to be ready for the first drive of the season and not face a dead battery after months of waiting in anticipation throughout the winter,” said Bobbie DuMelle, Executive Vice President of CTEK North America. “Smart owners maintain their vehicles’ battery throughout the year whether or not they’re being driven– and in doing so can guarantee battery performance and extend battery life by up to three times. A little maintenance can save disappointment and costly repairs.”
CTEK’s unique range of smart chargers optimizes the performance of lead-acid batteries by determining accurate readings of a battery’s charge and ensuring the appropriate action is taken to optimize the battery for use, thereby prolonging a battery’s life to the benefit of both the vehicle owner and the environment.
The CTEK MXS 5.0 features capabilities for improved charging in all weather. Designed for use with all types of 12V lead-acid batteries, it is a fully automatic microprocessor-controlled charger with built-in automatic temperature sensor that features a unique combination of advanced charging modes. The CTEK Lithium US is an advanced microprocessor-controlled charger specially designed to recharge and maintain the cells of Lithium-Iron (LiFePO4) batteries - maximizing their performance and lifespan.
“With CTEK, owners can ‘set it and forget it,” added DuMelle. “Our dedicated maintenance stages won’t under-charge or over-charge the battery, they automatically keep the battery maintained in peak condition for months at a time if needed.”
The patented CTEK system maintains optimum charge levels to extend battery life and, most importantly, ensures that vehicles can start first time, every time. With each product intended for unsupervised use, foolproof to connect, spark-proof and reverse-polarity protected, there is no need to regularly connect and disconnect batteries. Moreover, each CTEK smart charger regulates changes in voltage to protect any sensitive electrical and hi-fi equipment.
CTEK products are available in North America through a network of stocklists, details of which can be found via the CTEK website www.smartercharger.com.
