Iâ??m a huge advocate of using a battery trickle-charger, or battery tender, when you wonâ??t be driving
your vehicle for extended periods of time - and especially if that vehicle is a newer one, packed with fancy electronics that get fussy if the battery powering them isnâ??t in tip-top shape. Many readers
have been in touch with questions and comments about
trickle charger use, based on my frequent recommendation that you use one in my regular used car review columns. So, readers, hereâ??s a bit more information about why
your investment in a sub-$50
trickle charger or battery tender is a good idea, a look at some great reasons to use one, and a look at one great reason not to. You Battery Could Last Longer Hook up that
trickle charger to
your rideâ??s battery, consistently, when you wonâ??t be driving it for a few days or more, and you could be extending the life of
your battery in the process. Two reasons why. First, if
your ride sits for days on end and only gets driven briefly, the battery will
have trouble achieving a full charge, which can reduce its life and cause problems. Second? Many
trickle chargers
have a conditioning function that helps optimize the condition of
your battery. Once
your battery has had its fill of yummy electrons, this function can maintain its charge at an ideal level for longevity. Remember: the longer
your battery lasts, the more money youâ??ll save. You Wonâ??t
have to Reprogram Stuff In more and more new cars, ownerâ??s manuals are advising shoppers that replacing a battery is a â??dealer onlyâ?* endeavor. Does the dealer want
your money for a new battery? Sure - but this provision also ensures that a trained technician, not a backyard mechanic, is at the helm of the battery replacement procedure. These days, in newer vehicles, this is increasingly important: as disconnecting a battery isnâ??t just disconnecting a battery. In numerous applications, improper replacement of the battery can wipe out the programming of certain vehicle systems - which will require (expensive) reprogramming, and often, a tow to the dealer (also pricey), as the vehicle may not start. The gist? Whether from a disconnected battery, or a dead battery, you could be in for a serious migraine if
your vehicle systems lose power. So, keep that
trickle charger hooked up, and
your battery topped off, to prevent issues and save hard-earned cash. After all, if
your newer car battery goes bunk, boosting it may be the least of
your problems. You Wonâ??t
have to Remove
your Battery Got a summer-only or seasonal car? Do you usually remove its battery and store it inside somewhere? With a battery
trickle charger, you wonâ??t need to. Just connect the leads to the battery posts, and walk away.
your battery will be topped off and conditioned all winter, and youâ??ll save time and effort by leaving it in
your car where it belongs. Sheâ??ll fire up like a champ for that first springtime drive, too. You Wonâ??t be Late for Things Letâ??s not forget one of the worst things about dead batteries - the failure of
your rideâ??s engine to fire up. This makes you late to supper,
your yoga class, an important meeting at work, or for a deadline to pick up
your offspring at the movies. The 30 seconds it takes to hook up a
trickle charger virtually eliminates the likelihood of a dead battery, both right after you unplug it, and for days later, too. How NOT to use a
trickle Charger
your writer learned this one the hard way, the other day. I store my summer car in the garage over the winter, after hooking up my $30 el-cheapo
trickle charger. Except, this year I didnâ??t. Laziness and procrastination flowed into the holidays, and I put off hooking the thing up for about a month. By this point, my battery was completely dead when I got around to moving the car in the garage. After it failed to start, I figured, Iâ??d leave the
trickle charger hooked up a few days, to bring the battery back up to charge. Sounds legit, right? Apparently not: my battery was totally borked, likely drained by the alarm system. And the
trickle charger is just that: a
trickle charger. It
trickle charges the battery to maintain its charge - and most arenâ??t designed to bring a battery back from the dead. Now, I need a new battery. Had I hooked the
trickle charger up when I
Should have, Iâ??d
have saved about $150. Dâ??oh! The lesson here? Hook up
your trickle charger early, and if
your battery is dead, donâ??t expect it to bring it back.
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