Hooking up a Battery Charger

Yankees1 · 05-31-2016, 09:53 AM

After realizing where the battery is located, I want to hook up my Ctek charger. I won't need it till the winter, but it looks like the best way is to use the eyelets and let the comfort connector hang out of the "trap door".

My question is how do you get to the positive terminal? There is no way my hand can get to it through the opening. It looks like you have to pop out some plastic rivets and then the entire side comes off.

I am at the age where I like to ask before I try.... Thanks....

Glen e · 05-31-2016, 10:04 AM

I assume you're hooking up a charger because you're going to leave the car for a while in storage? The battery will last quite a long time, months and months, if you just detach the negative cable that you're seeing right in front of you. Just wrap it in a baggie, you don't lose any settings and the only thing you lose is the window indexing, Which when you hook it back up will tell you to roll the windows down, then roll back up. That's it. Also for shorter periods see my post in the electronic section about the "transport mode".

nancygrl · 05-31-2016, 10:05 AM

There's a positive and ground post in the engine bay by the fuse box.

MovieGuy · 05-31-2016, 10:10 AM

Look at page 314 of your owners manual. I don't know why you couldn't charge your battery or even disconnect it from that same spot.

Glen e · 05-31-2016, 10:16 AM

Disconnecting The front ground wont disconnect the whole batt, i asked here a few months ago and was told rear fuse box would stay energized. To make the whole car dead, you need to pull the neg cable behind the trunk access door.

MovieGuy · 05-31-2016, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen e

Disconnecting The front ground wont disconnect the whole batt, i asked here a few months ago and was told rear fuse box would stay energized. To make the whole car dead, you need to pull the neg cable behind the trunk access door.

Thankyou. But you can charge it from there? I am lost without a schematic but it seemed to me this was a direct line to the battery.

Glen e · 05-31-2016, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MovieGuy

Thankyou. But you can charge it from there? I am lost without a schematic but it seemed to me this was a direct line to the battery.

You certainly can charge/jump from the front, but because I like things direct, I'd pull the entire panel as it's all just pushpins, and add a pigtail on the batt.....for a charger to run thru the trunk door access panel

The1DoubleN · 05-31-2016, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MovieGuy

Thankyou. But you can charge it from there? I am lost without a schematic but it seemed to me this was a direct line to the battery.

Yes, I have a trickle charger on there all the time and just leave the hood cracked since my car gets driven about 1-2 days a week only and the voltage drops to about 50% in 3-5 days in normal temperatures. Best way to make your battery last is to keep it on a good trickle charger unless you're driving it everyday, then it's not really necessary, provided you're driving at least 20-30min....

laborsmith · 05-31-2016, 03:10 PM

Glen e, you seem to have window indexing in your 2LT and it seems absent in my 1LT, do you think it is part of the lighting/convenience package, which I do not have?

Laborsmith

Kenster865 · 10-26-2016, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The1DoubleN

Yes, I have a trickle charger on there all the time and just leave the hood cracked since my car gets driven about 1-2 days a week only and the voltage drops to about 50% in 3-5 days in normal temperatures. Best way to make your battery last is to keep it on a good trickle charger unless you're driving it everyday, then it's not really necessary, provided you're driving at least 20-30min....

Hi Folks!
I'm new around here. Just picked up a 2017 SS (w/1SS trim). As I don't plan on driving it during the week I want to keep the battery charged up. I have a CA-approved battery tender that I've used on a 2007 Toyota RAV4 that I own and it works really well.

I was hesitant to utilize the jumper nodes in the engine bay and called my dealership to check their thoughts on doing that. The service adviser cat I spoke with says not to use those nodes for a battery tender, that it could cause damage to some of the fuse box items. What do you guys think about that? I got brave having read through this thread and lo and behold - it works!! Now I haven't tried to start the car yet but everything appears to be functioning fine.

So was this adviser guy full of it or is there a real concern that he was raising? Thanks in advance for the helps. Happy cruising, y'all!

SuperSound · 10-26-2016, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenster865

Hi Folks!
I'm new around here. Just picked up a 2017 SS (w/1SS trim). As I don't plan on driving it during the week I want to keep the battery charged up. I have a CA-approved battery tender that I've used on a 2007 Toyota RAV4 that I own and it works really well.

