I need some advice/suggestions regarding the 6.0 battery system.

I have a 2003 F350SD. Hadn't put any miles or run time on the system for a couple of weeks - I start it, drive about half a mile-park-start it and return home every day. Yesterday AM it wouldn't start - just "click, click, click". Lights and other electronics were working but not enough juice to start the motor.

Checked all the terminal connections, alternator, ground cables, etc. Everyting was OK. I hooked up a small charger for an hour or so and got enough juice in it to start - took it for a two hour run - started it a couple of times on return with no problem - started fine this morning - lots of juice.

Before I hooked up the charger, I determined with a multi tester that each battery was about 11.75V. After connecting the charger, I could measure about 14.5V at each battery which suggests the alternator is working fine. (When I returned from my two hour run, each battery measured 13.5V.)

Questions:

1. Is it OK to "charge" the system by hooking up to one battery without disconnecting anything? Could find no info on "charging" in the owners manual-only on jump starting.

2. Does this procedure(in question 1) charge both batteries or just the one it's directly connected to?

3. Are the "charge level portholes" on top of the battery to be trusted? Before my two hour run yesterday, both were red; on my return the driver side battery showed green but the passenger side battery was still red; this AM the same. Maybe I have a bad battery???

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. Automotive electronics is not my strong suit.

 

Simple things first. Are the connections between the batteries and the cables clean? Have you pulled them and cleaned them anyway to make certain this is not the problem? This is where I would start. If the alternator(s) is(are) working, it has to be the battery(ies) or the cables. Nothing else there that I am aware of but someone with more knowledge may tell you otherwise.

 

This could be your problem. It takes a lot of juice to start the diesel and to warm up the glow plugs. I believe the glow plugs stay on for 2 minutes. So given your short trips, the batteries do not have sufficient time to re-charge. Someone else may correct me if I'm wrong.

 

QUESTION FROM ABOVE...

3. Are the "charge level portholes" on top of the battery to be trusted? Before my two hour run yesterday, both were red; on my return the driver side battery showed green but the passenger side battery was still red; this AM the same. Maybe I have a bad battery???

Answer...

After 2 hours, you should have been charged and the indicator should have shown green. You may have the start of a bad cell... enough to start sometimes, but not all the time.

First, take to Walmart or a reputable battery place and have it tested under load and see what they say (first place to start). Sears can check your alternator as well (second step).

Hey, buy a new truck if your wife buys into it????

Good luck, but I think you have done the proper first steps in checking out your problem. There could be short somewhere draining your battery since you said it sat for 3 weeks.... anything is possible, but your on the right track.

Jeff

 

Put A battery charger on it, to bring the batteries all the way up. Then check the batteries. My last truck A F350, I ran the battery down, had to jump start it. It took four to five hours of driving to come all the way up to fuull charge.

 

Thanks for the input everyone! I especially liked the "buy a new truck" part But my wife just traded up so guess that's out for a while.

Based on the comments so far, I am suspicious of the "red" battery. Will follow up on the "check it under load" suggestion - I don't have the equipment to do that. I may have a couple of problems going - the short trip history which I suspected AND a weak or dying battery.

In case others have had similar problems, I'll be sure to post the outcome.