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Old Dec 8, 2004 | 04:17 PM
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Kiley8955
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Dead Battery

Hello everyone, boy-o-boy have I learned today - a little too late though. I have a 03 Exp. w/ 5.4L V8 / autom. with 12k miles on it. For the last three trips out of town (average 3 days) I have returned to the airport to find the truck completely dead. The useless dealership says that battery and alternator are fine and they do not have a clue. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks for this site - it is great.


KO
 

Last edited by Kiley8955; Dec 8, 2004 at 04:46 PM. Reason: motor size
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Old Dec 8, 2004 | 06:30 PM
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Try this. If it glows bright, you can start pulling fuses till you figure out what's causing the drain. If you can't seem to make the light go out, take the wires off the alt and see if that makes it go out. It can charge, but still have a problem that will cause a drain.

 
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Old Dec 8, 2004 | 06:40 PM
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Thanks -

Once the useless dealership returns it.... I will try your trick to see if I can at least identify the problem area for them.....(its under warranty - of course)

Thanks once again - this is a great tool - I will post solution once I have one.

KO
 
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Old Dec 8, 2004 | 08:46 PM
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Make sure you keep all the doors shut, and you may even have a hood light that will be on, so you will have to disconnect that too. Anything on like that is going to make the testlight glow bright.

I just thought of something. If your underhood light ever failed, and stayed on all the time, you could never use this test to find it, because you would always have to disconnect it to do the test(hood open). I guess if you never found a drain, you could leave it unplugged and see if you still had the problem.
 
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Old Dec 9, 2004 | 11:08 AM
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Very true, my truck is one of the new improved ones which does not have a under hood light. I will have to remove fuse from DVD player as I believe it has a constant draw and take into account the draw for the radio.

Thanks,

KO
 
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Old Dec 9, 2004 | 03:05 PM
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From: Out in Hocking Hills Ohio
If a volt meter was used set on amps connected as prevs post,
it should not be more than .09 amp draw.

I too have had a few batteries tested ok?
Made them give me anouther one.
Some new batteries have ghoust cells that don't always make connection

luck to ya
 
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