help me solve a mystery
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Yakima, Wash.
help me solve a mystery
so, I have a bit of a mystery on my hands...
When I use my block heater, and granted since I live on the Oregon coast I have only used it twice this season, anyways, when using it and I leave the truck unattended for longer than 24-hours but less than 2 days, I end up with dead batteries or bead enough to not be able to crank over the 6.0. Both batteries are less than a year old, and so is the alternator. If I leave the Ex unplugged, there is no battery drain, but a cranky cold starting Ex.
Any thoughts?
On a side note, when I bought the Ex, the back up sensors were not working (two were out), but over time, they ended up coming back into function. They were working up until this past weekend when I plugged in the Ex, and drained the batteries once again. Could these be connected somehow?
It is all a bit of a mystery to me, so any ideas would be welcomed.
Thanks!
When I use my block heater, and granted since I live on the Oregon coast I have only used it twice this season, anyways, when using it and I leave the truck unattended for longer than 24-hours but less than 2 days, I end up with dead batteries or bead enough to not be able to crank over the 6.0. Both batteries are less than a year old, and so is the alternator. If I leave the Ex unplugged, there is no battery drain, but a cranky cold starting Ex.
Any thoughts?
On a side note, when I bought the Ex, the back up sensors were not working (two were out), but over time, they ended up coming back into function. They were working up until this past weekend when I plugged in the Ex, and drained the batteries once again. Could these be connected somehow?
It is all a bit of a mystery to me, so any ideas would be welcomed.
Thanks!
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 777
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I've heard it's bad to leave a block heater plugged in for long periods of time. Apparently it should only take like 2-3 hours to heat the engine to a "normalish" temp... but who wants to plug their truck in 3 hours before having to leave for work 
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Yakima, Wash.
I have heard that two, but I had it plugged in for the weekend, not knowing if or when I might need it... I am still stumped as to where the voltage draw might be...
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,263
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From: In the field...
Am I missing something?
The block heater is plugged in to your home/garage AC via an extension cord, right?
I don't see the correlation between a 12 v DC and 120 v AC.
As for Parking Sensors, no clue.
The block heater is plugged in to your home/garage AC via an extension cord, right?
I don't see the correlation between a 12 v DC and 120 v AC.
As for Parking Sensors, no clue.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Yakima, Wash.
As for the sensors, I have not got a clue there, I may just replace all four of them later this year. They are a nicety to have, but not essential.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Yakima, Wash.
If you are talking about the electrical draw and what I am paying for, I understand, I just look at a warm truck being a happy truck 
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2012
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You say you only had to use it twice on cold days... how cold were those days? Could the cold be killing your batteries?
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Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Yakima, Wash.
not that cold, just down into the teens... We don't get that cold here on the coast, but after living in Alaska, I got into the habit of plugging in cars when ever the temps drop below the 20s.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: SW Florida
Your block heater has nothing to do with your batteries going dead. You either have a bad battery(s) ( I know you said the batteries are fairly new but it's possible) or you have something drawing excessive current while it sits. I'd recommend putting a battery maintainer on it if you know it will sit for 2+ days. Also have the batteries load tested.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Yakima, Wash.
Your block heater has nothing to do with your batteries going dead. You either have a bad battery(s) ( I know you said the batteries are fairly new but it's possible) or you have something drawing excessive current while it sits. I'd recommend putting a battery maintainer on it if you know it will sit for 2+ days. Also have the batteries load tested.
I hope I don't need new batteries, but if I do, some yellow tops will be in my future.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: SW Florida
I use a Battery Minder maintainer when ever mine sits 2+ days. I can't post the link right now, but it's the 1500 model from BatteryMinder. It's about $50 and you can get it at Amazon or batteryminders.com. It will desulfate your batteries, unlike a typical charger. Check it out, it works great.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2013
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From: Parker, CO
Personally, I wouldn't bother with the Optimas. Their big claim to fame is that they are 100% sealed and can take a lot of abuse. Unless you're planning on rock climbing with your X, don't bother.
I agree with everyone about the engine heater. Its totally disconnected from your car's electrical system. I think there's a correlation between the cold that is requiring you to use the heater and the batteries.
I only recently found out I even had a heater (owned the car 1 year, two Colorado winters). We've had some very cold temps here in Colorado lately, -10 F or more. After gelling diesel and a very unhappy X, I have it all fixed.
But to get to my point, our X always cranked slower in the cold, even when it was 20 above. It worked ok in regular weather. I ended up replacing both batteries with 850 cca batteries. The old ones were 3-4 years old (PO put them in) and were 775 cca I think. Anyhow, 850 cca is more than the "factory minimum". The car cranks faster now, stronger than before. The started actually sounds like its spinning faster.
Long story short, I think your batteries are getting weak. The cold weather always makes a weak battery worse.
I agree with everyone about the engine heater. Its totally disconnected from your car's electrical system. I think there's a correlation between the cold that is requiring you to use the heater and the batteries.
I only recently found out I even had a heater (owned the car 1 year, two Colorado winters). We've had some very cold temps here in Colorado lately, -10 F or more. After gelling diesel and a very unhappy X, I have it all fixed.
But to get to my point, our X always cranked slower in the cold, even when it was 20 above. It worked ok in regular weather. I ended up replacing both batteries with 850 cca batteries. The old ones were 3-4 years old (PO put them in) and were 775 cca I think. Anyhow, 850 cca is more than the "factory minimum". The car cranks faster now, stronger than before. The started actually sounds like its spinning faster.
Long story short, I think your batteries are getting weak. The cold weather always makes a weak battery worse.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Yakima, Wash.
I also think it may be the batteries, which is frustrating since they are less than 4 months old. The ones I am using are 850cca, and they have worked great, except for those times I let it sit longer than 24-hours and it is slightly cold outside... The who situation is just fustrating. 