I was hesitant to utilize the jumper nodes in the engine bay and called my dealership to check their thoughts on doing that. The service adviser cat I spoke with says not to use those nodes for a battery tender, that it could cause damage to some of the fuse box items. What do you guys think about that? I got brave having read through this thread and lo and behold - it works!! Now I haven't tried to start the car yet but everything appears to be functioning fine.

So was this adviser guy full of it or is there a real concern that he was raising? Thanks in advance for the helps. Happy cruising, y'all!

Considering you can jump a car from the front posts (according the manual), I would say he is full of it. Jumping will put a lot more power through it than a trickle charger.

Glen e · 10-26-2016, 01:34 PM

A tender is fine thru the front......

camaromike77 · 10-26-2016, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The1DoubleN

Yes, I have a trickle charger on there all the time and just leave the hood cracked since my car gets driven about 1-2 days a week only and the voltage drops to about 50% in 3-5 days in normal temperatures. Best way to make your battery last is to keep it on a good trickle charger unless you're driving it everyday, then it's not really necessary, provided you're driving at least 20-30min....

Pretty much ditto here. I have a trickle charger on it as well, but ran the wire through the hood "vent", then wrapped it in a cloth so my hood is completely closed. Mine went off the road last week, and will be stored in my garage until late March, or until the snow/salt is gone.

Added fuel stabilizer, hooked up battery tender, placed indoor cover on it, and this weekend I will be removing the tires and placing the vehicle on jack stands. Winter SUCKS.......

whiteboyblues2001 · 10-26-2016, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camaromike77

Pretty much ditto here. I have a trickle charger on it as well, but ran the wire through the hood "vent", then wrapped it in a cloth so my hood is completely closed. Mine went off the road last week, and will be stored in my garage until late March, or until the snow/salt is gone.

Added fuel stabilizer, hooked up battery tender, placed indoor cover on it, and this weekend I will be removing the tires and placing the vehicle on jack stands. Winter SUCKS.......

Okay, I know nothing about winterizing a car.... so, please be patient with my stupid questions, but...

When you say you will remove the tires, do you mean you will remove the wheels from the car, or remove the tires from the rims? And why would you need to do this?

My 1SS is my daily driver, but I will be getting winter tires on separate wheels. When I store the wheels/tires that are not being used, what do I need to do so they don't have issues?

Thanks!!

05-31-2016, 09:53 AM	#1
Yankees1 Drives: 2016 Camaro SS - Nightfall Gray Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Northeastern PA Posts: 10	Hooking up a Battery Charger After realizing where the battery is located, I want to hook up my Ctek charger. I won't need it till the winter, but it looks like the best way is to use the eyelets and let the comfort connector hang out of the "trap door". My question is how do you get to the positive terminal? There is no way my hand can get to it through the opening. It looks like you have to pop out some plastic rivets and then the entire side comes off. I am at the age where I like to ask before I try.... Thanks....

05-31-2016, 10:04 AM	#2
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,044	I assume you're hooking up a charger because you're going to leave the car for a while in storage? The battery will last quite a long time, months and months, if you just detach the negative cable that you're seeing right in front of you. Just wrap it in a baggie, you don't lose any settings and the only thing you lose is the window indexing, Which when you hook it back up will tell you to roll the windows down, then roll back up. That's it. Also for shorter periods see my post in the electronic section about the "transport mode". __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

05-31-2016, 10:10 AM	#4
MovieGuy Drives: 2016 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Topeka KS Posts: 892	Look at page 314 of your owners manual. I don't know why you couldn't charge your battery or even disconnect it from that same spot. __________________ Life after retirement

05-31-2016, 10:16 AM	#5
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,044	Disconnecting The front ground wont disconnect the whole batt, i asked here a few months ago and was told rear fuse box would stay energized. To make the whole car dead, you need to pull the neg cable behind the trunk access door. __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

10-26-2016, 01:34 PM	#12
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,044	A tender is fine thru the front...... __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

05-31-2016, 10:05 AM	#3
nancygrl 雪の玉 Drives: '22 Z71 RST Silverado Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: South Posts: 3,415	There's a positive and ground post in the engine bay by the fuse box.

05-31-2016, 03:10 PM	#9
laborsmith Drives: 1969 Corvair, 2018 Camaro T4 RS Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Detroit Metropolitan Area Posts: 2,881	Glen e, you seem to have window indexing in your 2LT and it seems absent in my 1LT, do you think it is part of the lighting/convenience package, which I do not have? Laborsmith

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