Battery Charger for 2013 Alltrack

**mtbboy41** · 12-10-2018, 04:49 PM

Hi All, my auto stop start on my Alltrack has recently stopped working all the time. A bit of research on the interweb seems to indicate that the battery might not be up to scratch meaning the car smarts won't let stop start kick in. It shows 12.64 volts just sitting and 13.94 idling. I don't drive it very much and will probably be driving it even less as I have just finished work. I was thinking of putting it on a charger but would need to get a new charger (which wouldn't hurt to have with 4 cars in the family). Any recommendations on a charger and is it just as simple as matching the terminals and leaving it to charge?
Thanks in advance for any insight.

**ope126** · 12-10-2018, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by mtbboy41

Hi All, my auto stop start on my Alltrack has recently stopped working all the time. A bit of research on the interweb seems to indicate that the battery might not be up to scratch meaning the car smarts won't let stop start kick in. It shows 12.64 volts just sitting and 13.94 idling. I don't drive it very much and will probably be driving it even less as I have just finished work. I was thinking of putting it on a charger but would need to get a new charger (which wouldn't hurt to have with 4 cars in the family). Any recommendations on a charger and is it just as simple as matching the terminals and leaving it to charge?
Thanks in advance for any insight.

Hi Mate, I have been using a CTEK MXS 5.0 charger for the past 5yrs on all my vehicles.
It works a treat!!!
Easy to use, does the job really well and you can leave it to trickle if you are away on holidays...

Here is a link; MXS 5.0

**mtbboy41** · 12-10-2018, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by ope126

Hi Mate, I have been using a CTEK MXS 5.0 charger for the past 5yrs on all my vehicles.
It works a treat!!!
Easy to use, does the job really well and you can leave it to trickle if you are away on holidays...

Here is a link; MXS 5.0

Thanks for the reply. That's the one I was thinking of. Trickle charge in the car ? positive to positive on battery and negative to a good ground in the engine bay?

**Transporter** · 12-10-2018, 09:53 PM

There is a metal tab on the fire wall close to the battery, you can’t overlook it, that’s where you connect you chargers negative clamp.
As for the which battery charger? I was a huge fan of the Ctek, bought 1 for each of our 6 cars in family, but Century batteries released their own battery charger 6A and 12A, similar to Ctek only not splash or crash proof like Ctek claims. It’s a decent charger that was designed by the battery company and I certainly recommend it.

**sn809** · 13-10-2018, 03:33 PM

I have a Bosch C7, not as fancy as the CTek above but does trickle charge, maintains current for the ECU whilst you are fixing things and a good brand

**mtbboy41** · 15-10-2018, 07:01 PM

Just an update... Borrowed a mates CTEK charger (o.8 ah) took all day before it went to the trickle charge cycle but first drive today and auto stop start is back and working well. Just waiting for my mxs 5.0 to arrive. Thanks for the input.

**ope126** · 15-10-2018, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by mtbboy41

Just an update... Borrowed a mates CTEK charger (o.8 ah) took all day before it went to the trickle charge cycle but first drive today and auto stop start is back and working well. Just waiting for my mxs 5.0 to arrive. Thanks for the input.

Well done!
I tend to charge both my cars each weekend, call it preventative maintenance...

**drjekl** · 16-10-2018, 07:28 AM

Just quick question, with the trickle chargers don't you have to use a dedicated AGM compatible charger?

**Lucas_R** · 16-10-2018, 08:07 AM

I have the CTEK MXS 5.0 also - works well and ive had it for a good 3-4 years now. I only drive my car a few times a month so i put it on charge occasionally while its parked in the garage.