HEY ALL,

I HAVE AN 04 6 LITER. I HAVE 2 BRAND NEW (6 MONTHS) MOTOCRAFT BATTERIES AND A 140 AMP ORIELLYS ALTERNATOR. THE STARTER IS MAYBE 2 YEARS OLD. EVERYTHING TEST PERFECT.

OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN STRANDED AFTER DRIVING THE TRUCK A LONG DISTANCE, TURNING THE TRUCK OFF ONCE FOR 1 MINUTE AT THE DUMP ONCE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES LOOKING AT A JOB.

WHEN I TRY AND RESTART, IT CLICKS WHILE TURNING OVER AND AN ALMOST METALLIC CLICK SHARP GRIND LIKE THE STARTER ISNT GETTING ENOUGH JUICE AND IF IT DOES START IM IN LOW POWER MODE. IF YOU AREN'T FAMILIAR, THE GREATEST SYMPTOM OF THIS MODE IS THAT THE TRANS IS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. (I HAVE A 5R110 6 SPEED TRANS)

THIS HARD START USED TO HAPPEN ALMOST WEEKLY.

PREVIOUSLY THE TRUCK HAS EATEN ALTERNATORS, TURNING THE COILS BLACK - THEY WERE 140 AMP NAPA ALTERNATORS AND THEY WEREN'T KEEPING UP WITH THE TRUCKS NEEDS.

I SWITCHED TO AN O RIELLY 140 AMP ALTERNATOR AND MOTOCRAFT BATTERIES. IT HAS OCCURED LESS - AS I SAID 2X IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS INSTEAD OF WEEKLY - BUT IT IS STILL HAPPENING.

I MONITOR MY CHARGING OFTEN WITH 2 TRUSTED METERS IN REAL TIME. I RARELY SEE VOLTAGE OVER 14 VOLTS.

AT 14 VOLTS CHARGING AND I TURN ON THE CAB FAN I LOSE .1 VOLTS AND CHARGE AT THAT. IF I TURN ON MY LIGHTS I LOSE ANOTHER .1 VOLTS AND IT CHARGES THERE. SO IN THIS INSTANCE NOW I CHARGE AT 13.8. AND SO ON.

I HAVE STARTED 10 TIMES IN A ROW TRYING TO RECREATE AND IT WONT DO IT.

THE STARTER HAS PULLED AS MUCH AS 630 AMPS STARTING WARM DURING THIS TRIAL.

ALSO, UTILIZING A JUMP BOX, DURING THESE EPISODES, HAS NO EFFECT. NOR DOES A BATTERY CHARGER IN START, NOR CHARGING AT MEDIUM FOR 2 HOURS. IF IT WONT START I HAVE TO CHARGE FOR 6+ HOURS.

ALTHOUGH IF I CAN GET IT TO START IN THIS SCENARIO WHICH THANKFULLY HAS KEPT ME FROM BEING STRANDED - RECENTLY- , I RUN IT FOR 10-20 MINUTES. TURN OFF AND LET IT KEY CYCLE AND IT STARTS AND RUNS AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.

DURING THESE EPISODES MY VOLTAGE - AFTER HARD STARTS - TESTS AROUND 10.5

ANY IDEAS?

 

You may have more than one issue.

I would start by checking the integrity AND connections of all the cables including the grounds. Grounds need to be tight and CLEAN, not just the battery grounds but the grounds from the frame to the block etc and there are a few.

You may also have compromised (dead cells) in the battery, although new it could happen.