I'm not planning on driving my Maserati this winter, and am curious if there is some recommended protocol for winterizing my car properly. It will be garaged, but temperatures in my garage reach freezing periodically. I've heard something about overinflating the tires, and using a "trickle charger" (I'm not even sure what that is). Any suggestions? Thanks.
Winterizing Protocol
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Have seen the tire inflation thing debated for years, Has to do with preventing bald spots. The conclusion I got was with today's style tires it is not needed. You could buy special tire mats if you are concerned. Trickle charge is a must. With all the electronics in these modern cars they use up a good amount of juice just sitting. You could just shut down the battery but that would kill the alarm and would need to put back on to start car occasionally. When I bought my car I also bought a trickle charger from them that they recommended for Maserati and Ferrari. Was only about $60. I know you leave the trickle charge on all the time as it just maintains the battery level but I was wondering if anyone knows the answer to this as I can't find in the directions. It has the two types of connections, the usual clips or I can put on circle clips that you just bolt onto the terminal which I figure is better since then they cannot slip off. But can you start the car with it connected?
JohnD, Scott,
Best to overinflate the tires by about 5 lbs, and move the car from time to time. The idea is to prevent the same part of the tire from taking the weight for weeks. Said to cause tiny deformation leading to steering tremor, but it's never happened to me. I still move the car though - just in case!
Your trickle charger should have a lead with a plug on it, plus two short leads with sockets - one with clips, and one with boltholes. I prefer the bolt option because you can feed the lead to a position where you don't need to access the battery to unplug it.
Although it may not be available in the US this example shows the general idea:
http://www.rudler.co.uk/products.html
Forgot to mention, you can also get the type which plugs into the cigar lighter socket. Not so useful, because you have to leave a window open to get the lead into the car, and dust etc gets in.
Mustn't start the car under any circumstances with these things connected! Please come back with any queries.
Best to overinflate the tires by about 5 lbs, and move the car from time to time. The idea is to prevent the same part of the tire from taking the weight for weeks. Said to cause tiny deformation leading to steering tremor, but it's never happened to me. I still move the car though - just in case!
Your trickle charger should have a lead with a plug on it, plus two short leads with sockets - one with clips, and one with boltholes. I prefer the bolt option because you can feed the lead to a position where you don't need to access the battery to unplug it.
Although it may not be available in the US this example shows the general idea:
http://www.rudler.co.uk/products.html
Forgot to mention, you can also get the type which plugs into the cigar lighter socket. Not so useful, because you have to leave a window open to get the lead into the car, and dust etc gets in.
Mustn't start the car under any circumstances with these things connected! Please come back with any queries.
Have learned that lesson after going thru numerous batteries over the years. Does seem if you let them fully discharge the battery will never hold a charge again.
To McNab, My trickle is similar to the one you show but not quite sure what you meant about disconnecting, Can I leave it bolted to the battery and just unplug from the outlet if I want to start car? Thanks Scott
To McNab, My trickle is similar to the one you show but not quite sure what you meant about disconnecting, Can I leave it bolted to the battery and just unplug from the outlet if I want to start car? Thanks Scott
Still confused here. So what you are saying is I will have to take off car cover and get to battery to disconnect at terminals? What a pain. Or would I just be better to leave trickle on and not start car from say now till March. Car is stored at my work in a Garage that will get no colder than 45 F or sothebimbo said:
Scott,
No, no, that's not what thebimbo meant (see below)! To run through the thing from scratch:
Your charger plugs into your electricity supply with a household plug. Let's call that the Mains Plug.
At the other end of the charger you have a lead with a small 12v socket (usually white). Call that the 12v Socket.
Attached to your battery terminals you have a short lead with a 12v plug (usually white). Call that the 12v Plug.
All you need to do before you use the car is disconnect the 12v Plug from the 12V Socket.
Then take the charger and it's tangle of wires well away from the car, and put them somewhere safe. It's all too easy to run the damn things over if you leave them on the floor and you're in a hurry (I once managed to drive out of the garage without opening the door, but that's another story)!
