Battery Died and AA has advised a "Battery Maintainer"

[DaveGoddard]

Every day's a school day.

[Tel]

My H/Over was so thorough I almost lost interest.

Lexus Derby excelled!

Tel

[suedenim]

Could I double check that sticking the monitor into the cigarette lighter won't work? Having learnt, from Chas, that one plugs it in and reads it before "ready" mode, I bought one and hoped it would give me reassurance.

"7. Get a Battery voltage monitor which plugs into accessory socket cost about £7. When you get in the car put it in accessory mode and it should show about 12 .3v+. In ready mode it will show the hybrid Battery charging the auxiliary Battery at 14v. Driving the voltage may drop back to about 13v showing Battery is charged."

I have a hire car at the moment as our LBX is being repaired - didn't bore you with the added detail that someone smashed into the LBX while I was driving on the M1 to charge the Battery after the AA jump-started it. I tried the monitor on the Yaris hire car and couldn't understand the numbers (lots of 1s) and planned to ask the mechanics when I collect the LBX. 

[DaveGoddard]

Hi Suedenim

What Chris has said is correct. As you have bought a plug in Battery monitor, plug it in. To get a true reading of the state of charge in the Battery, check the reading in 'ACC' mode before putting the car into 'READY'

If you check the ACC reading after the car's been driven or put into READY, you will get a false reading, the Battery needs to have rested, for at least half an hour, some might say longer.

I'm slowly learning not to worry, it's a great car, enjoy it.