battery system, which battery do I hook jumper cables to if the truck needs to be jumped? Also, do I need to disconnect one battery before charging the other? Do both batteries work as one to keep the system components working or do they do separate components? Any other info is also welcome. Thanks.

 

The batteries are in parallel, so electrically, they are the same as one battery with double the capacity.

 

They are connected in parallel so act as one big battery. Jumper cables on either one, you can charge both through either one.

Edit: pikachu beat me to it!

 

Hook jumper to the passenger battery to jump start. It's closest to the starter. That is also the one that goes out first.

 

They are hooked (+) to (+) and (-) to (-) which is parrelel, essentially making it one large battery.

In theory it does not matter which you hook it to, and won't have any effect; however, the passenger side is known as the primary, and driver side known as the secondary. If you look at the positive leads you will see why. Due to this, hooking cables to the passenger side will have the more effect. When jumping with another diesel, hooking each of the batteries to one battery in the other truck (you need two sets of cables) will have even greater effects.

 

It is best to replace both batteries at the same time when one goes bad. One weak battery will drain down a good one. The consensus is that Interstate batteries are the best choice and the best price and service are had at Costco.

 

beginning to understand the learning curve with a vehicle ( diesel) when I have never owned one before. It seemed easier when I bought my first car at 16. Lol.

 

Cosco batteries. They don't carry the white top interstate batteries? At least here in California. And they are only 850 cca. Has any buddy bought larger ones there? I believe mine are 1000 cca, white top Interstate Batteries.

 

Interstate All Battery Center
822 Berry Court
Upland, CA 91786
(909) 982-1137

 

Knottyrope, that's not Cosco is it? I have the white tops, but thanks for posting. i just didn't see them the other day when I had a tire fixed. My valve stem broke. They used long rubber ones, not a good quality either.

 

Interstate Batteries | The Search For Batteries Ends Here ? and find a place close to you

 

Interstate batteries have always been rated pretty low to mediocre by Consumer Reports. I've not had the greatest luck with them in the past either.

 

In the early days I hated Interstate. But one year in Wyoming, -15 in the mountains, my truck wouldn't start. After jumping it and going into town. I replaced both at the ford dealer. Very small town of Afton, They used Interstate. They lasted over six years, were drained one time all the way till the truck wouldn't run, and still lasted. I put motorcraft in once after that and never again. I now have the white tops, Interstate, and been a few years now know problems. So I guess, as long as they are the new ones, not ones on the shelf for ever, I like them. I was questioning Cosco because when I was there they were are black batteries and only 850 cca. The white tops are 1000 cca. And my first set was 1125 cca.

 

That is the first bad rap I ever heard on Interstate batteries (I don't read Consumer Reports though). What brand do you recommend?
I checked out the Interstate website there and didn't find what you are referring to. Our batteries are group 65 batteries. They showed three options, one for heavy accessory use, one for cold to moderate climate and one for moderate to hot climate (and one cheap model, guess that makes 4). None of them had white tops and the 850 CCA looks like it's rated at 850 at 0*F, 1000 at 32*F. I did not see any that were rated 1000 CCA @ 0*F. They do have a stiff list price.

 

I have always used Interstate 850CCA's in my truck. I had an issue where one went bad at one point and the dealer in the next county over wouldn't warranty it because I use my truck to plow. He said that the 85 month warranty didn't apply to commercial vehicles, so I had to buy a new battery in the middle of a snow storm. (I didn't have the cash to buy 2 at the time). I got on here and vented heavily about my disappointment in that policy and how I would never use Interstate again because of it. A few weeks later, I had a message in my PM inbox here from someone at interstate. They gave me the number of a "higher up" to call so I did. He asked me to tell him the story, and asked if i still had the receipt. I told him I did, faxed him a copy. He said he knew the owner of the location (they were the Interstate distributorship in that county and a few more if I recall correctly). He then told me he would re-educate said owner on the fact that the company did NOT, in fact, have a commercial exemption and that Interstate would be issuing me a full refund of my purchase price. In a few days, I had the check in hand. I thought that was about as far above and beyond as anyone could go to address a situation like that. I was very impressed and have recommended and used them ever since.