Maintaining Battery Charge Over the Winter

[JohnK]

My 2015 GT will be garaged over the winter - only driven occasionally when it is dry and warm enough. For those of you doing the same, what battery tender are you using? I will need to get one. Thanks!

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[CooterK]

The .75 amp basic model by Deltran is more than good enough for that purpose. If you want you can spring for the waterproof model, its about $7 more. I work at a Batteries Plus store and we use Deltran for most charging purposes.

 

[Thed]

Either AutoZone or Advanced Auto (or maybe both...) sell a 1A charger that you can mount in the engine bay for very little monies. I have one to occasionally give the F-100's battery a little boost when it's being a bitch.

 

[Swoope]

been using one of these for 10 years, still going strong.

here

beers

 

[89Trooper]

When you use the tender to charge the battery, do you keep the battery hooked up to the car? Or do you remove the positive cable from the battery terminal?

 

[tsunami]

Tender and cable hook up.

I leave both OEM cables hooked to the battery. I believe that there is a continuous minor current draw from the electronics. I didn't want to have to 're-instruct' the computer(s) come Spring.

 

[opensesame]

First time storing a car in the garage over the winter. Wouldn't it be easier to run the car for 15-20 mins every week or so?

 

[tsunami]

You need to get the engine hot enough to vaporize any moisture that may try to collect in the oil and cylinders. If you are going to run the engine to charge the battery, take the car out and run it until the temperature gauge shows normal heat range. Just idling the engine won't necessarily get the engine hot enough to get rid of moisture.

 

[Phlyguy]

My 2015 GT will be garaged over the winter - only driven occasionally when it is dry and warm enough. For those of you doing the same, what battery tender are you using? I will need to get one. Thanks!

As someone else mentioned here, I use the DelTran and I use them on both of my Harley's and my Mustang GT (I also keep a spare motorcycle battery on a tender). Keep your vehicle battery fully connected and just start your vehicle on occasion to keep things lubricated. One should also drive or move the vehicle if it is not on blocks to keep the tires from getting flat spots and to keep the other driveline components lubricated. If you have a heated or well insulated garage, depending on the inside temperatures, your frequency will vary. :cheers:

 

[Swoope]

you get one of these in the kit..

makes it simple..

here

beers

 

[tsunami]

I would recommend putting a float charger on it for the winter. I visited my dealer this afternoon, a beautiful TY GT sitting in the showroom with a battery charge on it. The battery was drained just from people sitting in it with the doors open...no headlights on...not even the Shaker Pro radio blasting.

 

[opensesame]

Installed Battery Tender JR. Only works with the alligator clamps. Was able to fit the wire in such a way to let me put the battery cover back on, close the hood, and car cover back on. Topped off the gas tank, and its set for the winter.

 

[Mick4481]

Does anyone know if I have to take battery out of car to have battery tender on while it is in car bag?

 

[tsunami]

You don't have to remove the battery for the tender to work. But you do have to remove the battery cover to reach the positive (red) post. Removing the battery may cancel out the manual settings in your car. There is a small current drain from the electronics.

 

[opensesame]

You don't have to remove the battery for the tender to work. But you do have to remove the battery cover to reach the positive (red) post. Removing the battery may cancel out the manual settings in your car. There is a small current drain from the electronics.

If you position the alligator clamps from the Battery Tender JR horizontal in such a way, you should be able to fit the Battery cover back on. I fitted it back on without putting the plastic screws on and hood shut proper.

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