There is NEVER any need to unbolt the short lead which is connected to the battery.
thebimbo was referring to the order in which you do these things.
When you're going to put the charger to work, FIRST connect up the 12v Socket and the 12v Plug, THEN plug in your Mains Plug and switch on the mains electricity.
When you're going to disconnect the charger and put it away, FIRST switch off the mains electricity and withdraw the Mains Plug. THEN disconnect the 12v Plug from the 12v Socket.
Where is the short lead which is connected to your battery? Presumably in the trunk of the GranSport, and presumably easily accessible?
No, no, that's not what thebimbo meant (see below)! To run through the thing from scratch:
Your charger plugs into your electricity supply with a household plug. Let's call that the Mains Plug.
At the other end of the charger you have a lead with a small 12v socket (usually white). Call that the 12v Socket.
Attached to your battery terminals you have a short lead with a 12v plug (usually white). Call that the 12v Plug.
All you need to do before you use the car is disconnect the 12v Plug from the 12V Socket.
Then take the charger and it's tangle of wires well away from the car, and put them somewhere safe. It's all too easy to run the damn things over if you leave them on the floor and you're in a hurry (I once managed to drive out of the garage without opening the door, but that's another story)!
There is NEVER any need to unbolt the short lead which is connected to the battery.
thebimbo was referring to the order in which you do these things.
When you're going to put the charger to work, FIRST connect up the 12v Socket and the 12v Plug, THEN plug in your Mains Plug and switch on the mains electricity.
When you're going to disconnect the charger and put it away, FIRST switch off the mains electricity and withdraw the Mains Plug. THEN disconnect the 12v Plug from the 12v Socket.
Where is the short lead which is connected to your battery? Presumably in the trunk of the GranSport, and presumably easily accessible?
Tony,
You should be OK after three weeks if the battery was fully charged and in good condition when you last used the car.
If not, you'll have to get a jump start from another car's battery.
Three weeks isn't long enough to do much damage (if any), but if you have to leave the car for long periods I recommend a trickle charger. Have a look at the website I mentioned in my post to Scott, and then find out from him where he got his unit. There are several on the market, but I think CTEK are best.
If in doubt ask a Ferrari or Maserati dealer, or a Porsche dealer, because it's hard for me to be more precise on the other side of the Atlantic. I started using these things about three years ago, having ruined several batteries, and they're an absolute Godsend !
You should be OK after three weeks if the battery was fully charged and in good condition when you last used the car.
If not, you'll have to get a jump start from another car's battery.
Three weeks isn't long enough to do much damage (if any), but if you have to leave the car for long periods I recommend a trickle charger. Have a look at the website I mentioned in my post to Scott, and then find out from him where he got his unit. There are several on the market, but I think CTEK are best.
If in doubt ask a Ferrari or Maserati dealer, or a Porsche dealer, because it's hard for me to be more precise on the other side of the Atlantic. I started using these things about three years ago, having ruined several batteries, and they're an absolute Godsend !
Okay, I went out to my car and hooked up. I don't seem to have all those connections you described. The battery on my Spyder is in the trunk behind a compartment. I used those circle connections that came with charger and bolted the terminal ends right on to the Positive and negative terminals of the battery. At least now all I have to do is pull apart the connection between the charger and the battery when I want to start car. Thanks for the help
thebimbo, yes, that's the procedure if you're using the crocodile clips. Almost certain you're right, but I'll check my three instruction books tomorrow (one for the Porsche charger, one CTEK and one Airflow) !
Where you have a pemamently fixed lead attached to the battery you have a shrouded plug on the end of it, so there's no chance of a short circuit due to a newly undone croc clip falling on conductive metal.
I'll read everything very carefully just to be sure, but that's what I've always been taught.
Where you have a pemamently fixed lead attached to the battery you have a shrouded plug on the end of it, so there's no chance of a short circuit due to a newly undone croc clip falling on conductive metal.
I'll read everything very carefully just to be sure, but that's what I've always been taught.
thebimbo, exactly as you said, when using crocodile clips. First connect Red (+) clip to (+) battery terminal , then Black (-) clip to (-) battery terminal, then switch on AC mains power.
