I have a 1986 Trans Am, that I’ve had about 35 years, I have gone through a lot of batteries over the years. I thought I had the problem fixed, but I went to start it the other day ( hadn’t started it in 2 weeks) and it was dead. I have an Interstate battery that is only about a year and an half old. So I’m gonna spend $100 on one of these CTEK maintainers, maybe it will help. I like my car but it’s just like me Old and full of problems.
How do you turn the MXS 5.0 off? I know with the 3300 it can be turned off via the mode switch, but with the MXS 5.0 it doesn't do that. So I assume the only way is by unplugging it?
Is it abnormal to have only 3 lights for 10 hours now? Crazy thing is the car is a 2023. But maybe that’s the case cause it sat on the lot a while. I have no trouble starting it either.
ALWAYS nice to have a trickle battery charger (or a solar panel charger) hooked up. I use a Battery Tender Jr on mine with a SAE 2-pin...but, CTEK equipment is superior IMHO. Up north...very smart idea. Dead batteries at -10C is no fun.
I've been using CTEK for years now. I love them. For vehicles that sit plug them in and you can forget about them until you're ready to drive. One note, it's a good idea to run the recondition mode on each battery once or twice a year even when they're in good shape, don't wait until they become a "problem" battery.
I reconditioned the 7 year old battery on my 2001 BMW 330xi recently. The battery's rated at 770 CCA. Before the recondition the battery tested at 520 CCA. After reconditioning it tested at 713 CCA. Cheap battery testers are handy. They can give you a relative sense of how good the battery condition is.
CTEK Company verbiage: Connect according to the vehicle manual, or the red clamp to the positive charging point and the black clamp to the vehicle chassis.
I have this very charger and it's awesome. I have a BMW 440i and every single winter without fail, I get warnings that the battery is discharged, to start the engine and drive for a good distance. All good but I work from home a lot these days so the car isn't driven as much (16 plate with 40K miles on it to give you an idea 😉). Put the MXS 5.0 on, leave it overnight and the next day, the battery is in perfect condition.
This is specifically why I purchased both the CTEK Multi US 7002 & CTEK MUS 4.3 Test and Charge (after purchasing my first BMW & discovering the battery issues with this specific model car and battery problems without having to purchase a new battery and paying thousands of dollars)! Then, I discovered paid off even more so for use and compatibility with my new Denali platinum/premuim. Big thanks for the step by step tutorial!
I hook one of these up to a LiFePO4 Battery Power Station with Pure Sine Wave 500W that has an AC plug. Then I use the CTEK cigarette lighter connector adapter to charge my car battery. This is useful if you don't have access to power but will only work if your car cigarette socket is live when the car is switched off. This is very handy because you can just have the portable battery pack sitting and charge your car battery wherever you want to. In a way it turns the CTEK MXS 5.0 into something similar to the CS Free! You could use that to trickle charge your battery for quite a long time if you needed to.
Pleased with mine. It saved battery for me which was totally flat from car sitting unused. Did Recon and it stopped and then re-ran it and all springs to life. AGR battery
I generally get 4-5 years on a fluid level battery. My last fluid battery. I was able to get 7 years out of it. It lasted so long, because I checked the fluid level and kept clean the battery post and cable ends. Preventing the building up of corrosion. I don't have that car anymore. Now, my battery is an AGM battery. It's about 8 months old. This was an informative video. I plan to purchase this charger for my AGM battery..
YOU SHOULD'VE SHOWN HOW YOU CONNECT THE WIRES TO THE RED TRUCK WHEN TESTING IT. tHEY WEREN'T THE CLAMPS, BUT THE ROUND ILETS. i DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON MY TRUCK BATTERES TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS. i SIMPLY DRIVE FORD TRUCKS AND OWN A 12 VOLT BOBCAT IN MY LANDSCAPE BUSINESS THAT DIED.
Sorry it is just a quick connector that can take place of the battery clamps. The ‘comfort connector’ is a universal accessory that you can connect to any 12v battery setup
I try to every month or so. More importantly when I know it will be sitting unused for awhile. These smart charges won’t cause problems of used more frequently.
Why nothing about reconditioning? My CTEK doesn't really recondition. I was hoping you'd speak to that... oh well, I guess I'll have to keep scrolling.
Is the comfort indicator plug type specific to CTEK? One of these is installed on my bike but, I need an SAE plug for some heated gear and the comfort indicator plug doesn’t seem compatible with SAE.
Thanks for the quick reply! I went ahead and added an SAE plug to use with my Optimate charger. I have watched another vid of yours about the CTEK free and I’ll admit, that is a slick solution.
