5 replies to this topic

[dodiedon]

I have a 2 year old Mini Cooper Automatic, it goes great but every month the battery gives a signal that it is low. I only do a very little mileage, probably 1,000 miles a year, but is there anything I can do or buy to stop the battery low message and having to put a battery charger on the car every month?.

[freshairmini]

If you do only 1000 miles a year that's why. Car batteries will loose there charge after being left unused. Also because its always slowly loosing charge and your not doing journeys often its not getting fully charged by the alternator, so again, it'll eventually loose its charge.

What you need to do its get a trickle charge like the CTEK ones. They are designed for exactly this situation. They keep the battery healthy by charging and discharging them. You can just leave them plugged in to keep it healthy.

This is the one I've got. http://www.ctekcharg...tek-mxs-3.6.php

A worth while investment if you don't use your mini often. Be cheaper than replacing dud batteries.

[dodiedon]

I now have a trickle solar charger, but how do I connect it to the battery. Cannot go via the cigarette lighter unless the wiring is changed, how can I do that?, The instructions with the car don't even explain which fuse handles the cigarette lighter, Halfords quoted me £40 to rewire, is it so difficult?.

[bmcecosse]

Solar charger IS the answer - provided you can place it facing south, and protected from the weather. It just clips directly to the battery terminals. Are you sure the cig lighter isn't live all the time ? Many are in modern cars because they appreciate they are used for much more than lighting cigs!

[dodiedon]

I have now purchased a solar trickle charger, but you just cannot place it on the bonnet of the car, it goes inside near the windscreen, now how do you get the trickle charge from there to the battery, that is the question. Halfords offered to rewire the cigarette lighter for £40, can anyone help me please?.

[dodiedon]

The solar charger is now installed and works great, cost £12 including £1 special postage. It was very easy to install, no drilling no cigarette lighter. There is a small space between the top of the wheel arch on the passenger side, the cables easily pass through it and are right next to the battery so it was very easy to install.