Just went out to start the F150 and it is dead, the radio turns on but it will no even attempt to turn over. I have a Optima red top in it, shouldnt the battery last longer than a week without running? I have no accessories plugged into the cig lighter, but I do go out to the truck everynight and get things out of it, but I wouldnt think the lights turning on would kill the battery like that.

This has happened once before with the Motorcraft battery

 

Disconnect your Edge at the OBD-II port after you get a new battery. A friend of mine's was turning itself on all by itself, whenever it wanted to, with the key out of the vehicle. It killed his battery in a night. Edge replaced it for him. One of the guys who developed it was saying sometimes it happens on another topic. That's the first thing I'll disconnect if my battery ever craps out from sitting.

 

Edge is never plugged in, I just programmed the tune and threw the Edge head unit in the console.

 

I have been round and round with Ford with this same problem on my dads 2007 Parnelli Jones Saleen Mustang. The battery will go dead if it is not at least started up once a week. Ford says it if from small parasitic losses to the computer even when the vehicle is off. I have to keep it on a battery tender or drive it once a week. I have a friend that has a new Vette that does the same thing.

 

Is it bad for the battery to do that?

Where can I get a battery tender and do I need a specific one?

 

also how can I test the battery charge when it is dead and the drain that the truck is doing to the battery?

 

Do a web search for a "Battery Tender Jr". Its under $30 and will keep the battery topped off. I use one on my truck and it works great. The non-Junior version is overkill for maintaining a charged battery --- its better suited to charging an already dead battery faster. I plug my truck into the tender every time I return home. I purchased an extender cable and by doing so was able to route the quick disconnect plug in the gap in the front bumper area.

 

Yes. Allowing a lead acid battery to completely drain down effectively reduces its life.

 

No clue then...You'll have to have it hooked to a real scanner/monitor and recorded overnight.

 

OK guys I just went to bought a voltmeter and tested the battery. It is reporting 10.6 volts. Is this not enough to crank the truck?

 

That may be what it's reading sitting static. When you attempt to crank the truck, I bet the voltage will be much lower... Almost sounds like the battery has a dead cell.

Bridge, how's it going...

 

OK yes it is sitting static. Is that low? What should it read sitting static?

 

OK i just called Ford and they said to bring it in to have the battery tested for excessive draw, they said it should last longer than 1 week.

My question is can I test draw myself, if so how?

 

It's going well! How 'bout you?

 

hold the meter on the battery and have someone try to start it

that is your cranking voltage...

It has to actually crank over to get an acurate reading.

Mark