Beginner’s Guide to Racing - C8 Corvette Battery Tender

[@That52TeleGuy]

Thanks, very clear and simple. Also mid-west in Michigan, took new delivery last week. Tender came with the car. Hoping for a good stretch of fall weather before winter.

[@DrChrisStout]

Congrats @That52TeleGuy! You are in for a treat! Have you seen the Car & Driver review of a C8 doing 40,000 miles, year-long (including salty winter roads) in Michigan? It's great, and helped me to decide to get mine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2i8l3Sieb6AjKc Enjoy!

[@That52TeleGuy]

@@DrChrisStout My journey was about 4 months and started with looking at used C5’s then C6’s, by the time I got to C7’s I waited out the for C8 discounts which came. Gave me time to sell off two older cars, one I had for 26 years. I made a mental decision on not wanting to be a mechanic anymore. The C8 ride is pure pleasure.

[@johnr7794]

Excellent video, the other videos out do not show removing the protective cover on the plug.

[@DrChrisStout]

Hi @hohn7794, thanks for your comments. It's interesting as leaving the cap on seems to me would prevent proper connection when plugged in to the port. Since November 2023, it's worked like a charm using it as I have noted herein, and the lights on the charging device confirm proper connection and operation. Hope that helps. Thx!

[@itowmyhome797]

The battery maintainer is absolutely essential, GM has built a product that will drain the battery within days turning your car into a huge brick, or spit out miscellaneous error messages, unrelated to each other, or to a low/dead battery condition which will confuse a certified technician at the dealership (if you’re lucky enough to have a certified technician at your dealership) might be able to figure it out it could be days or weeks as they confer With the home office, it happens If I don’t plan on driving my Corvette for at least two days, I immediately plug in the maintainer before the clock starts ticking on two days of not driving it. Think I’m crazy ? which you can do until it happens to you. I use maintainers on all my vehicles

[@DrChrisStout]

Thanks for sharing your experience @itowmyhome797 very helpful. I am always of a mind to be safe versus sorry. I sure never want to look go the under dash to dig around to look for the pull to open the frunk, and then take off a bunch of pieces to get to the battery. I'm always a bit nervous and then relieved when she starts. The tender has been good, reliable insurance and peace of mind.

[@illiyakuryakin3092]

Nice CTEK charger. I have a couple used on my other cars and motorcycles for years and have been very pleased with CTEK. Much better than the “Battery Tender” brand. When my C8 comes in a couple months, this model will be on mine also when the C8 is not in use for a few days. I was wondering about the light function in the frunk. Good job on the video. Drive safe.

[@DrChrisStout]

Thanks, and good to know re: CTEK, it's my first time using that brand. The light in the frunk shuts it self off after the first click is done. Actually, I think it would do so after about 10 or so minutes regardless (but i have not tried it), as the system likes to save power on its own when something is on and the engine is not. I hope than answers your question? If not, please respond back. I know you'll enjoy your C8, congratulations.

[@JohnnyBfromPeoria]

As with many electrical items on the car, power stays on (frunk light) but will eventually turn off even if the lid is still fully open. GM calls it "retained accessory power" and it's on a timer. I think my '24 is 10 minutes, haven't checked.

[@DrChrisStout]

Thanks @JohnnyBfromPeoria, that's really helpful, and reassuring, to know!

[@2023C8HTC]

Did you try going in from the top of the frunk(near the windshield) instead of the front?

[@DrChrisStout]

Hi @TommyCentral1901, in my garage situation, the wall socket was closer to the nose of the frunk/car. I'm not near where it's stored now, but I would fret that the cord could be more likely to be pinched if closer to the windshield rather than the nose /front of the car. Hope that helps?

[@dwightmurray9763]

Hey guys only way you need a battery tender if you keep the battery that came in the car. On my 2013 GS are my 2017 zo6 I use deep cycle battery like a yellow top on my car they set sometimes for months and they always start every time, also don’t used a battery tender on deep cycle battery it will kill a deep cycle battery.

[@DrChrisStout]

Thanks @dwightmurray9763, that's good to know. I appreciate your comment. This is a new and showroom stock C8.

[@dwightmurray9763]

@@DrChrisStout I love your car looks great. I been through a lot about battery in a corvette over the years and learned a lot. Tell you something else if you drive your car at least once a week don’t use that tender because it will take life out of that battery but if you store it for couple months by all means use the tender unless you have a deep cycle battery then there’s no need. Keep driving my corvette brothers people love see that car and you can’t help it because you will meet new friends…….