I have a problem (again) with my 2000 F-350 PSD. I used to be able to leave my parking lights on for hours at a time (10+) and never ever have a problem starting the truck, even on the coldest of Milwaukee days. Well the trouble started last night. I was at my girlfriends house for dinner and I left the parking lights on for about an hour and a half. I went to start the truck and the starter just clicked. I went and backed one of my big Toro Z-Master mowers out of my trailer to jump the truck and it started and ran just fine after I let the mower charge the batteries. I'm not sure what's worse.... having to start my truck with a lawn mower or both dual batteries dying from 2 hours of use. Nothing was turned on but the parking lights and it went dead. This happened twice that night! The lights didn't seem to dim when hte batteries were low, but I could really feel it when I put the key in the ignition and tried to crank over the engine. Heres the catch, if I keep my lights off then the truck starts fine, so I'm not sure if it's the alt. or not. Batteries were new in 2004 so I don't think that they are bad. I have no extra lights other then the LEDs on my 18' Wells Cargo enclosed trailer and the standard incandesant on my dually.

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks,
Douglas DC-9

 

I think you have a battery problem. Isolate the batteries, and load test them individually.

 

Agreed. Leaving lights on for less than two hours and have them run dead means they have lost storage capacity. Only cure is replacement.
They may have sufferen an early demise due to a marginal charge system. You need a barest minimum of 13.7 at the battery posts with the engine running. 14v is perfect and anything over 14.3 is too much IMO.

 

Thanks Bob & Kwik! How do I load test them, and what kine of battery do you guys think is best? Would a different alt. help to chage the new batteries? What can I do to make a perfect 14v charging system?

Thanks,
Douglas Dc-9-81

 

I would replace the batteries with Interstate Mega-Trons. Make sure that all the connections for both batteries are clean and corrosion free. Start the engine and check the voltage at the posts. It should be 14 to 14.3 at that time. If it's off, check the voltage at the outlet post on the alternator, grounding the multimeter on the body of the alternator. If it's different than what you see at the battery by more than 2/10 of a volt, then you have wiring problems and that needs to be addressed.

 

I think AutoZOne has free testing

 

Is this the cool thing to do now days? Leave your parking lights on when you're not in the truck?

 

Why? Have you seen others do it? I leave mine on not only because I park my dually often times on a narrow street, but I am a landscaper/lawn service and I cut my commercial accounts in the evening or night after they close. I park on the street and having my parking lights and strobes on is a must. How does that one safety sticker go? " Safety. Live with it." lol

DC-9

 

Sounds like a trend I may have to start in rural appalachia.....LOL

 

How about "Safety is no Accident"