AM battery conditioner makes a rapid clicking noise after being plugged in (through boot cig-lighter terminal) for a few hours, not setting into green-light mode (stays in orange).

Is the conditioner gradually failing, as it came with a '07 DB9?

If so, may I connect a regular trickle charger with alligator clips directly to battery (behind passenger seat) on a 2 amp setting?

Please advise. Much appreciated!

 

Your can connect a trickle charger directly to the battery as you describe. Note however that a trickle charger is different than a battery maintainer. If left connected too long a trickle charger can over charge your battery.

 

Just buy a CTEC Mus 4.3 with a fitting to work in the truck receptical.
Problem solved

 

I saw your post and am a long time lurker and have an 05 DB9 Volante, so I signed up to tell you that your charger is shot. Don't use it. Get a new one. It will start overheating.
I had the same issue two years ago. I'll post the replacement part # later.

 

I bought one of these and it works like a charm...

 

I bought one of these CTEK's and its works great as well, I think i read somewhere that the AM one is a CTEK but with aston badging on it

48 bucks on amazon +12 bucks for the easy cigarette attachment

http://amzn.to/2lBpaFA

and

http://amzn.to/2lLtUur

 

Here is the AM part # for the battery conditioner that fits the early DB9:
4G43-37-11205
List price was $399.00 thru the AM dealer. It is made by CTEK for AM.

The plug type changed on the later cars - I believe 2009 or 11. The part # updates then too with the different plug type.

 

if you had money burning a hole in your pocket by all means by one with AM logo on it. but as others have mentioned, the ctek 4.3 is all that you need. i went ahead and bought an extension cord and a cig adapter and leave it on when i'm out of town.

 

So I bought this combination but I'm not sure it is working right.

I already had one official Aston Martin charger. I was using it on the Rapide and it indicated it was fully charged and in maintenance mode. Great. I got the CTEK today, so.i switched the AM charger to the DB9. A few minutes later, it also indictated it was in maintenance mode.

Meanwhile, I put the new CTEK plus cigarette lighter adapter on the Rapide. 7 hours later, it is still showing that it is in stage 2, "bulk" charging, which supposedly is full power charging trying to get the battery up to 80%. Remember this is right after the AM charger said it was fully up to snuff.

Thoughts?

 

Have (had?) similar frustrating charging problem with a similar age car, an '07 Vantage.

First tried twisting the charger plug in the socket...and it worked, but not for long.

Then had CTEK, USA, in Ohio, test my charger. Their technician pronounced it "in perfect condition" and sent along its test results. He put on a new plug for good measure. So I was sure the input side was doing its job.

Then used a small piece of fine emery cloth lightly inside the car's socket (to clean off 10 yrs of oxidation?) and a cotton cloth (my T shirt) to remove residual dust. Wiggled the 2 or 3 wires on the back of the socket and pushed them firmly into their connections...and it worked.

It went through the charging steps and I still had a green light when I left on vacation two weeks later.

Been away now for a month and won't know if its still working until we are back mid March.

 

I don't know, the only problem I have with the charger, is you really have to jam it into the 12v plug socket in the back and the jack on the vantage is sort of on a flimsy piece of metal?

I sometimes have to grab it by the back of it and really jam it in there till it clicks and works properly.

But then again it wouldn't even go to stage 2 without being plugged in, so maybe just let your car sit for a week without the charger for a week and then try it?

It does cycle often, so maybe it was just a coincidence it was on stage 2 again since your battery was already charged?

 

I checked this morning, and the charger had gone all the away up to the last stage showing it was now on maintenance (pulse or whatever it is called).

So, eventually it worked. I was just surprised that it sat there so long thinking it needed to send power to the battery to charge it up to just 80% given that the OEM charger thought the battery was already fully up to snuff.

Maybe that is a sign I actually will need a new battery soon. How often should car batteries be replaced anyway? The Rapide is a 2012 and as far as I know still has the original battery.

 

5-6 years would have been an eternity for my former land rover battery, not sure about the aston batteries, I'm sure redpants knows

 

LOL well, I also have a Ford Expedition, and I've already replaced the battery in it twice in the same number of years!

 

My 2012 Vantage S just received a new battery.

I was seeing similar charging issues with my CTek, and my local Batteries Plus dealer said the battery was okay, just needed a good charge.

Considering however that I was seeing issues with the audio, and cold starting, I decided better replaced than not.

Once I replaced the battery, the charger is working as expected again.

( As are the internal electronics)