Battery Recharging Help Needed

[Tux]

Okey, I've scanned lots of forums and have yet to come up with a good solution to this problem:

1) I have a Maserati GranSport 2004
2) The battery is in the back and the car has an 'Off' switch (which I suspect kills the connection between the battery and the car). It is presently 'Off'
3) The battery (and car) have been sitting still for months (I look at her every day but have no time to drive)
4) I suspect the battery is now dead
5) There are *NO* electric plugs ANYWHERE (so using a socket is out of the question)
6) It is underground and dimly lit (so there is no option here for solar)
7) Pulling the battery out would be a pain (it seems to be clamped in really good)


The challenge: How do I charge her up so I can drive her? If there is a device that will help me, a suggestion of a brand name/model would be awesome (especially if its something I can order online as I doubt anyone in Switzerland sells anything useful).

I look forward to all your help so I can start my car and enjoy driving her

Thank you.

 

[Wack61]

battery jump start pack looks like your only option if there's no power but look at some of the other threads on the subject, there may be a small risk of frying your ECU

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_5h8ikpxedx_b

Maybe something like this if left connected for long enough would charge it enough to get it started, you could disconnect it before trying

http://www.amazon.co.uk/RAVPower®-P...373&sr=8-4&keywords=portable+car+jump+starter

 

[saintetienne]

Probably the best option for car protection (as Wack61 has pointed out) is to get a fully charged battery and fit , it really shouldn't take long at all , you have 1 x 13mm for clamp and 2 x 10 mm for connections . I have never been a great advocate of jump starting , even less so on cars like this . I would play it safe.

 

[Fran]

I strongly recommend a new battery, go for a Bosch silver S5. the Original is a 74 Ah but I think I have a 77 Ah, I can check this for you. Less then 100£ in the UK

1) your old battery will be dead anyway. Batteries do not hold the charge after being completely discharged and your Maserati requires a lot of energy at start up

2) do not buy jump packs, they are not powerful enough for your car and they cost as a new battery

3) changing the battery is an easy task. Just remove the 2 clamps and the retaining bolt at the bottom of the battery. I have done it many times in 10 minutes. Any mechanic will be able to this this for you.

F

 

[StuartW]

I strongly recommend a new battery, go for a Bosch silver S5. the Original is a 74 Ah but I think I have a 77 Ah, I can check this for you. Less then 100£ in the UK

1) your old battery will be dead anyway. Batteries do not hold the charge after being completely discharged and your Maserati requires a lot of energy at start up

2) do not buy jump packs, they are not powerful enough for your car and they cost as a new battery

3) changing the battery is an easy task. Just remove the 2 clamps and the retaining bolt at the bottom of the battery. I have done it many times in 10 minutes. Any mechanic will be able to this this for you.

F

Agreed, good advice. I assume that once you get it started that you are going to start using the car regularly otherwise the same thing will happen again along with everything else that can afflict a car that does not get used?

 

[Tux]

I plan to drive it around for a week or two after I start her up again. Then sadly put the car in storage for a year before I can use it again.

If I want to avoid taking the battery out, then my only choice would be:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/RAVPower®-P...373&sr=8-4&keywords=portable+car+jump+starter

But that says 'jump starter' and I'm concerned that will fry the electronics.

I was also thinking of something like a large battery that I could hook up my trickle charger to (I have a CTEK) that could then charge from the battery (as if it was charging from the outlet). Anyone hear of such a thing?

 

[Ambient69]

The battery is a pain to get in and out. Also connecting a battery charger is still a risk you take, since you are also connecting to the same supply that can fry every other piece of electronics in your house.

Check out http://www.antigravitybatteries-uk.co.uk/. They were at Silverstone Classic with some seriously light 1Kg race batteries, and boost starters. Most cars nowadays have complex electronics, and I suspect most garages now use handy boost starters.

 

[voicey]

You are right to be cautious jump starting with a very flat battery. I know people don't believe me but I see damaged ECUs as a result of a jump start all the time.

Where are you? If you're near London and can wait until the end of the week I'll lend you a battery for a few weeks (I keep a few good ones in stock for situations like yours). Otherwise I would recommend either a) removing the old battery and trying to charge it off the car or b) a new battery.

 

[MAF260]

The battery in a GS is not hard to remove, just a little fiddly. Anyone should be able to remove it in 10 minutes maximum. If you know what you're doing and have the correct tools with you it's a 2-minute job.

