03 6.0 Battery/Starting problems

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Dec 13, 2007 | 11:22 AM

solomon

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From: Mississippi

03 6.0 Battery/Starting problems

Truck started getting hard to start in the mornings, and after it sat for a while. Both batteries needed replacing, so I did last week. They tested the alternator at that time and said it was fine. Everything's been fine til this morning. Went to start it and batteries were dead. Lights just flickered on and off on the dash. Hooked it up to my car and got it started. Shortly after I took the cables off it died. Got it started again, and it ran for a minute. The guages worked but I noticed the radio wasn't getting any power. Then it died again. Put a charger on one battery and it needed a charge. Does it sound like the alternator or maybe a relay? I figured if the alternator was bad I would have had problems already.

Dec 13, 2007 | 12:35 PM

edjunior

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Joined: Jan 2007

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From: Roman Forest, TX

Yes, it sounds like the alternator, if the new batteries were good for a week. But it seems like you would have noticed a little battery drain during that week, instead of just waking up and all of a sudden they were dead again. That would point to something else draining the batteries. As a first though, I'd have the alternator checked. Take it to AutoZone and have them test it. Then go from there.

Dec 13, 2007 | 12:54 PM

redford

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From: Stephensville WI

Are your battery cables clean and corrosion free?

Dec 13, 2007 | 03:22 PM

solomon

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From: Mississippi

Battery cables are clean.

Dec 13, 2007 | 07:31 PM

riggz

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From: Dunwoody, GA

Anything aftermarket installed that uses 12volts? If not, then I would guess it's the alternator. How many miles on the alt?

Dec 13, 2007 | 08:44 PM

msgtg

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From: Rural WV

Yeah Pal, you need to get a second opinion on that alt! Two new batteries just don't die in a week. I could see it if you only replaced one battery but you did it right and replaced both. I have to assume you bought the correct batteries not just a pair of new small batteries.

Have that alt checked asap. Try not to run at night...your batteries don't sound like they've built up enough to power that load at all.

If the alt checks out...I'm guessing it's gonna be a grounding issue somewhere.

Joe

Dec 14, 2007 | 10:43 AM

solomon

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From: Mississippi

It was the alternator. I quick tested it on the truck and it wasn't charging the batteries, so I jerked it off and went to Autozone. Failed every test.