DEAD
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DEAD
Will not start, dead battery???
1) I have 2 batteries, drivers side and passenger side, which is the cranking battery? (owner manual does not tell me)
2) F 350 CC, LWB, Dually, Lariat, 20k mi
1) I have 2 batteries, drivers side and passenger side, which is the cranking battery? (owner manual does not tell me)
2) F 350 CC, LWB, Dually, Lariat, 20k mi
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,239
Likes: 4,257
From: Kaysville Utah
Your glow plugs jump to 2000° in less than 3 seconds. It takes a lot of battery to run them and turn the starter motor. As stated you need both batteries.
Neighbor had a 2005 Superduty he did not drive a lot. Rode his Harley more then he drove the truck, His batteries were always dead. There is enough electrical stuff inside these trucks that trickle small electrical charges that you need to drive them often enough to keep the batteries charged.
And I never get more than 36 months out of Motorcraft batteries. It doesn't matter if they are in my Superduty trucks, my daughters explorer or my wifes Fusion. 36 months and I need to buy new batteries. The last oil change at the dealer, they checked the battery and are already warning me mine are loosing power and to expect to change them in few months.
Neighbor had a 2005 Superduty he did not drive a lot. Rode his Harley more then he drove the truck, His batteries were always dead. There is enough electrical stuff inside these trucks that trickle small electrical charges that you need to drive them often enough to keep the batteries charged.
And I never get more than 36 months out of Motorcraft batteries. It doesn't matter if they are in my Superduty trucks, my daughters explorer or my wifes Fusion. 36 months and I need to buy new batteries. The last oil change at the dealer, they checked the battery and are already warning me mine are loosing power and to expect to change them in few months.
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Logistics Pro
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BOTH are cranking batteries??????????? WOW, have never come across that, that I knew of. Seen a lot of dual setups, one for cranking and one for Accessories. I do a lot of off roading, which means whinching. Last thing you want is to not be able to start your engine in the middle of nowhere. So we dedicate one for the engine and one for the winch and other stuff.
Interesting!
I have a spare HOT battery. Do you think it will start it? (Sears DieHard Platinum)
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
The batteries are wired in parallel.
This means the voltage stays the same but you get double the amp hours (for cranking).
If you place one good battery with one bad battery, it "maybe" will start it but you'll quickly ruin the good battery.
This is why you must replace all batteries.
Ford considers the passenger side as the primary battery and driver side as secondary but since it's parallel, it doesn't matter from a battery to battery wiring standpoint.
I still follow what Ford says and use the passenger battery.
They may have a reason for it.
I have 32 months on my OEM batteries.
They're leaking a little. Maybe another year on them.
This means the voltage stays the same but you get double the amp hours (for cranking).
If you place one good battery with one bad battery, it "maybe" will start it but you'll quickly ruin the good battery.
This is why you must replace all batteries.
Ford considers the passenger side as the primary battery and driver side as secondary but since it's parallel, it doesn't matter from a battery to battery wiring standpoint.
I still follow what Ford says and use the passenger battery.
They may have a reason for it.
I have 32 months on my OEM batteries.
They're leaking a little. Maybe another year on them.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 197
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From: Onalaska WI
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Logistics Pro
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The batteries are wired in parallel.
This means the voltage stays the same but you get double the amp hours (for cranking).
If you place one good battery with one bad battery, it "maybe" will start it but you'll quickly ruin the good battery.
This is why you must replace all batteries.
Ford considers the passenger side as the primary battery and driver side as secondary but since it's parallel, it doesn't matter from a battery to battery wiring standpoint.
I still follow what Ford says and use the passenger battery.
They may have a reason for it.
I have 32 months on my OEM batteries.
They're leaking a little. Maybe another year on them.
This means the voltage stays the same but you get double the amp hours (for cranking).
If you place one good battery with one bad battery, it "maybe" will start it but you'll quickly ruin the good battery.
This is why you must replace all batteries.
Ford considers the passenger side as the primary battery and driver side as secondary but since it's parallel, it doesn't matter from a battery to battery wiring standpoint.
I still follow what Ford says and use the passenger battery.
