Notices
1999 - 2016 Super Duty 1999 to 2016 Ford F250, F350, F450 and F550 Super Duty with diesel V8 and gas V8 and V10 engines
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Real Truck

Battery Discharging

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 14, 2008 | 10:46 PM
  #1  
jokerforever's Avatar
jokerforever
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 820
Likes: 11
Cool Battery Discharging

Something is draining my battery. I haven’t been driving my Super Duty very much over the last 5-6 months. Everytime I jumped in it throughout that time it has had a dead battery. Last week I pulled the battery and gave it a good charge. I drove it a few days and it ran great but then I let it set over the weekend. Again, dead battery this morning. I haven’t had a chance to troubleshoot it but hopefully will have time tomorrow. I’m a good mechanic and know what I’m looking for. I just want to know if there are any specific problems with these trucks that I should look for.

 

Last edited by jokerforever; Jan 14, 2008 at 10:49 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 14, 2008 | 11:05 PM
  #2  
Hootbro's Avatar
Hootbro
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 396
Likes: 2
I would get the battery load test before looking for anything else.

Hootbro
 
Reply
Old Jan 14, 2008 | 11:25 PM
  #3  
G BOBKA's Avatar
G BOBKA
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Lake Worth, Fla.
How old are the batteries. One that batteries cell will ruin the whole battery. I would test the batteries. What I did on my truck when the battery went away. I replaced both of them just seem like the right thing to do. If you go to the auto parts store. They should be able to test your alternator or alternators if you have two. Good luck
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 06:36 AM
  #4  
03KingRanch250's Avatar
03KingRanch250
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Stationed in Beaufort SC
Have the batteries load tested. If one is bad then replace them both. I just replaced both of mine with Duralast Gold top 850 CCA, 1000 CA. You wouldn't believe the difference when it comes to starting the truck. Fires right up. Have them test the alternator also.
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 08:27 AM
  #5  
redford's Avatar
redford
FTE Leadership Emeritus
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Club FTE Gold Member
Sounds like one or both of the batteries are going bad.
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 04:34 PM
  #6  
Turbokid15's Avatar
Turbokid15
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Sounds like one of your cells has dropped.
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 07:51 PM
  #7  
jokerforever's Avatar
jokerforever
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 820
Likes: 11
FYI…I have a single battery, gas engine.

The battery was only six months old. And in that time I doubt that I put two hundred miles on it. I’ve been traveling a lot and left the truck setting at home. The battery was a yellow/gold top Duralast. I took it today and had it load checked and it came up bad. It was replaced under warranty so that solved that problem.

Now a new battery shouldn’t just go bad just setting like that so I started looking around. I found that do have a direct short somewhere. So far all I’ve eliminated is the alternator and then I ran out of sunlight. At this point it could be anywhere and I’m thinking about taking the d@mn thing it to Carmax this weekend.
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 10:04 PM
  #8  
Wayne64SS's Avatar
Wayne64SS
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 339
Likes: 2
From: Upstate NY
We used to have an F250 that did the same thing... turned out to be the radio went bad and was draining the battery. I suggest pulling the radio out of the truck and then seeing if it still drains the batt.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 10:52 PM
  #9  
Hootbro's Avatar
Hootbro
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 396
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by jokerforever
........ I found that do have a direct short somewhere. So far all I’ve eliminated is the alternator and then I ran out of sunlight. .....
How did you exactly determine that? Unless you disconnect the wire/cable from point to point, you will read back to chassi ground and not figure anything out.

Even a fresh new part can have a early failure. I would not totally rule out the battery as being the only cause.

Hootbro
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2008 | 11:10 PM
  #10  
biz4two's Avatar
biz4two
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,844
Likes: 5
From: Albuquerque
Club FTE Gold Member
Arrow

Originally Posted by jokerforever
I found that do have a direct short somewhere. So far all I’ve eliminated is the alternator and then I ran out of sunlight.
Sounds like it is time to start pulling fuses. Get your owner's manual...and figure each fuse...and go to town.

Good luck...


biz
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jassonn
Electrical Systems/Wiring
6
Nov 1, 2015 06:10 PM
ghunt
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
10
Apr 15, 2015 04:52 PM
Yoam69
Excursion - King of SUVs
15
Apr 7, 2014 10:35 PM
paulwjax
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
8
Jan 20, 2014 11:38 AM
crestfallinman
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Jan 14, 2011 11:06 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:51 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE