570s Battery low

[RSbandit]

Hi guys
Just back after 3 weeks away and started the car, battery low warning came up and battery charge required message ...electric seats etc not working ... anyone had this problem ?

[RSbandit]

Will taking it for a drive allow battery to recharge ? I left it running for 10 mins and the electric seats work again

[semisane]

Not with a 570s but this is pretty standard with most / all cars of this category (ie lots of bells and whistles)

Driving a car will charge the battery, leave standing for any period of time will discharge the battery.

Non essential items will be disabled until battery has sufficient charge.

[Drl22]

This is so obvious I’m not sure it needs to be said but get a battery conditioner.

[RSbandit]

You mean a trickle charger ? Tbh the system said it had 40 days of charge before I left didn’t think it would be an issue anyway I’ll take it for a drive cheers

[PompeyReece]

I thought McLaren's were supplied with a battery charger by default?

[MrC986]

OP, yes you’ll need a battery conditioner/trickle to maintain the battery on something as complex as a McLaren if you’re not driving it for more than a week or so at this time of year. The conditioner will charge the battery to its maximum and then switch on/off as required. I’d suggest if the car is relatively new that you buy a more expensive one such as a C-tek with the appropriate “spec” to match a McLaren branded one

The electrics on many complex modern cars will surrender first if the battery is starting to lack charge (some cars have a 2nd battery for the “consumer” items which would include the door locking etc). You’ll need to drive the car for a good 30 mins to show a decent improvement in the battery condition and not to have the headlights on and if you’re putting it on charge, leave it ideally for over 24 hrs to allow the conditioner to do its thing. Your car might also show some error messages on the dash if the battery is low on its output.

[12pack]

RSbandit said:

You mean a trickle charger ? Tbh the system said it had 40 days of charge before I left didn’t think it would be an issue anyway I’ll take it for a drive cheers

Get yourself one of these. My car is a weekender, and I leave it on this in the garage during the week, no matter what the readout says.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-40-003-Vehicle-Batte...

[RSbandit]

Thanks guys all looks fine now after a spin

[AlanH2]

The battery’s cost a fortune, your going to want to get a conditioner if it did not come with one. Mine was in the frunk.

[RBT0]

RSbandit said:

Thanks guys all looks fine now after a spin

Get a Charger and if more than 1 week, put it on.

I've followed suggestions from you all and my LT is always on Charger unless I know I'll take it out in less than a week. It gives me peace of mind.

Also consider, if shown 40 days, actually you have only 20....did a test and every day it drops by 2 days.....

[David W.]

RSbandit said:

Thanks guys all looks fine now after a spin

How long a spin. If a battery is very low it takes a long drive to get it properly topped up.
Not sure you are taking the get a trickle charger advice as seriously as you should.

[RSbandit]

About a 50 minute drive ... normally I’d drive the car twice a week when here, is the trickle charger is straightforward to hook up?

[davek_964]

Just plugs into the lighter socket in the front boot area.

[993AL]

RBT0 said:

Also consider, if shown 40 days, actually you have only 20....did a test and every day it drops by 2 days.....

Handy to know