Flat battery on the C5 Z06 this morning...

[zapbrannigan]

The first time in two-and-a-half years' of ownership it's let me down. Trouble was, my MegaBoost battery charger's crocodile clips are far too big to grip the tiny side-post terminals, and I had to get someone to physically hold the clips on the terminals while I got it started, which was a bit of a pain. Is there a better way in case it happens again?

[Tadek]

Get a Halfords O/L battery conditioner. The crocodile clips stay put on the small terminal points and just keep it plugged in. Has worked for me for the past two years, with no problems.

[Kneetrembler]

My "Optimate 2" holds onto the terminals and works fine on my C5

[zapbrannigan]

There's no A/C outlet where the car is kept, hence the use of a MegaBoost battery charger today (it's not a trickle-charger/conditioner).

[V10 BAT]

I was waiting for that bit.
You could get some cheap jump leads,chop off the clips and put a ring connector
on one end.
Bolt these to the battery,make them long enough for easy access.
Then bare the other ends and connect your large clips to them.
Just make sure the red lead is insulated when not in use,and
maybe cable tie them down somewhere.
I have put longer bolts on my battery,with a washer and a nut.
I screw the bolt in all the way,then spin the nut upto the lead and tighten
This then leaves me with about 1/2" of thread and bolt head to connect my large charger.
Other times i just use an optimate.
You might only have to extend the red + lead,and just connect the black lead of your charger to
the engine,like the lift bracket.
cheers Dave

[zapbrannigan]

V10 BAT said:

I was waiting for that bit.
You could get some cheap jump leads,chop off the clips and put a ring connector
on one end.
Bolt these to the battery,make them long enough for easy access.
Then bare the other ends and connect your large clips to them.
Just make sure the red lead is insulated when not in use,and
maybe cable tie them down somewhere.

Good thinking; thanks for that.

[LuS1fer]

Try a solar charger. failing that, it's probably worth buying a new battery like an optima red top as the battery, if original, must be at least 6 years old. They tend to fail suddenly and the C5 doesn't like low batteries and engages in all sorts of electrical idiocy when it runs low, like false ABS and TC warnings.

[G4HKS]

I use a intelligent charger through the cigar lighter socket so I don't have to mess about with croc-clips on the battery. I have a row of them screwed to the garage ceiling and just drop the leads through each drivers windows direct into the cigar socket. I even have a couple for my motorbikes. Constantly measures the condition of the battery and tops up when necessary therefore not over charging (which you would do if you left a normal charger stuck across the battery terminals for too long).

It was a long time ago I owned a C5 but I guess the cigar socket isn't live when the ignition is switched off? I can't remember.

[Vet Guru]

That's just old age!!!