Spooks are back !!
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Cross-Country
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Spooks are back !!
Having this problem the last few months...every so often ,the battery will be dead , mainly in the A M ....battery checks o k and does good until the problem occurs again ..... when trying to jump star, the result is still no cranking....seems like something is shorting out but it does this when it feels like...garage told me to use a new key and that seemed to work for a month or so...every thing works fine until it decides to drain the battery again...2008 E-150 V8
Hard to explain what is happening w/o sounding like a Nerd...
Hard to explain what is happening w/o sounding like a Nerd...
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Tucson
...every so often ,the battery will be dead , mainly in the A M ....battery checks o k and does good until the problem occurs again ..... when trying to jump star, the result is still no cranking....seems like something is shorting out but it does this when it feels like...garage told me to use a new key and that seemed to work for a month or so...every thing works fine until it decides to drain the battery again...2008 E-150 V8
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https://www.aa1car.com/library/battery_runs_down.htm
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Reason 3 on the list seems to fill the bill,,,problem is trying to locate it WHILE it is doing harm..../seems to correct itself as the battery is recharged...it was in the shop for a week and it did not do it's dirty deed..............???
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
When this next event occurs first order is to measure/check the battery's condition at that moment; voltage at that time and what CCA's are available. Then when started check the alternator's output.
I would suspect failed diodes inside the alternator. Most excessive parasitic draws typically do not drain a fully charged battery over night whereas failed diodes can.
Good luck with this!
I would suspect failed diodes inside the alternator. Most excessive parasitic draws typically do not drain a fully charged battery over night whereas failed diodes can.
Good luck with this!
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Put in a new battery....ran the van around the block 5 times in 5 days,.....all OK...after it sat the 6th day overnite the battery was dead and showed 3.4v in the A M ....disconnected the neg. post and the battery came back itself to 10.9v....Have a charger on now....any thoughts ????
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More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Tucson
Have you done the battery drain checks?
It's obvious you have a drain somewhere. Start pulling fuses.
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Fleet Owner
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Still sounds suspiciously like failed alternator diodes---those need to be check by someone who knows how to do this properly. This video may be helpful if this becomes a DIY project:
Good luck!
Good luck!
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The alternator will charge the battery.....it seems the problem does not happen all the time.....can the diodes fail and then repair themselves,,,,what ever pulls down the battery does it's deed when it feels like....one occurrence happened when I drove 5 blocks to our pool . van sat for 1 and 1/2 hour and would not crank....jumper cables used and it still would not crank ..tow truck guy put jumpers on and still no crank..gauges on dash flickering...when it got to the garage they charge up the battery and watched and started it for 4 days.. all o k ....../took it home and 6 days later the battery died overnight....
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Check for failed alternator diodes or not---your van, your issues to deal with especially if you're avoiding a simple test. It's also possible the starter is failing but if the battery seems to be a consistent issue we're back to failed or failing alternator diodes.
Some components can have intermittent issues so they never really repair themselves. The recurring issue of a dead battery has us right back at possible failed alternator diodes once again.
Some components can have intermittent issues so they never really repair themselves. The recurring issue of a dead battery has us right back at possible failed alternator diodes once again.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Tucson
no crank....jumper cables used and it still would not crank ..tow truck guy put jumpers on and still no crank..gauges on dash flickering...when it got to the garage they charge up the battery and watched and started it for 4 days.. all o k ....../took it home and 6 days later the battery died overnight....
It's related to the dying battery somehow but really that's a problem all by itself.
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The shop said they put a charger on it and it started the next A M....said they cleaned the terminals and it was OK for 4 days at the shop ...I was leary about the terminal theory because the jumper cables clamp on the cable clamps ......can the alternator be tested while in the van ???? and if it is alternator problem , can they find it even when it is acting o K ???? like I tried to explain this only occurs when it feels like....sorta like my posted question about static on my speakers....
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