Instant battery discharge
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4wd Low
Joined: Feb 2024
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Likes: 2
Instant battery discharge
I have a 1995 F250 5.8L 351 and my battery was going out, i had to jump it every now and then. I figured id nip it in the bud and get a new one so i wouldn’t have to worry about getting stranded. I bought a brand new battery from costco and first try gave me a click then absolutely nothing. I jumped it and drove it home and put it on my trickle charger which read the charge at 0.3V. I left it overnight and it got up to 13.4V and when i went to start it i got the same *click* then nothing. I jumped it and drove back to costco and got another battery because i thought that i may have just gotten a faulty one. But when i switch in the 2nd brand new one i got the same *click* then absolutely nothing. Any ideas on where to start or check would be great.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,118
Likes: 149
From: South Dakota
Start by removing the battery cables from your battery posts and cleaning the insides of the cables where they hook onto the posts. Yes they could still need cleaning after changing batteries. Clean them well and make sure they tighten up properly when you install them back on the battery posts.
If still no joy, follow the other end of the ground cable hooked onto the negative battery post and disconnect it and clean it well. Also make sure the cables look to be in decent shape.
If still no joy, follow the other end of the ground cable hooked onto the negative battery post and disconnect it and clean it well. Also make sure the cables look to be in decent shape.
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4wd Low
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
Start by removing the battery cables from your battery posts and cleaning the insides of the cables where they hook onto the posts. Yes they could still need cleaning after changing batteries. Clean them well and make sure they tighten up properly when you install them back on the battery posts.
If still no joy, follow the other end of the ground cable hooked onto the negative battery post and disconnect it and clean it well. Also make sure the cables look to be in decent shape.
If still no joy, follow the other end of the ground cable hooked onto the negative battery post and disconnect it and clean it well. Also make sure the cables look to be in decent shape.
Would bad battery cables or ground discharge the battery completely?
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,960
Likes: 594
From: Greater Austin, Texas
Would bad battery cables or ground discharge the battery completely?
No and that cannot happen anyway. Where PRECISELY did you attach the probes of the voltmeter? On the battery posts themselves? Or on the battery terminals?
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4wd Low
Joined: Feb 2024
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i attached them to the metal bolts on the terminals
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,960
Likes: 594
From: Greater Austin, Texas
i attached them to the metal bolts on the terminals
That's what I figured. Next time put them on the posts themselves and you will see that your battery did not instantly discharge. You have a bad connection where the terminals connect to the battery.
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4wd Low
Joined: Feb 2024
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even though the voltage went up connecting them to the same place over night? Because over night it went from the 0.3V to 13.4V connected to the terminals. And it works when i jump the battery from the same place
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,118
Likes: 149
From: South Dakota
To answer your question, no. Are you sure the battery is discharging or are you just losing connection from the cable connections being dirty? It is really strange how dirty cable connections will cause you to lose all power, I have experienced this many many times though, but usually after a short time the power will return until you put a huge load on the connections again by trying to start the truck again. I really doubt you are getting an INSTANT battery discharge. A 0.3 amp charge would not recharge a dead battery overnight.
I would start by cleaning the cables as I suggested under #2.
I would start by cleaning the cables as I suggested under #2.
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Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
To answer your question, no. Are you sure the battery is discharging or are you just losing connection from the cable connections being dirty? It is really strange how dirty cable connections will cause you to lose all power, I have experienced this many many times though, but usually after a short time the power will return until you put a huge load on the connections again by trying to start the truck again. I really doubt you are getting an INSTANT battery discharge. A 0.3 amp charge would not recharge a dead battery overnight.
I would start by cleaning the cables as I suggested under #2.
I would start by cleaning the cables as I suggested under #2.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,822
Likes: 1,029
I would start with not thinking your battery is bad. After you do that, you will find the problem much quicker. Your mind is stuck believing you have a bad battery and that is not your problem.
A simple voltage drop test on the battery post [not clamps but the center of the post] and the clamp, cables, cable ends, etc. You will find your problem really quick. < 2 minutes with a helper turning the ignition switch.
A simple voltage drop test on the battery post [not clamps but the center of the post] and the clamp, cables, cable ends, etc. You will find your problem really quick. < 2 minutes with a helper turning the ignition switch.
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4wd Low
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
Last night i went in and cleaned up my terminals and tightened them down a little more than i was before. I left it on the battery tender over night just for good measure and it started right up, thanks for the help guys
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