Reverse order when charging finished. Turn off AC mains power, first disconnect Black (-) clip from (-) battery terminal, then disconnect Red (+) clip from (+) battery terminal.
This ONLY applies when using crocodile clips (obviously). When using the plug-in method there is NO risk of a spark because the plugs and sockets are made of insulated plastic.
What stuck in my mind was something I was told years and years ago. It applies to JUMP STARTING from a good car's battery to a dead car's battery. In this situation NEVER attach the negative Black (-) clip direct to the dead car's battery. ALWAYS attach it to a bit of bare metal, like a bolt head, or to another metallic part, well away from the battery.
I better stop before I confuse myself and everyone else even more! I really do hate batteries....
Reverse order when charging finished. Turn off AC mains power, first disconnect Black (-) clip from (-) battery terminal, then disconnect Red (+) clip from (+) battery terminal.
This ONLY applies when using crocodile clips (obviously). When using the plug-in method there is NO risk of a spark because the plugs and sockets are made of insulated plastic.
What stuck in my mind was something I was told years and years ago. It applies to JUMP STARTING from a good car's battery to a dead car's battery. In this situation NEVER attach the negative Black (-) clip direct to the dead car's battery. ALWAYS attach it to a bit of bare metal, like a bolt head, or to another metallic part, well away from the battery.
I better stop before I confuse myself and everyone else even more! I really do hate batteries....
worries about the alligator clip popping off is why I used the circle ones. For anyone looking for a trickle charger for the Maserati I would check out the ones that just push into the lighter socket. There is a socket right next to my battery and would have been easier if I had just bought one of them in the first place. Here is my car tucked in for it's winter nap. Come on Spring
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Witerizing Protocol
Hi just bought a 2002 coupe cc. Wonderful can't stop smiling. Seen the posts on this subject in particular the suggestions of trickle charger that pushes into the lighter socket. In previous cars I've owned since I only do regualr short trips killing the battery has always been an issue. So what I've done in the past is use a solar panel trickle charger that sits on the back shelf and plugs into the lighter socket so that it charges while unattended (the car is usually outside).
This depends though on the lighter socket being permanently connected to the live whilst no key is in the ignition. I don't think this is the case in the maserati but could anyone confirm?
Assuming this isn't the case I was thinking of wiring a socket in the boot and leaving the solar panel permanently connected. Does anyone think there would be a problem with this sort of charger being attached while the car engine is running?
Thanks
Hi just bought a 2002 coupe cc. Wonderful can't stop smiling. Seen the posts on this subject in particular the suggestions of trickle charger that pushes into the lighter socket. In previous cars I've owned since I only do regualr short trips killing the battery has always been an issue. So what I've done in the past is use a solar panel trickle charger that sits on the back shelf and plugs into the lighter socket so that it charges while unattended (the car is usually outside).
This depends though on the lighter socket being permanently connected to the live whilst no key is in the ignition. I don't think this is the case in the maserati but could anyone confirm?
Assuming this isn't the case I was thinking of wiring a socket in the boot and leaving the solar panel permanently connected. Does anyone think there would be a problem with this sort of charger being attached while the car engine is running?
Thanks
Why not take the wire from the battery to the interior of the car? Any competent car electrician/radio technician could do this for you. Then all you need to do is unplug the solar charger before starting the car.
Airflow sell a solar charger, and would give you any tech info you need - you don't have to tell them your charger is a different make! Their own unit is about £100 and probably worth it judging by their other products.
Airflow UK
Crown House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2AB UK
Tel: 01635 569 569 | Fax: 01635 510 009 | E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.airflow-uk.com/solar-battery-charger-uk.htm
Airflow sell a solar charger, and would give you any tech info you need - you don't have to tell them your charger is a different make! Their own unit is about £100 and probably worth it judging by their other products.
Airflow UK
Crown House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2AB UK
Tel: 01635 569 569 | Fax: 01635 510 009 | E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.airflow-uk.com/solar-battery-charger-uk.htm
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