@@Donslife I’m charging mine with the BMW branded one ( lithium battery charging ) and it has been in number 3 for 5 hrs now .. I really don’t know if is going to jump to 4 or what 🥹
I think #8 only illuminates when a pulse is sent to keep the battery above 95%. You'd probably have to stare at it for awhile to come on since it would have to drop to
Hi i have a vfm Sportline rv 12v 80 ah 540 cca battery now i have to charge it but I’m not sure if its a agm battery or normal. Which setting should i use to charge it agm or normal? It would be great if any one can help?
I will be and will also cover my settings that I used. Sorry it’s taking awhile, but with all the road trips I have been doing, it is helpful to thoroughly test it first
Comes on in about 8 days (from memory). It goes into long term maintenance mode. Just applying charge periodically to keep battery 95% plus charge instead of a continuous float charge 100%. Ctek says it easier on the battery long term. Especially I would think with lithium batteries when using there lithium charger which has the same feature.
Find a charging solution for your needs at:
smartercharger.com/
linktr.ee/donslife - Links to all of my products and discounts
I have a 1986 Trans Am, that I’ve had about 35 years, I have gone through a lot of batteries over the years. I thought I had the problem fixed, but I went to start it the other day ( hadn’t started it in 2 weeks) and it was dead. I have an Interstate battery that is only about a year and an half old. So I’m gonna spend $100 on one of these CTEK maintainers, maybe it will help. I like my car but it’s just like me Old and full of problems.
How do you turn the MXS 5.0 off? I know with the 3300 it can be turned off via the mode switch, but with the MXS 5.0 it doesn't do that. So I assume the only way is by unplugging it?
Is it abnormal to have only 3 lights for 10 hours now? Crazy thing is the car is a 2023. But maybe that’s the case cause it sat on the lot a while. I have no trouble starting it either.
3 lights is not abnormal. Especially if there is any interruption like opening a door
Hall Mary Martinez John Thompson David
ALWAYS nice to have a trickle battery charger (or a solar panel charger) hooked up. I use a Battery Tender Jr on mine with a SAE 2-pin...but, CTEK equipment is superior IMHO. Up north...very smart idea. Dead batteries at -10C is no fun.
I've been using CTEK for years now. I love them. For vehicles that sit plug them in and you can forget about them until you're ready to drive. One note, it's a good idea to run the recondition mode on each battery once or twice a year even when they're in good shape, don't wait until they become a "problem" battery.
I reconditioned the 7 year old battery on my 2001 BMW 330xi recently. The battery's rated at 770 CCA. Before the recondition the battery tested at 520 CCA. After reconditioning it tested at 713 CCA. Cheap battery testers are handy. They can give you a relative sense of how good the battery condition is.
Is it okay not removing the negative battery terminal while in recondition mode by ctek ?
CTEK Company verbiage:
Connect according to the vehicle manual, or the red clamp to the positive charging point and the black clamp to the vehicle chassis.
I have this very charger and it's awesome. I have a BMW 440i and every single winter without fail, I get warnings that the battery is discharged, to start the engine and drive for a good distance. All good but I work from home a lot these days so the car isn't driven as much (16 plate with 40K miles on it to give you an idea 😉).
Put the MXS 5.0 on, leave it overnight and the next day, the battery is in perfect condition.
Exactly
This is specifically why I purchased both the CTEK Multi US 7002 & CTEK MUS 4.3 Test and Charge (after purchasing my first BMW & discovering the battery issues with this specific model car and battery problems without having to purchase a new battery and paying thousands of dollars)! Then, I discovered paid off even more so for use and compatibility with my new Denali platinum/premuim. Big thanks for the step by step tutorial!
@@LeslieRae yup, and without fail again this winter, the warnings came up and the CTEK sorted me out 😊
I hook one of these up to a LiFePO4 Battery Power Station with Pure Sine Wave 500W that has an AC plug. Then I use the CTEK cigarette lighter connector adapter to charge my car battery. This is useful if you don't have access to power but will only work if your car cigarette socket is live when the car is switched off. This is very handy because you can just have the portable battery pack sitting and charge your car battery wherever you want to. In a way it turns the CTEK MXS 5.0 into something similar to the CS Free! You could use that to trickle charge your battery for quite a long time if you needed to.
Pleased with mine. It saved battery for me which was totally flat from car sitting unused. Did Recon and it stopped and then re-ran it and all springs to life. AGR battery
I generally get 4-5 years on a fluid level battery. My last fluid battery. I was able to get 7 years out of it. It lasted so long, because I checked the fluid level and kept clean the battery post and cable ends. Preventing the building up of corrosion. I don't have that car anymore. Now, my battery is an AGM battery. It's about 8 months old. This was an informative video. I plan to purchase this charger for my AGM battery..
Great video - thanks for showing how the LEDs display and progress if all is properly connected.
No problem 👍
Very detailed explanation 👍👍👍
YOU SHOULD'VE SHOWN HOW YOU CONNECT THE WIRES TO THE RED TRUCK WHEN TESTING IT. tHEY WEREN'T THE CLAMPS, BUT THE ROUND ILETS. i DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON MY TRUCK BATTERES TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS. i SIMPLY DRIVE FORD TRUCKS AND OWN A 12 VOLT BOBCAT IN MY LANDSCAPE BUSINESS THAT DIED.
Sorry it is just a quick connector that can take place of the battery clamps. The ‘comfort connector’ is a universal accessory that you can connect to any 12v battery setup
Hi, thanks for the video.
The design and cabling of CTEK chargers in the USA is much better than here in Europe. I don't know why that is.
Nor do I. Thanks for watching!
when and how often should you recondition the battery?
I try to every month or so. More importantly when I know it will be sitting unused for awhile. These smart charges won’t cause problems of used more frequently.
Great breakdown on how to use the charger (I just bought this last night and am about to use it).
Glad it was helpful!
Same! Thank you for this!!
You mentioned a lithium battery. I don’t see a lithium setting on this charger. Is this charger appropriate for charging a lithium battery?
No the MXS 5.0 is not for Lithium batteries. I have a CTEK 56-926 LITHIUM US charger for my BMW’s Lithium battery (LiFePO4)
A swell neighbor.
Why nothing about reconditioning? My CTEK doesn't really recondition. I was hoping you'd speak to that... oh well, I guess I'll have to keep scrolling.
Don't forget to replace Samxon capacitors to Panasonic, otherwise you can get troubles...
Could this be used on Travel trailer battery as well
100%. It will be maintaining mine for the travel trailer and the two from my boat over the long winter
Is the comfort indicator plug type specific to CTEK? One of these is installed on my bike but, I need an SAE plug for some heated gear and the comfort indicator plug doesn’t seem compatible with SAE.
As far as I know the CTEK plug is specifically for the CTEK chargers.
Thanks for the quick reply! I went ahead and added an SAE plug to use with my Optimate charger. I have watched another vid of yours about the CTEK free and I’ll admit, that is a slick solution.
Is it necessary to charge a newly installed battery prior to driving on it for the 1st time?
It can be beneficial to the battery’s health. I used to sell automotive batteries and they sit on the racks for months sometimes before purchased.
There rubbish, don’t waist your time
Maybe you’re doing it wrong?
Great vid ! 👍
Thanks! 👍
@@Donslife I’m charging mine with the BMW branded one ( lithium battery charging ) and it has been in number 3 for 5 hrs now .. I really don’t know if is going to jump to 4 or what 🥹
If it didn’t get to 7 or 8 after 24hrs-36hrs. It might be bad news
im at 4 for the past 9 hours. should I be concerned?
Sometimes it can take until the next day
Can this work for a day stored for 1 year? Someone can start the car once a month.
This can work as a trickle charger, a battery charger and conditioner. CTEK has lots of custom and universal options.
Thanks god bless
Mine only lights up to #7. Haven't seen #8 turn on.
I think #8 only illuminates when a pulse is sent to keep the battery above 95%. You'd probably have to stare at it for awhile to come on since it would have to drop to
Hi i have a vfm Sportline rv 12v 80 ah 540 cca battery now i have to charge it but I’m not sure if its a agm battery or normal. Which setting should i use to charge it agm or normal? It would be great if any one can help?
Thank you for those instructions Don. Really apperciate the help..
Happy to help and I am glad you liked the video
I have buy this ctek charger too my big brother 😊😅
It is my most used one for regular sized batteries
Great video, Don! 😀
Mine gone faulty after 3 years and I used it twice most.
Make a video on ur radar detector settings I have same one
I will be and will also cover my settings that I used. Sorry it’s taking awhile, but with all the road trips I have been doing, it is helpful to thoroughly test it first
How long did it take to reach 7?
Got your BMW clean !
It still stinks like grasshoppers in the garage. I am sure when I wrap it again and pull the bumper, I will be in for a surprise!
Will the 8th light come on?
Only momentarily and if you blink you could miss it
A slight exaggeration but it only comes on briefly and 7 is reengaged, which is normal and fine
Comes on in about 8 days (from memory). It goes into long term maintenance mode. Just applying charge periodically to keep battery 95% plus charge instead of a continuous float charge 100%. Ctek says it easier on the battery long term. Especially I would think with lithium batteries when using there lithium charger which has the same feature.