My bullet proof (to date) 2011 F-250 gasser sat for 6 weeks while I was away visiting the kids in So Cal. It snowed and got cold the last week. I returned late lastnight and tried to start her today...dead as a door ****.
I put a charge on her, and it was just not waking up.
I tried to jump her, the alarm went off as I connected up the cables, I hit the alarm button on my key and it stopped. The lights on the dash lit, but I could not get it to even turn over.
I gave up and put it back on a charge, but I noticed the dash light and right mirror lamp flickering....if I pulled the charger, it stopped?
I hooked up the block heater and took out the battery to charge inside tonight to see if that will make any difference.
The connections looked good, but I know it doesn't take much to impede a good circuit.
I'll tidy those up when I reinstall tomorrow.
I am open to any ideas others might have, she was running great before this.
Also, the radio was on when I put the jumpers on, not sure if this plays a part in the matter?
Thanks in advance and HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

 

if the battery was completely drained you may need a new battery. Charging it even for a good amount of time may not fully restore enough power to get the truck to start. Put a battery tester on it

 

Yep, the first thing to check would be for battery voltage. My guess is that it is shot. How old is the battery? I just replaced mine in the '16 as it was a bit slower on the crank. The difference is night and day.

I also see that you're from WA. With the unusual cold snap we've had lately, any deficiencies in the battery will show.

The stock size battery is a Group 65 with 650 CCA. You can very safely step up to a Group 65 with 750 or 850 CCA.

 

Yeah...it was dead, more spent than a sailor on his first shore leave, in over a year

 

I think its only a few years old, not sure, but I have the warranty in the glovebox, I'll check tomorrow. Its still charging inside, yet to reach full charge and maintain...thanks for the "upgrade info" I can always use more, I pull a 26 footer travel trailer too.....and yes, I live across the water from you on Whidbey Island and I am already wanting the snow gone....had to wait 3 darn hours at the ferry last night to get across, that was a bummer after having left Coos Bay at 8 am and driving in this yuk all the way north....wish they could get this crap figured out.

 

Your battery probably froze. Thawing then charging may work, but most of the time the internal plates get damaged and it won't take a full charge anymore. My recommendation after charging it inside and testing it is to replace it

 

UPDATE:

It started this morning, fired up quickly with the charged battery reinstalled. I suspect the power drain might be in the radio, as it was still on when she fired up. My last Ford truck did the same thing, I had to buy a new radio, not sure why these radios fail in this manner, but after much investigating of a parasitic drain, I traced it to the radio, replaced it, and never had a issue with it again.....???
I will keep a eye on the battery to be certain it suffered no damage.
Thank you all for your replies, Happy New Year !

 

There are two power feeds to the radio. One is "keyed" and is only energized when the ignition switch is on, the other is energized all the time to maintain the time setting on the clock and the memory for the presets. Most vehicles also consume battery charge maintaining the memories in the ECM, GEM and PCM as well as monitoring for a signal from remote key fobs if equiped. Six weeks is enough time for the various modules and clock to drain the battery. If your radio is on or the time is displayed with the key off, the radio has a problem; if not, realize that it is designed to consume a minute amount of current, even with the key off.

Some owners' manuals suggest disconnecting the battery if the vehicle is not going to be driven for thirty days. I am not sure if Ford recommends it on our Super Duty trucks, Instead I use (and swear by) battery maintainers on my four-wheeler, travel trailer and Mustang, each of which only get seasonal use. They are inexpensive and save the headaches that come with a dead battery as well as shortened battery life resulting from repeatedly being discharged completely.

A completely dead battery takes time to recharge and fits the pattern you described.