Voltage regulator whacked?
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2006
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Voltage regulator whacked?
My 2004 f150 drains the battery over time. It takes 2 or 3 months for it to totally discharge to the point that it will not start, then I have to hook it up to a battery charger for it to totally charge the battery. I bought a new replacement Motorcraft battery this summer thinking that the original was going bad.
I drive the truck once or twice a week. I have an edge evolution hooked up in the truck but I disconnect the plug so it wont drain the battery. The edge shows the battery voltage at 11.9v, and when the truck is running it is showing 14.1 -14.3 volts. I can hear the electronics (injectors, etc) making irregular noise when the truck's battery is getting discharged. WTH?
I drive the truck once or twice a week. I have an edge evolution hooked up in the truck but I disconnect the plug so it wont drain the battery. The edge shows the battery voltage at 11.9v, and when the truck is running it is showing 14.1 -14.3 volts. I can hear the electronics (injectors, etc) making irregular noise when the truck's battery is getting discharged. WTH?
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 662
Likes: 2
From: CO
How long are you driving it the once or twice a week? If the run time is not long enough to re-charge what was discharged while it sat, I can see the battery easily getting discharged over time that way.
You may want to check all your cables and connections for corrosion or other problems that would increase resistance and not let the battery charge as fast as it should.
You may want to check all your cables and connections for corrosion or other problems that would increase resistance and not let the battery charge as fast as it should.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Surrey
I have a 5.4L 2007 and the Edge shows 14.1-14.3V right after the startup and for only few seconds. It will goes into 13.4-13.5v for the rest of the driving duration.
Check the battery terminal connections to make sure they are clean and tight.
Check the battery terminal connections to make sure they are clean and tight.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
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This sounds normal to me. There are several modules that need power to keep their memory. A normal draw on a battery is 15 mA. So if you let it sit for a couple of months the battery will go dead, no way around it.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 492
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From: Louisville
The OP said he drive his truck at least once a week, I have let my truck sit for 2 weeks at a time before. My battery has never been weak much less dead. There must be a bad/coroded connection somewhere.
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Junior User
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There is no corrosion, the connection looks brand new. I drive my truck at least once a week, but sometimes it is a fast trip to the store and at least once a month it gets driven over 40 miles. The truck only has <6500 miles on it, and I bought it in January of 2005 brand new with only 15 miles.
I suppose that could be the problem, too much discarge from sitting and starting, but it is not ran long enough for the charging to keep up. Hell, im convinced. Thanks for the help.
I suppose that could be the problem, too much discarge from sitting and starting, but it is not ran long enough for the charging to keep up. Hell, im convinced. Thanks for the help.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 662
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From: CO
Wow. I thought my truck sat a lot. I'm still under 6500 too, but I have an '07 purchased in 3/07.
Starting pretty well kicks the battery in the nads when it's already drawn down from sitting. I've had the case where I started the truck just to move it out of the garage, stopped it for 10 minutes or so, and then the battery just barely had the guts to turn the engine the next time. That's why I dumped the limp d!ck OE battery and put the next size up in too.
Starting pretty well kicks the battery in the nads when it's already drawn down from sitting. I've had the case where I started the truck just to move it out of the garage, stopped it for 10 minutes or so, and then the battery just barely had the guts to turn the engine the next time. That's why I dumped the limp d!ck OE battery and put the next size up in too.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 256
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From: Sudbury, Ontario
i think the oe battery has just enough umph todo the job, a couple times now after having the stereo playing for 45min to hour the battery had just enough to start the truck, wonder how it's going to do when it's minus 20 celuis or colder
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From: Isanti, MN
Not very well...
My '03 was a year old when i tried starting it at -23 degrees farenheit...came very, very close to not starting.......
The OE battery is only rated for 540 CCA...the top end battery at walmart is rated for 850.....
My '03 was a year old when i tried starting it at -23 degrees farenheit...came very, very close to not starting.......
The OE battery is only rated for 540 CCA...the top end battery at walmart is rated for 850.....
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2008
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Have you considered installing a battery tender? It would maintain the battery topped off without over charging it. I don't have one set up on the truck but I use them on motorcycles. They crank right over after sitting all winter.
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