2 hours ago, nta16 said:

just in case I didn't make myself clear to you.  

 

If you recharge the battery with a battery charger now and in future when appropriate, rather than trying to make up too larger  battery deficit by just driving as many think, and use the battery charger maintainer when appropriate you could get a lot more life from the battery.

When I spoke with Ctek before I bought the charger, they confirmed that the battery can be left on the trickle programme indefinitely. This was important as I intended to use this on our MKI PD140 when the then fairly new replacement battery lost its charge over a few months and I wanted to keep it healthy…. and I was fed-up with running the engine for an hour on idle to keep it charged! 
I used the charger for about five years, between 2016 and 2021 and during that period, I used the battery conditioning programme once annually. It was only ever off the charger to get it MOT’d or when I took it out for a run every 6 months or so.
When I was in the process of selling her to a fellow Briskodian, I moved the car from the garden drive to the front drive and it was then off charge for around a month as I was now using it on the 280. When it came to starting it for the roadtest, she started immediately; it’s now on its third owner and still on the same RAC battery. So I’d say that’s quite a good recommendation for the Ctek tech.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

8 hours ago, numskull said:

 

Sorry my intention wasn't to say having it on maintain was bad and couldn't or shouldn't be done rather that for the 'average' owner that intends to use the car regularly it's better to cycle the use of the car and battery.

 

I think you have just about knocked the ball out of the park with providing "appropriate".  Running the engine for an hour on idle to keep a battery charged is totally beyond me as is only driving a car every 6 months but it's different strokes for different folks and each to their own.  Why didn't you just disconnect the battery, security, insurance, drive in a garden, I've only got hard (luck) standing.

 

You can thank me I've got my troll as I dread to think what he'd make of this - but as its you and not me it might well pass easily .  😆 

 

Well, when we bought the MKII, I was thinking about selling the MKI then, but because I loved the car and it wasn’t worth much and we’d spent a fortune on it too - we had the usual oil pump failure and that was replaced with the revised pump, plus the turbo, intercooler and associated pipework were all replaced as they’d been damaged, had the usual leak via the air filter housing which ruined the convenience unit, so we had the housing sealed with the correct kit, had the whole interior and carpets removed and dried, replaced the convenience unit, the associated wiring harnesses, replaced the parking sensors etc. all of which was done at a main dealer - and it was in excellent physical shape too, so I just kept it. It was only when I retired and we’d bought the 280 and traded the MKII, that common sense (and SWMBO’s protestations) finally prevailed and so we sold it, but to a person who really wanted it and I’m delighted that it’s being loved, looked after and used by someone else and it is in even better shape now. 

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

That's a great outcome.  Of course, as always, the better-half was right and has been proven so, again. 😊

 

Very true…..’ish 😂

Edited 14 December, 20223 yr by numskull