Charging The Battery.

[keyplus90]

Hi, Came back from holidays and Mrs Keyplus's car would not start, i believe battery is flat and i do not want to start using jump leads as car is not used regularly. I do have a battery charger. I charged this battery few months ago. I want to charge it again and my only question is that can I charge the battery while battery is still attached or do I have to take it off and then charge it? Thanks.

[bookbinder]

You can leave the battery in the car and charge it up like that.

[bhg481]

Depending on the car, disconnecting the battery make you need to put in a code for the radio when you re-connect. It may also disable the ignition and require a visit from a dealer to re-enable it.

Safest to charge it in the car.

[gingejbee]

Best practice is to remove it before charging...but there are many reasons (see above for some) why most people leave them in, with no trouble.

[jomifl]

Don't even disconnect the battery at one terminal as you may get the problem bhg mentions. The sellers of 2nd hand cars often forget to pass on vital information such as radio codes. A problem with modern vehicles is that they often have small bits of electronics running even when everything appears to be switched off so if you are going to leave the car unused for some time connect the battery to a trickle charger which will keep the battery ready for the coming cold mornings.

[gingejbee]

Interesting...all these people needing radio codes. I haven't had a car for 15 to 20 years that's needed one...they have all been "self-coding".

[bhg481]

We still get people on here asking (in vain) for radio codes Gingejbee although, like you, I haven't needed one for many years.

[TWR]

If you have changed the battery a few months ago, get the battery checked, its seems that battery has seen it's days.

[tonyav]

No problem charging the battery while attached, however I would do what TWR suggests and get it checked the winter will murder it.

[keyplus90]

Thanks for all of the responses. Battery is just over a couple of years old but the place I bought it has closed down. And I am now thinking about selling this car as my wife does not drive it as much as she used. Since I started working from home I do most of the driving in my car.

[TWR]

If there's a 3 year Warrantee on the battery & providing you have proof of purchase contact the battery makers, the name should be on the battery or you receipt.

[sigma]

You contact who ever you bought the battery from not the manufacturer.

[bhg481]

Difficult when they've shut down, sigma

[keyplus90]

Battery is "Banner" and supposed to be used in police cars too. But the place where I bought the battery has since closed down.

Thanks for all of the replies.

[TWR]

Hi,
If you have the Original receipt with the purchase date on it, get the Battery checked, if found that the battery is faulty contact
www.banner.batterys.com Just to add, if the car is not used reguarly and on very short trips it will not put back in to the battery what has been taken out.