I have a 2003 F250, 6.0 diesel. The truck wouldn't start due to dead batteries one day(of corse it would be a day when my wife needed the truck so I took her car to work...). She had it jumped and went on her way. Next day, truck started fine, took it to work. Went to come home and, you guessed it, dead batteries. I had it jumped to get it home. The next day I cleaned all the battery cables, clamps, and posts thinking this would cure the problem. Afterwards, it started just fine. next day it wouldn't start again and hasn't for the last 6 days. Over the last 6 days, what charge is in the batteries hasn't left...headlights still come on about half strength, dome light, etc., and only clicks when turning the key. But now I can't even get it to jump start, with cables or hot start. They made no difference at all. Any Ideas? I would think if it was a braker, fuse, or a bad cable, it would sever all power. But with everything electronic these days, I guess it's hard to say.
Dead cell in one of the batteries. Replace both batteries with new and it should be fine. Do not only change just one battery as they are both toast now and would not last long with just one. Most of my trucks have 4 batteries and when they fail to hold a charge i always change all 4 at the same time and they average about 4 to 5 years per set. Changing just one battery at a time is like changing just half your oil.
I have a 2003 F250, 6.0 diesel. The truck wouldn't start due to dead batteries one day(of corse it would be a day when my wife needed the truck so I took her car to work...). She had it jumped and went on her way. Next day, truck started fine, took it to work. Went to come home and, you guessed it, dead batteries. I had it jumped to get it home. The next day I cleaned all the battery cables, clamps, and posts thinking this would cure the problem. Afterwards, it started just fine. next day it wouldn't start again and hasn't for the last 6 days. Over the last 6 days, what charge is in the batteries hasn't left...headlights still come on about half strength, dome light, etc., and only clicks when turning the key. But now I can't even get it to jump start, with cables or hot start. They made no difference at all. Any Ideas? I would think if it was a braker, fuse, or a bad cable, it would sever all power. But with everything electronic these days, I guess it's hard to say.
Really not enough information to answer this. Have you taken any voltage readings? Your first thought now, however, is likely to get it running.
Disconnect negative leads and charge batteries. Let them sit for a day and verify they are holding a charge before reconnecting them. With fully charged batteries can you start? If still no, I would be looking for cable or connection problem. Don't forget, cables have two ends and connections on both need to be in good shape. Especially the grounds.
As long as he doesn't have a charging problem which i doubt he does as his gauges and lights would have alerted him by now. And he has cleaned all cables and posts so i bet a case of beer it is the batteries. He has the classic case of dead battery syndrome caused not by the charging system but by the batteries themselves. Run to wally world and get 2 new batteries and i think u will start and be good to go. A battery with a dead short like you probably have will not let u jump are charge your batteries. U can even ruin the batteries in the doner vehicle if u try or fry a alternator or something.
I have a 2003 F250, 6.0 diesel. The truck wouldn't start due to dead batteries one day(of corse it would be a day when my wife needed the truck so I took her car to work...). She had it jumped and went on her way. Next day, truck started fine, took it to work. Went to come home and, you guessed it, dead batteries. I had it jumped to get it home. The next day I cleaned all the battery cables, clamps, and posts thinking this would cure the problem. Afterwards, it started just fine. next day it wouldn't start again and hasn't for the last 6 days. Over the last 6 days, what charge is in the batteries hasn't left...headlights still come on about half strength, dome light, etc., and only clicks when turning the key. But now I can't even get it to jump start, with cables or hot start. They made no difference at all. Any Ideas? I would think if it was a braker, fuse, or a bad cable, it would sever all power. But with everything electronic these days, I guess it's hard to say.
Oh by the way half bright headlights is a very bad sign and a diesel needs more umphf then that to start. Your batterirs are in a state of discharge and this wont cut it on a gas or diesel. Time for new bats as yours won't take a charge.
Oh by the way only clicking when u turn the key is a bad sign too, but in your case it is also a godsend as it tells me everything in your starting and electricle system is trying to work. All u need is some good batteries to provide a little more boost and you will be fine. Run to WW and get some now. Walmart has as good as anybody for the money. Time to go back to sleep.
I ran into the same issues, I check my voltages when warm and I was charging at 14.1. So I replaced the batterys and went on my way. About an month later it started doing it again. This time I checked it by hooking an jump wire to it and driving down the road with an voltmeter attached to the jump wire that when i found out while doing 55 mph I was only not charging at 12.6. All accessories was off.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 97nukeford
Damn, that wasn't suppose to get out! I'll have Chris know that I'm 13 mentally, not 12!LOL!
