I had my 04 screw larait since Aug 06 it just rolled over 27000 miles The other day I drove it to work, it sat 12 hours, I got ready to leave, started it. the wound over real slow, all the lights got real dim, after it started the gaudges took a few seconds to come up, and the trip computer reset. I drove it home, turned it off, and it started without problem. I Figured the battey got low some how. It sat overnight, and it did the same thing the next moring. It did it a total of 4 times before I took it in. dealer could not find anything wrong. Said if it did it again thay would half to keep it for a few days, to try to get it to repeat the issue, however it hadn't done it sence

 

That's not normal. Even if the truck was difficult to start, the delay on gauge activation concerns me. Sounds like you have either a 1) charging problem with your alternator, but this should be more regular and not as random or 2) you may have something as simple as a loose cable somewhere. Positive lead from the battery or even the ground cable. I would just check those connections first and see what happens. Also, you could have something draining the power, a live wire. Do you have any aftermarket electronics or lights wired to the truck, put on by the previous owner? A lot of people take shortcuts and wire directly to the fuse box or tap a constant feed power supply. That could account for the dying over longer periods of time but no problems with shorter stop/restart times. But this is definitely not an "anything wrong" issue.

what are the temps like by you, VERY cold or cool? I don't think the battery is the problem, unless it's defective. A battery should last longer than 2-3 years

 

'A battery should last longer than 2-3 years'

But sometimes they don't. I would check the battery and connections first. Take off the terminal clamps and check for corrosion. Clean and grease and replace. Drive the truck to the auto parts or take the battery there so they can load-test it. So far you have spent nothing and only taken up an hour or so, assuming everything checks out. My guess is you will find the problem by doing the above, although the symptoms do not sound typical of this kind of problem - more like an intermittent drain-down as ReForder says.

 

It sat at the dealer all day friday, for this starting issue, and twice the a/c cut itself off. Thay said thay put it on the mechine, no codes, so thay let it sit, would not repeat problom, they tested the battery and the compleat charging system nothing found, so thay taped relays and checked for lose wires nothing found. The only thing extra on this truck is a back up camera that plugs into the power point for the monitor, and the camera on the taps the back up light wires so it get power in reverse. I also have a line of fire that plugs into the trailer light plug. Both of these had been on long before the problem. The truck hasn't done it since I took it in. but my warrenty ends in April, so I don't want it to recure after that.

 

No sir, depending on your climate in your area. In Las Vegas I have had to change batteries in my cars every two years. Heat kills them. And I used to buy top of the line batteries. Now I buy a good battery mid line.

Time to take the truck in though. Electrical issues can really mess up a persons day. My meger knowledge says something is grounding out somewhere and stealing your power. Get 'er checked out.

 

As stated it has been to the dealer they checked the charging system and the battery could not find nothing wrong. I live in north Florida can usualy get 3 to 5 years out of a battery

 

Johnny,

After reading your dealer experience. Testing the battery is good, it removes your battery from the equation as a short term problem, but they should've let the truck sit overnight and then tested it the next morning, which is more like your initial problem. Also, I would check the cables myself, following them from the battery to their end points to check for tightness and/or corrosion. They can run all the meters and codes they want, but if the problem is an intermittent connection on a wire, and it's not doing it at the time they had it, then they'll pass right over it. At least it would be more peace of mind for me anyway.

What kind of climate do you live in. We can all make assumptions about battery life, but I have no idea where you live, whether it be too hot (bad for batteries) or too cold (bad for batteries). It may also be possible that the length of time the accessories have been hooked up as finally started to affect the battery (wouldn't explain the A/C cutting out). A slow trickle drain would take months to manifest itself, if the truck is being driven regularly enough to recharge the battery somewhat. I would still check the "hot wires" on both the Line of Fire and the camera to see if they are drawing juice when not on.

 

Well if they tested all those systems properly did they check the obvious - the belt? A loose/worn belt is the culprit of a large percentage of intermittent electrical problems - especially in late model vehicles. Also just to note - a short drive or sitting at idle will not fully charge a battery that is low. Personally I would replace the battery if it's a couple years old and your having those problems.

