DON'T BUY a car battery charger until you watch this video! CTEK battery charger, Mercedes SL

[@paulblandy987]

Good little video I have two of these chargers one on the sl always and one on my Audi A8 with no problems at all a have recommended to friends 👍👍

[@autogaragelife]

Thanks Paul. Me too zero issues, been using them for 20 years

[@paulblandy987]

I also did the flap on the back thanks to your video brilliant job 👍

[@autogaragelife]

@@paulblandy987 thanks again Paul. Glad it helped!

[@yusuf.alajnabi]

Love the scottish accent 👍 great review I have actually just bought one of these

[@autogaragelife]

Thanks! Can’t complain about the CTEK’s. Brilliant little things.

[@recurvearcher6542]

Thank you, just seen your video, my sl350 2009, is not getting enough driving, winters not a problem in Perth WA, definitely need a trickle charger, after several views, i now speak like you. Great post.

[@autogaragelife]

🤣Thanks for watching

[@jamiehoujabi6522]

Have you had the “light sensor visit workshop” come up before? I think it might be to do with the rear battery being dead

[@autogaragelife]

If the rear battery is low you will get all sorts of electrical issues. Charge it first before investigating anything else.

[@reinmansmith]

Use ctek chargers on my SL and both my motorbikes all year round. Best battery maintenance you can have and so easy if you wire one of their permanent connectors as you have. I have one which actually has little ‘traffic lights’ on it so you can see instantly your battery condition and if it needs topping up 👍

[@autogaragelife]

They sure are. This is my third one, just upgraded over the years.

[@mtomiuk8133]

This is a good product but it will not charge nor boost a dead battery. It will only maintain a charge. I suggest you also get a NOCO battery charger which can handle dead batteries.

[@mfg62]

Hi there, Thanks so much for your video. How about the front battery? You don't do the same for some reason? Cheers and enjoy your car

[@autogaragelife]

Thank you? Glad you like it. Front battery is only used for starting and mine was sitting at full charge. Rear has more constant load. I check both regularly.

[@rossmurdoch8670]

Thank you for the video, I’ve just bought a sl500 r230, do you leave the boot open when it’s on charge? I read somehwere not too but I cannot see that anywhere

[@autogaragelife]

No worries. Re charging leaving the boot open, It’s probably due to the boot light being on but it times out eventually. You have to leave it open a bit for the cable.

[@PreetSingh-ji7ey]

What mode should I leave it on for winter storage this is my summer car.. also how Come you didn't plug charger to battery under hood .. sorry this is all new to me

[@autogaragelife]

Charging of the rear battery takes care of the front as they are linked. Plus the rear is normally the one to lose charge and is more expensive to replace. I use the mode in my vid but don’t leave it constantly plugged in. Maybe only a day or so as I check it fairly regularly.

[@davidwilliams-ir4gb]

Should negative lead be connected to chassis and not battery terminal

[@autogaragelife]

Either works fine. If you hook it up “permanenttly” with the eyelets the manual says use either.

[@jorgemartinbg]

I had a new battery and didnt install it for a few months… I’ve hooked it up but it’s been six hours and it’s still on 2 … any advice? 2017 BMW 430i , agm battery

[@autogaragelife]

What setting is your charger on? Car or AGM? Cold might have got to your battery…

[@jorgemartinbg]

@@autogaragelife i had it slow charged so I will try again tomorrow. Bimmercode people told me it’s already coded but I never do it. I reached out to them because the code tab was never turning blue and the battery kept getting drained.

[@jorgemartinbg]

@@autogaragelife I set it on car and agm lit

[@mwludlow]

I e just bought a similar charger, different make but also has AGM mode. The manual says you should disconnect the car’s battery terminals before using the charger. Does the CTEK suggest the same, and is it a problem not to do this?

[@autogaragelife]

Nope, CTEK instructions tells you what do whether battery is in or out of the car.

[@NB_NB_NB]

This, is, Sparta!

[@autogaragelife]

Hows the weather there?

