Help with CTEK charger error code
03-10-2018, 04:49 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Help with CTEK charger error code
Just picked up a CTEK 3300 battery charger/maintainer for the car. I read the instructions and hooked it up. Initially the amber "battery charging" light glowed steadily, as it should. After several hours, it then transitioned to the green "fully charged / maintenance charging" light, which is also correct function. When it transitioned to fully charged, however, the amber light is now blinking. So the green "fully charged" LED is steadily lit while the amber "battery charging" LED continually blinks. Seems like it's trying to tell me something about a potential error or issue, but I can't find an explanation for this particular LED combo in the CTEK manual, on the CTEK website, or after an extensive google search. I double checked all connections, verified that the electric outlet is good, and tried the adapter in both the center console cig lighter and the passenger footwell 12V outlet. Same thing. I emailed CTEK to ask them, but it's been radio silence from them so far. Anyone have any idea what this means?
Last edited by paradocs98; 03-10-2018 at 08:09 PM.
03-13-2018, 07:52 AM
#3
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
I’ve tried unplugging and replugging a few times, but it always ends up with this same status of green maintenance charge LED lit while amber charging LED blinks continuously. Normally I would be reluctant to solve a problem by just buying another unit, but at $60 on Amazon, I’m willing to give that a try. Just ordered the newer MUS 4.3. At least that has more status lights to potentially pinpoint the issue if there is indeed a problem with the GT4 battery. The one thing I haven’t tried is plugging the charger into my Audi to see if it results in the same LED sequence. Will try that as well.
03-13-2018, 09:15 AM
#4
Hi. This has to do with the way your car is programmed to disconnect accessory outlets after some time of the engine being off. There is a reflash available for the car which will allow the accessory socket(s) to remain hot, so a charger will be able to keep a car fully charged. My car was like yours, and my chargers acted up like yours, till I got the reflash.
03-13-2018, 11:12 AM
#5
Rennlist Member
Upon shutdown of my GT4 I would insert the CTEK cig lighter connector into my center console cig Ltr and it would only would charge for a short while (~20 mins).
Carlos Barela at Chandler Porsche researched it and then found the WG38 upgrade keeps the interface active, installed it so all works now
Carlos Barela at Chandler Porsche researched it and then found the WG38 upgrade keeps the interface active, installed it so all works now
03-13-2018, 01:48 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Hi. This has to do with the way your car is programmed to disconnect accessory outlets after some time of the engine being off. There is a reflash available for the car which will allow the accessory socket(s) to remain hot, so a charger will be able to keep a car fully charged. My car was like yours, and my chargers acted up like yours, till I got the reflash.
Upon shutdown of my GT4 I would insert the CTEK cig lighter connector into my center console cig Ltr and it would only would charge for a short while (~20 mins).
Carlos Barela at Chandler Porsche researched it and then found the WG38 upgrade keeps the interface active, installed it so all works now
Carlos Barela at Chandler Porsche researched it and then found the WG38 upgrade keeps the interface active, installed it so all works now
03-15-2018, 05:16 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Update: I connected the CTEK directly to the car battery with the pigtail adapter, plugged in the unit and let it sit for a day. Voila! It charged correctly, and now it's happy with a steady green "maintenance charge" LED and nothing else. My error code was due to the cigarette lighter outlet and footwell accessory outlet both disconnecting themselves from power after a certain amount of time, just as Perimeter and Joe W said. Thanks, guys! Now I just have to figure out if I should be using the standard "car" setting on the CTEK or the AGM/cold setting. Old threads on rennlist and 6speedonline show that some GT4s have a more modern AGM-type battery, while others have a standard lead acid battery. Banner-branded batteries appear to be AGM, but mine is an Exide. I can't determine if the Exide is standard lead-acid or AGM. Any ideas?
Trending Topics
03-16-2018, 10:59 PM
#9
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
03-16-2018, 11:45 PM
#10
Yeah, thanks. Already tried the site. Plug in 2016, then Porsche, then Cayman, and you get no further options—just a “no battery for your chosen application” message. And a google search of “2016 Porsche GT4 OEM battery” produces nothing related to the brand or type of OEM battery.
03-17-2018, 10:02 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: On a pygmy pony over by the dental floss bush
Posts: 3,286
Received 606 Likes
on
415 Posts
See below my question to CTEK about 6 weeks ago and their response regarding which mode to use to charge the AGM type batteries:
Question:
I have the MUS 4.3 charger. My Porsche battery is a type VRLA AGM battery.Which charging mode of the MUS 4.3 should I use for this type of AGM battery?