I ran into the same issues, I check my voltages when warm and I was charging at 14.1. So I replaced the batterys and went on my way. About an month later it started doing it again. This time I checked it by hooking an jump wire to it and driving down the road with an voltmeter attached to the jump wire that when i found out while doing 55 mph I was only not charging at 12.6. All accessories was off.
At that point, of course, you found you were not charging at all. The most important thing to do with charging issues is to gather information first with meter readings. Sometimes you get it right without, but I see a ton of parts going out the door unnecessarily. If batteries are disconnected and charged, then load tested, you normally will know if they are good or bad. It is a simple first step.
Well when I did an load test on the batteries after charging for 5 hours it failed so that is why they were replaced. Sorry forgot to add that.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 97nukeford
Damn, that wasn't suppose to get out! I'll have Chris know that I'm 13 mentally, not 12!LOL!
The op says it won't jump start so it not the charging system but the batteries. And as far as your truck weeks later only charging 12.1 did u also check it at idle before your jumpwire drive. Also no need for jump wire as u can just check it through any power port or cig lighter. Also just rev engine to 55 mph rpm and u could get close result. Also it should run over 14 volt nomater if all asseries or on if alt is up to snuff.
The op says it won't jump start so it not the charging system but the batteries. And as far as your truck weeks later only charging 12.1 did u also check it at idle before your jumpwire drive. Also no need for jump wire as u can just check it through any power port or cig lighter. Also just rev engine to 55 mph rpm and u could get close result. Also it should run over 14 volt nomater if all asseries or on if alt is up to snuff.
yes at idle it was 14.2 as per my notes
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 97nukeford
Damn, that wasn't suppose to get out! I'll have Chris know that I'm 13 mentally, not 12!LOL!
I had the batteries tested and they had some bad cells. I've got 2 new batteries on the way and then I should be on MY way. I've just never run into a sittuation dead batteries like that where you couldn't overide the dead batteries by jump starting it. Thanks again.
Happens all the time in the real world. Especially in multi battery vehicles. If u have 2 3 or four batteries one bad cell in just one battery will slowly drain and destroy all of the batteries. Time it won't start all the batteries are weakened and is why u need to replace the whole set. And with the one totally dead cell it is virtually impossible to jump are charge the set as a whole. U can unhook and isolate both are all the batteries and the ones with out the bad cell will probably take a charge then u hook them all back together and the dead cell will go to work on them all and shortly u are back in the same boat and up a creek without a paddle. Are in laymans words u be walking and are looking for a jump. No fun.
I had the batteries tested and they had some bad cells. I've got 2 new batteries on the way and then I should be on MY way. I've just never run into a sittuation dead batteries like that where you couldn't overide the dead batteries by jump starting it. Thanks again.
Probably cuz you have never had totally dead batteries on a diesel before, the International 4700 I had with the T444e had 2x 1250CCA batteries. Also voltage can read fine and yet not have enough Amperage to start the vehicle. I highly recommend everyone own a carbon pile load tester for testing electrical systems and batteries as the is no replacement for putting a real high current load on alternator or the batteries to test them. Harbor freight sells them for around $50 when on sale - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
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Happens all the time in the real world. Especially in multi battery vehicles. If u have 2 3 or four batteries one bad cell in just one battery will slowly drain and destroy all of the batteries. Time it won't start all the batteries are weakened and is why u need to replace the whole set. And with the one totally dead cell it is virtually impossible to jump are charge the set as a whole. U can unhook and isolate both are all the batteries and the ones with out the bad cell will probably take a charge then u hook them all back together and the dead cell will go to work on them all and shortly u are back in the same boat and up a creek without a paddle. Are in laymans words u be walking and are looking for a jump. No fun.
You are absolutely right. When you have the voltage, but amps are low, the batteries are either very cold (for a time) or shot. I run into this problem constantly. You can't charge em, you can't jump em. They be trash!
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). She had it jumped and went on her way. Next day, truck started fine, took it to work. Went to come home and, you guessed it, dead batteries. I had it jumped to get it home. The next day I cleaned all the battery cables, clamps, and posts thinking this would cure the problem. Afterwards, it started just fine. next day it wouldn't start again and hasn't for the last 6 days. Over the last 6 days, what charge is in the batteries hasn't left...headlights still come on about half strength, dome light, etc., and only clicks when turning the key. But now I can't even get it to jump start, with cables or hot start. They made no difference at all. Any Ideas? I would think if it was a braker, fuse, or a bad cable, it would sever all power. But with everything electronic these days, I guess it's hard to say.