 

I checked under the hood myself for all the things mentioned here. I also disconected my aftermarket assories to elimate them. has it done it in a couple days wensday it sat for 24 hours and the next day I used it around the house, It did it four times in one day. It seems to do it more on shorter trips. the tempature has been lows in the upper 30's to lower 40's and highs around 70. It is goning back to the dealer they are going to keep it for a few days, to see if they can duplcate the problem, while I get to drive a compact loaner.

 

Man Good luck with all that.

I think you mentioned your warranty being up in April? I believe that if you bring the vehicle into the dealer for any circumstance, and they are unable to find the stated problem; the dealer/warranty company may still be obligated to pay for any repair should April come and go and the problem persist if the problem was mentioned BEFORE and then found AFTER the fact.

I ran into this with my 2002 Ranger, a door switch was faulty and my interior lights would come on and the "door ajar" light would light up as if I had opened the door (even though I didn't) while the doors were actually closed. Sure enough, the dealer said they could not get the problem to repeat itself and I was sent home. Well my warranty eventually expired and the problem persisted, so I called them up, they said bring it in. This time they found the problem and it turned out to be a pretty easy fix. All expense paid.

B

 

Good point Sinner, it's kind of like a pre-existing condition on your health insurance. For the life of me, I can't figure out what it is. You checked everything you could, disconnected any suspected aftermarket parts, yet it still does it randomly. I'm really leaning towards an alternator or still possibly a battery issue. But you'd be wise to be adament with the dealer now, this is your truck that they are supposed to fix. If you report a problem, they need to take it seriously and hold the truck until the problem repeats itself to them.

 

The dealer has my truck now, I have a focus (i'm not happy) and it's costing me 17.99 a day, I'm turing It back in I'd rater walk then drive it. anyway thay had my truck since yesterday morning and are doing to keep it through today, then I am getting it back Sometimes it can go a week without innicident. I not going to let them keep it for that long or longer. If it wasn't under warrenty and I was footing the bill I bet they would be throwing parts at it. I don't see how if thay see it do it theirselfs is going to help them fix it any better then me telling them. I'm getting aggirvated with them I fixing to try another dealer or talk to sombody who signs paychecks

 

just talked to dealer, said it did it this moring when they started it. They are going to do a battery check, said if battery checks out I'm proble not driving it enough to keep the battery charged. I was hot I told him so your are telling me that if I go out on the lot and pick a truck that has been sitting for who knows how many days and it will do the some thing as mine. He didn't ahve a replie for that told me to check back with them later. The longest my truck sits is to 2 to 3 days a week I drive to work 2 to 5 days a week 11 miles their and 11 miles home that is a minume. I let vechicals sit for weeks and no problems. Dealer also said the only way they would fix a vechiel free of charge after the warnty was up would be if they changed a part and that part failed befor a 12 moknth period. I'm I asking to much that a $30,000 truck with less the 30,000 miles should fuction proper. I am going to get it at 5 today and it better at least have a new battery or I'm going to talk to on of the guys the dealership is named after

 

Im VERY interested in this. I have had the same issue with my '04. Im on my second battery now. I have 21k miles on it. I only drive about 15 miles a day. The truck starts with no problem, well unless it sits for a full day. I have a '71 Chevy that sits months at a time. It always fires up. My new 34,000 dollar truck cant spend the night and hold a charge? Honestly I do not beleive the issue is the battery. To get the truck to start I hook up my battery charger for all of about 20 seconds and it will fire. I can shut it down and restart it all day long and its fine. That tells me the battery was never drained. My warranty is over in Febuary. It really pisses me of that I cant trust to take my truck hunting in fear that it may not start and there may not be anyone there to help me out.

 

I really think this is an alternator issue, the more I read what you guys are saying. You not driving it enough is BS!!! I travel for work, and leave my truck at Logan Airport (Boston), on the water, in the cold with an ocean breeze, for 3-4 days at a time. This happens twice a month. It starts right up when I get back to Boston. 11 miles each way is enough to charge up a battery, unless the battery is completely fried or drained beyond recharging capacity. These dealers are full of it. If I were you, I would get to the dealer early and go talk to one of the guys the dealer is named after, have them take you over to service themselves to pick up your truck and make sure they at least attempted a repair. And ask how they checked the alternator.