Ctek knackered?

torquewrench · 2023-01-14T13:02:48-0500

This afternoon the ctek attached to the mk2 has decided to go to stage 1 and stay there. It's been faultless for almost 7 years. I've unplugged it, powered off then reconnected it. It went up as usual to stage 4 gradually. The next time I checked (15 minutes later) it had returned to stage 1 again. Could be time for a new one.

the radman · 2023-01-14T13:16:14-0500

are you getting a red light or anything? you sure its not a knackered battery? i bought another ctek a couple of yrs back as i thought it was on its way out and the new one was just the same

turned out the battery wasnt up to it even though it was showing over 12 volts still

torquewrench · 2023-01-14T13:40:15-0500

the radman said:
are you getting a red light or anything? you sure its not a knackered battery? i bought another ctek a couple of yrs back as i thought it was on its way out and the new one was just the same turned out the battery wasnt up to it even though it was showing over 12 volts still

Its been perfect. Sitting on level 8 without any issues up to now.

SmokeyRS · 2023-01-14T13:50:26-0500

Think the charger returns to stage 1 if it fails stage 5, which is battery test (checking if the charge level is not reducing).

torquewrench · 2023-01-14T14:01:01-0500

SmokeyRS said:
Think the charger returns to stage 1 if it fails stage 5, which is battery test (checking if the charge level is not reducing).

The red light would stay on though wouldn't it?

R5 5KOT · 2023-01-14T14:18:10-0500

Give your battery a sniff if it smells eggy is goosed

torquewrench · 2023-01-14T14:37:26-0500

R5 5KOT said:
Give your battery a sniff if it smells eggy is goosed

No. Doesn't smell at all. 👍

Alb · 2023-01-14T14:54:09-0500

Try it on another battery before you write it off.

K30FUS · 2023-01-14T16:03:23-0500

I had that years ago, turned out to be a faulty fuel pump that kept drawing a current, hence mine was fine upto stage 5 and when the battery didn’t hold power the ctek would have a red light on stage 1.

If in doubt try the charger on another car, even if it’s battery is ok.

I have two ctek chargers now as a result.

Tc248carl · 2023-01-14T16:20:53-0500

I have had my ctek for near on 10 years...it sometimes struggles to swap to car pic from motorcycle but its been faultless......and after 4 years of use my Aldi one ,(and substantially cheaper, ) has performed faultlessly attached to my sapphire.would certainly buy another.

torquewrench · 2023-01-15T06:18:48-0500

Tried it on the cigarette socket this morning with the extension lead, it wouldn't go above stage 1. Tried it on the crocodile clips without the extension lead wouldn't go above 3.
Did a test and got the following. Results were ok. I'll leave it a few days and see how much it's dropped. Also I'll try it on another car.
Starting voltage 12.2 charging voltage 14.1 test came back as starting ok, battery normal.

torquewrench · 2023-01-15T13:22:48-0500

Also. The CCA looks low. It's a bosch s5 010 and rated at 800 cca yet its showing 589.
🤔

Andy · 2023-01-15T15:58:45-0500

From what you've written, it reads to me as though you battery is at fault, not the conditioner.

The 12.2V reading and the resorting to stage 1 points suggests a heavily sulphated battery from what I've read.

torquewrench · 2023-01-16T02:55:30-0500

Thanks for the ideas chaps.

torquewrench · 2023-01-16T02:57:25-0500

Andy said:
From what you've written, it reads to me as though you battery is at fault, not the conditioner.

The 12.2V reading and the resorting to stage 1 points suggests a heavily sulphated battery from what I've read.

Can this be reversed?
It spends 99% of it's time on this ctek.

Andy · 2023-01-16T04:19:37-0500

torquewrench said:
Can this be reversed?
It spends 99% of it's time on this ctek.

I'm not sure which CTEK you've got, but from what you've written it may be the "MXS 5.0 test & charge"?
I've got one of the early MXS 5.0's which doesn't have the extra testing functionality.

You could try the "RECOND" mode on the CTEK.
Also, I'm aware other people have hooked up a simple non smart battery charger when they've been unable to get the CTEK to get through the initial steps. Sometimes this has worked and allowed the CTEK to do its job following a 'normal' blast on a simple charger.

How old is your battery?

torquewrench · 2023-01-16T04:58:25-0500

Andy said:
I'm not sure which CTEK you've got, but from what you've written it may be the "MXS 5.0 test & charge"?
I've got one of the early MXS 5.0's which doesn't have the extra testing functionality.

You could try the "RECOND" mode on the CTEK.
Also, I'm aware other people have hooked up a simple non smart battery charger when they've been unable to get the CTEK to get through the initial steps. Sometimes this has worked and allowed the CTEK to do its job following a 'normal' blast on a simple charger.

How old is your battery?

I've got the mxs5.0 ctek. The battery and the ctek are 6.5 years old.

torquewrench · 2023-01-16T12:31:03-0500

So just checked it. 24 hours ago it was 100% charged. Now it's 59%. Not connected to anything. 👎looks like new battery time

Neil67 · 2023-01-16T14:14:02-0500

I’ve had a CTEK they wouldn’t go past stage 2. I have a few so tried that CTEK on a different car, same issue, tried a different CTEK on the original car and no problems. So Must have been the CTEK that was the problem rather than the battery.

torquewrench · 2023-01-16T14:23:06-0500

Neil67 said:
I’ve had a CTEK they wouldn’t go past stage 2. I have a few so tried that CTEK on a different car, same issue, tried a different CTEK on the original car and no problems. So Must have been the CTEK that was the problem rather than the battery.

I'll try a few different combinations before I replace anything 👍

Ctek knackered?

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