 

[highlander]

The battery in a GS is not hard to remove, just a little fiddly. Anyone should be able to remove it in 10 minutes maximum. If you know what you're doing and have the correct tools with you it's a 2-minute job.

So......does the 10 min method involve a mash hammer?

 

[outrun]

Agreed MAF, it's easy. A 10mm spanner and a bit of care. I put a Bosch S5 in mine (and into yours Greg) which is slightly bigger but fits perfectly. The best solution, once replaced, use it so it doesn't go flat.

 

[MUC3200GT]

or use a CTEK charger, if the battery switch was OFF than it may have survived...my 250CE's battery survived several winters (3-4 month) as the car doesnt consume anything- just the self discharge. So it just needed recharge in spring. When the Battery was new (1 or two years I could even start after 4 month sitting in the garage but this car doesn`t consume much at starting time, no complicted ECU, no immobiliser needing 12 V or so ). So for the 4200 I recommend to recharge

But I agree jump start with a very flat battery may have unwanted results especialy when disconnecting the jump start source. Its suggested to have fan and head lights on on the donated car in order to consume spikes, but with those spikes one never knows..

 

[Ambient69]

After my experience last year with both a set of spanners and a socket set, I agree it can be easy to get out, but was a total B***** to get back in.

Since it is basically tucked tightly in a side cupboard with a fuse box directly on top, a very snug fit. I would definitely say it is not as easy as swapping the battery when compared to many I have swapped located under a bonnet.

Also fitted Bosch S5, extra cranking power.

 

[casadalloro]

2) do not buy jump packs, they are not powerful enough for your car and they cost as a new battery

Jump packs are fine but you but you need to spend at least £250 on a "real" one....

Go for a new battery and a trickle charger/conditioner.(Accumate is what i have).. Works great for me..starts every time..

 

[redsonnylee]

I went through a few batteries due to low use, eventually I purchased a Bosch S5, plus a ctek tricke charger and leave it on all year. No problems since doing this a few years ago.
I have a power pack but they are useless if the battery is completely drained.

 

[miket]

To give you better access to your battery remove the boot trim its only a 5 minute job and makes the battery swap easier.

 

[MUC3200GT]

I
I was also thinking of something like a large battery that I could hook up my trickle charger to (I have a CTEK) that could then charge from the battery (as if it was charging from the outlet). Anyone hear of such a thing?

In principle you could get a 12 V DC to 220V AC converter. Get any 12 V battery as external one(should have similar capacity than the one in the Maserati, if its lower you need to recharge after a while), so 50 to 75 AH. Let the external battery provide the 12 V, convert to 220V plug the CTEK and charge the battery in the 4200.

I would give it a try especially the Battery is only suspected to be dead...

 

[Fran]

2) do not buy jump packs, they are not powerful enough for your car and they cost as a new battery

Jump packs are fine but you but you need to spend at least £250 on a "real" one....

Go for a new battery and a trickle charger/conditioner.(Accumate is what i have).. Works great for me..starts every time..

You are right, I meant a jump charger that work for this car will cost much more than a new battery and I do not think will solve the problem at its root.

In many years of experience with my 4200 I can assure you what is required is a battery change with a Bosch S5. Then you can forget about your car for more than 6 months if you really have to and the battery will remain fully charged. Just remember to turn the battery switch off.

F

 

[hoyin]

Why can't you just starting the car using another car to jump it?

It won't spike it as you are effectively using a similar source. Then leave the car running with it connected for 15 mins turn everything off. Disconnect and then start your car.

I've done it on my GT after I went on holiday and left it a couple of months and I do it at least 4 times a year on my Noble as the tracker drains the battery if I don't use it more than once every month (don't have any power in my garage). Should really install a kill switch.

 

[voicey]

Why can't you just starting the car using another car to jump it?

It won't spike it as you are effectively using a similar source. Then leave the car running with it connected for 15 mins turn everything off. Disconnect and then start your car.

I've done it on my GT after I went on holiday and left it a couple of months and I do it at least 4 times a year on my Noble as the tracker drains the battery if I don't use it more than once every month (don't have any power in my garage). Should really install a kill switch.

What you have described is using another car to charge the dead battery on the car and then removing the good power source prior to cranking. This is much different from using another car to provide the cranking power.

The latter is fraught with danger - the issue occurs when after the dead car is started and the jump leads are removed. The alternator on the (dead car) suddenly goes from being connected to a healthy power source to being connected to a dead battery (with possibly just a couple of volts across the terminals). This change in load is what can cause the voltage spike.

Your former method negates this risk.