Battery Tender

[4PacificBird]

Tender never shows "battery fully charged" always in charging mode. FOMOCO Battery is only 6 months old and starts the car ok. Tried the tender on other car and it reads "Battery Charged". Do these 04 Birds never fully charge the battery with a tender??

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[JW in Dixie]

That's curious. Can't think of any reason for that to be car-specific. Have you checked the battery voltage at the point that it should be fully charged? Should be about 13.25, best of my recollection. Can you check the charger amperage? Hope someone pipes in. 🙂

 

[Kalounda]

Appears to me that something is constantly taking power. I've seen other posts here where they figured it out to be the security system.

 

[JW in Dixie]

Yes, that and the clock in the radio. Disconnect the battery and measure the drain with an ammeter is the only way to know for sure. Cheers

 

[4PacificBird]

Will do as suggested...thanks for the info!

 

[Netconn]

Also keep in mind that the computers are always on and they burn power. If the draw is higher then the float charge it will always be in charge mode.

 

[stevedaphotoman]

Also keep in mind that the computers are always on and they burn power. If the draw is higher then the float charge it will always be in charge mode.[/QUOTE

Novice here. (my disclaimer) I've been running a Battery Tender Plus and when mine is first hooked up just after doing a 20-30 minute engine warmup, mine will go to charge "red" mode for a period of time maybe 15 minutes then it will turn green and pretty much stays green after that. I have gotten in my car to get a T-bird fix in teh middle of winter in the garage and listened to the radio for 5-10 minutes when exiting I will look at the Battery Tender and it will be in charge mode again but then after 10 - 15 minutes it will go to green..

Hope this helps

 

[hippymailman]

possible---just because a battery is new does not necessarily mean it is perfectly good . try disconnecting the battery and charging it.if you get same results its the battery, . if not it was an easy elimination

 

[4PacificBird]

Tender just turned Green after 54 hours on charge with battery at 100% voltage at 12.8. I'm again very happy with the Bird and will put charger on more frequently. Appreciated all the replies.

 

[gwigg]

I get the same thing and it’s been doing it for years there is a lot going on with the electronics plus I have LoJack. I just plug it in the winter along with my boat. They both drain down and for some reason the tbird seems to never show fully charged even though it is.

 

[biddle]

This is a popular one-
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EKY1EM/?tag=thunderbirdforum-20

 

[JW in Dixie]

Harbor Freight has them around $10. Watch for sale around $5. Have used them for years. Cheers