[@HG-ni7qv]

Nice video- Thank you

[@autogaragelife]

Glad you liked it!

[@Lanterns_light]

May I ask, why have you had a few of these chargers over the years? Are they reliable? I see the box says it has a 5 year warranty, which is good. Shame it doesn’t have a better read out but looks like a good unit and suitable for the purpose. I’m looking at the MXS10 for a 270amp battery in a rarely used weekender. It has the battery in boot, I’ll leave the cables in it too. Nice idea cheers 👍

[@autogaragelife]

Yes 100% reliable. Had a cheaper model years ago for my motorbike and another older model for cars. Just upgraded to this a few years ago. Never failed.

[@johnlesoudeur3653]

This is a good video for a user but have a look at some of the Ctek tear downs that focus on the design and quality of the internal components. Norco seem better built and more reliable but only have a three year warranty.

[@autogaragelife]

@johnlesoudeur3653 thanks. Mine has lasted for years, use it regularly and has been faultless👍

[@bmu3917]

My batteries in 5 cars are all over 36 months just using this to maintain/recondition….

[@autogaragelife]

Its a good habit to get into 👍

[@veronicabaronescu4641]

Thank you for your nice videos… Some are very interesting, but I must to tell you that is not correct „charging“ how you do it over the winter period the rear battery in a r230. A lot of issues will be forced with this methode to the car. I know a lot of people do that to their SL but its not meaning that This is the right thing to do.

[@autogaragelife]

Thanks but what issues do you think will arise. Worse than a flat battery and error messages on the dash? Plenty of owners of SL’s have used these for years with no issues whatsoever.

[@veronicabaronescu4641]

@@autogaragelife my English is not so good, I will try it in German :) Der Grund für das entladen der hinteren Batterie sind defekte oder nicht korrekt arbeitende Steuergeräte. Die im Wagen befindlichen Steuergeräte kommunizieren miteinander. In bestimmter Reihenfolge fahren wenn alle 100% richtig arbeiten eines nach dem anderen runter. Wenn eines einen Fehler hat dann fahren die dahinter geregelten auch eventuell nicht in den abgeschalteten Zustand und laufen so lange weiter bis eben die Batterie leer ist und gibt den Steuergeräten dann eben einen harten reset. was ihn jetzt nicht wirklich stört. er muss halt beim nächsten Hochfahren erstmal Booten was er aber von alleine macht. soweit so gut. Wenn Man jetzt aber die Batterie mit einem Ladegerät immer am laufen hält dann schalten diese Steuergerät eben nie ab und laufen den ganzen Winter 24/7 in einer Schleife weiter. was jetzt genau der Nachteil ist wenn Steuergeräte rundum die Uhr in einer Endlosschleife laufen über mehrere Monate müsste ein Hardware Fachmann sagen können der ich nicht bin. jeder kann sich aber vorstellen ob es besser ist seinen Computer 24/7 laufen zu lassen über mehrere Monate oder eben zu ganz abzuschalten. Die Idee mit dem erhaltungsladegerät kommt aus einer Zeit wo eventuell eine versteckte Birne im Kofferraum des vw Käfers die Batterie leergesaugt hat.

[@autogaragelife]

Thanks but I’ve been using these for years and had no issues. I’m not using this to combat a battery drain, simply to charge the battery when the cold sets in. It won’t be on all winter. If you go and watch my previous vids you will see my experience with the batteries.

[@veronicabaronescu4641]

@@autogaragelife that’s why we life free. everybody can do how he want :)

[@ronaldzhang9731]

Buddy you have a strong Scottish accent while have a US flag in your garage

[@autogaragelife]

Well spotted, your point is?

[@ronaldzhang9731]

I just bought the same charger from Amazon after watching your video. Waiting for it. Thanks

[@carlosarango7210]

Beware, they are not made in Sweden, they are form China. Mine died 15 months old.

[@autogaragelife]

Must be lucky, only had 2 since 2007. Both still working 👍

[@zureai]

Noco genius is as good anyways

[@NadirAbbasi-ed9cw]

Hussian