. early 99. when i turned my key on this morning it sounded like somebody was typing on a typewriter inside my dash. (a relay im guessing) this continued for about a minute. i shut the truck off and went in the store. when i got back in the truck it started again. and continued for about 10 miles.
the sound came from the middle of the dash it sounded like it was down low. anybody have any idea??????

 

Check your battery condition and connections.

 

ok. im up for anything.

 

Usually the relays chattering are a sign of low voltage due to bad corroded connections at the battery or batteries that are on their last leg.

 

somebody changed one battery before i got it. i figured the cold would soon take the other one out for me. ill have to look at that when i get off work tonight

 

Rule of thumb is to replace the batteries as a set. If one goes bad, it drags down the other so there is a strong possibility that you will constantly be chasing battery issues.

 

I had the exact same problem I replaced both batteries and it's fixed. These guys hooked me up with the answer right away great advice here. P.S. I bought the Duracraft Gold's at Auto Zone and 1 year later both were dead and had to be replaced. Only good thing was that they were still under warranty. They gave me some grief after they asked if I put water in them and I said "no". They said they were not maintenance free batteries so I was responsible for maintenance on them. They replaced them but still I would avoid the haggle and buy a different brand or different dealer.

 

I recommend Advance or go OEM. Either place has good batteies, and if you have aproblem, they will replace with out any problems.

 

How much do the OEM's run and how many CCA's are they? The biggest batteries they had at Auto Drone were 880 CCA's. I will definitely go back to OEM's if these last like the others.

 

1000 CCA. I recently had a similar problem. Repaired by cleaning the cable connections and posts. So simple, yet effective repair.

 

clicky = your 7.3 trying to tell you there's a voltage issue.

 

He said it continued while rolling down the road. How do corroded terminals/weak batteries come into play when the engine is enginning, and the alternator is alternating??

 

Going to continue as long as the glow plugs are energized. The alternator doesn't alternate enough to run everything when the GP's are drawing current.

 

it hasnt made the noise anymore????

 

Mine never made another typewriter sound after I replaced my batteries. I also cleaned connections but I don't think cleaning connections has ever fixed any of my problems (not that it doesn't help I've just never been that lucky I guess).