They may have a reason for it.
I have 32 months on my OEM batteries.
They're leaking a little. Maybe another year on them.
Got my wifes car close enough to stretch some jumper cables. Wanted to try this first rather than pulling my battery and putting in my spare I keep on hand. Let it set a couple of min and turned it on, glow plug light went out, turned the key and it fired instantly.
Pulled off cables and now have my charger on it at 10 amps.
Looking back I have barely driven it over the past 3 weeks. Was sicker than a dog and have stayed in, wife and I have no kids so no visitors over the holidays as if I was in any shape to see anyone. I will let it set on the charger and see how it works.
I bought the truck in Nov of 2010, new and as I have just over 20k miles on it. My exp with OEM batteries is 24 months is a good run, beyond that you are just living on borrowed time. Not sure where to go to have the batteries checked for remaining life. In the OLD days we used a tester that measured specific gravity, but on sealed batteries those days are long gone.
Any suggestions? on battery testing???
I will go with Sears DieHard Platinum which are made by Odyssey, about as good a batter as money will buy...
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batteries
Batteries are like tires with the warranty issues, meaning they are pro-rated. So even under warranty, you will be paying for the time used on the batteries.
And most OEM stuff is not the best. Usually with aftermarket you get more bang for the buck. Of course many people like to keep it Ford original but the best batteries I had were aftermarket. Up in Canada, I buy the most powerful cold cranking amp batteries you can get. And what a difference on a super cold morning. The truck just jumps to start. Down in warmer climates they may not need that kind of power to start.
Good you got the truck started with a jump and hopefully it charges back up and you are good to go for a while. Maybe you should start the truck up every once in a while just to make sure it will fire up when you need it.
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Logistics Pro
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Batteries are like tires with the warranty issues, meaning they are pro-rated. So even under warranty, you will be paying for the time used on the batteries.
And most OEM stuff is not the best. Usually with aftermarket you get more bang for the buck. Of course many people like to keep it Ford original but the best batteries I had were aftermarket. Up in Canada, I buy the most powerful cold cranking amp batteries you can get. And what a difference on a super cold morning. The truck just jumps to start. Down in warmer climates they may not need that kind of power to start.
Good you got the truck started with a jump and hopefully it charges back up and you are good to go for a while. Maybe you should start the truck up every once in a while just to make sure it will fire up when you need it.
And most OEM stuff is not the best. Usually with aftermarket you get more bang for the buck. Of course many people like to keep it Ford original but the best batteries I had were aftermarket. Up in Canada, I buy the most powerful cold cranking amp batteries you can get. And what a difference on a super cold morning. The truck just jumps to start. Down in warmer climates they may not need that kind of power to start.
Good you got the truck started with a jump and hopefully it charges back up and you are good to go for a while. Maybe you should start the truck up every once in a while just to make sure it will fire up when you need it.
Senior User
Joined: May 2012
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batteries
If you are too sick and have the remote start use that to start your truck. I have mine set to the 15 minute mark. It is the O.E.M. remote starter but I wish I had the type that tells you it actually started. A couple of times I pushed the buttons and couldn't see the truck but when I got there saw that the remote start didn't even start it. You could lay in bed, and push the remote start to make sure the batteries are charged. Might not charge them much but might keep just enough juice to make the difference between a start and no start. And as mentioned, trickle chargers might help too! 
ahchoo!!
ahchoo!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
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Being sick is no fun at all.
I only manage to pick up something bad once every 7-8 years but when I do, it kicks me down for a week.
Lundman has an idea but just don't do that too often without getting the engine to operating temp for a bit.
With RS the max is 15 minutes and the engine will never reach operating temp especially in winter so you're better off leaving the truck alone.
Probably best to find a way to keep the batteries charged if you have a detached garage or something.
I only manage to pick up something bad once every 7-8 years but when I do, it kicks me down for a week.
Lundman has an idea but just don't do that too often without getting the engine to operating temp for a bit.
With RS the max is 15 minutes and the engine will never reach operating temp especially in winter so you're better off leaving the truck alone.
Probably best to find a way to keep the batteries charged if you have a detached garage or something.