Response (pasted as-is from their email):
Hi,
This is a question that has been escalating nowadays.Today there are so many different battery manufacturers and battery models, and recommendations can vary. Most AGM- batteries are recommended to charge with normal 14.4V voltage. Some AGM- batteries and Ca-Ca batteries require 14.7V for best treatment. Unfortunately, it is not possible keep all different batteries charging recommendations up to date, so we need to ask you to turn to the battery manufacturer yourself to get the correct information If that cannot be done, you always can charge with normal option, 14.4V, as this suits most lead/acid batteries, also GEL, EFB, AGM, etc., etc.So, if you cannot find any information, use “normal” as it is worse to charge with too high voltage than with a bit too low.
regards, CTEK Support Team
Question:
I have the MUS 4.3 charger. My Porsche battery is a type VRLA AGM battery.Which charging mode of the MUS 4.3 should I use for this type of AGM battery?
Response (pasted as-is from their email):
Hi,
This is a question that has been escalating nowadays.Today there are so many different battery manufacturers and battery models, and recommendations can vary. Most AGM- batteries are recommended to charge with normal 14.4V voltage. Some AGM- batteries and Ca-Ca batteries require 14.7V for best treatment. Unfortunately, it is not possible keep all different batteries charging recommendations up to date, so we need to ask you to turn to the battery manufacturer yourself to get the correct information If that cannot be done, you always can charge with normal option, 14.4V, as this suits most lead/acid batteries, also GEL, EFB, AGM, etc., etc.So, if you cannot find any information, use “normal” as it is worse to charge with too high voltage than with a bit too low.
regards, CTEK Support Team
03-18-2018, 04:53 PM
#12
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
See below my question to CTEK about 6 weeks ago and their response regarding which mode to use to charge the AGM type batteries:
Question:
I have the MUS 4.3 charger. My Porsche battery is a type VRLA AGM battery.Which charging mode of the MUS 4.3 should I use for this type of AGM battery?
Response (pasted as-is from their email):
Hi,
This is a question that has been escalating nowadays.Today there are so many different battery manufacturers and battery models, and recommendations can vary. Most AGM- batteries are recommended to charge with normal 14.4V voltage. Some AGM- batteries and Ca-Ca batteries require 14.7V for best treatment. Unfortunately, it is not possible keep all different batteries charging recommendations up to date, so we need to ask you to turn to the battery manufacturer yourself to get the correct information If that cannot be done, you always can charge with normal option, 14.4V, as this suits most lead/acid batteries, also GEL, EFB, AGM, etc., etc.So, if you cannot find any information, use “normal” as it is worse to charge with too high voltage than with a bit too low.
regards, CTEK Support Team
Question:
I have the MUS 4.3 charger. My Porsche battery is a type VRLA AGM battery.Which charging mode of the MUS 4.3 should I use for this type of AGM battery?
Response (pasted as-is from their email):
Hi,
This is a question that has been escalating nowadays.Today there are so many different battery manufacturers and battery models, and recommendations can vary. Most AGM- batteries are recommended to charge with normal 14.4V voltage. Some AGM- batteries and Ca-Ca batteries require 14.7V for best treatment. Unfortunately, it is not possible keep all different batteries charging recommendations up to date, so we need to ask you to turn to the battery manufacturer yourself to get the correct information If that cannot be done, you always can charge with normal option, 14.4V, as this suits most lead/acid batteries, also GEL, EFB, AGM, etc., etc.So, if you cannot find any information, use “normal” as it is worse to charge with too high voltage than with a bit too low.
regards, CTEK Support Team
03-19-2018, 02:32 PM
#13
Rennlist Member
Update: I connected the CTEK directly to the car battery with the pigtail adapter, plugged in the unit and let it sit for a day. Voila! It charged correctly, and now it's happy with a steady green "maintenance charge" LED and nothing else.
My error code was due to the cigarette lighter outlet and footwell accessory outlet both disconnecting themselves from power after a certain amount of time, just as Perimeter and Joe W said. Thanks, guys! Now I just have to figure out if I should be using the standard "car" setting on the CTEK or the AGM/cold setting. Old threads on rennlist and 6speedonline show that some GT4s have a more modern AGM-type battery, while others have a standard lead acid battery. Banner-branded batteries appear to be AGM, but mine is an Exide. I can't determine if the Exide is standard lead-acid or AGM. Any ideas?
My error code was due to the cigarette lighter outlet and footwell accessory outlet both disconnecting themselves from power after a certain amount of time, just as Perimeter and Joe W said. Thanks, guys! Now I just have to figure out if I should be using the standard "car" setting on the CTEK or the AGM/cold setting. Old threads on rennlist and 6speedonline show that some GT4s have a more modern AGM-type battery, while others have a standard lead acid battery. Banner-branded batteries appear to be AGM, but mine is an Exide. I can't determine if the Exide is standard lead-acid or AGM. Any ideas?
11-11-2018, 02:01 AM
#14
Upon shutdown of my GT4 I would insert the CTEK cig lighter connector into my center console cig Ltr and it would only would charge for a short while (~20 mins).
Carlos Barela at Chandler Porsche researched it and then found the WG38 upgrade keeps the interface active, installed it so all works now
Carlos Barela at Chandler Porsche researched it and then found the WG38 upgrade keeps the interface active, installed it so all works now
Last edited by Ohyeahs; 11-11-2018 at 11:17 AM.
