Battery possibly bad?
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Battery possibly bad?
Hey team,
Yesterday, I got in my truck that has NEVER had a problem starting and I noticed it "dragged" a little when I started it, sounding like low juice in battery. The gauge showed the needle towards H and I drove it about 18 miles to work. I was in work about 1 hour and when I came out it was completely dead. I jumped it with the work truck and ran a couple errands, keeping the truck running. I then went to a buddies house for about 2 hours and when I came out it started with no problem. So, when I got home, I took and cleaned the battery cables and the starter connections. Went to start it and it was dead again. I jumped it and checked the volts as it ran and got 14.5, good output. I let it run for awhile and shut it off and it restarted. I checked the volts when it was not running and got 12.0. I checked it this morning and it was at 5.0. I did a battery check, using a battery/alternator check meter and it shows 5.0. I would think that is normal, as things do run while the truck is not running and it is not a battery draw. So, my question is do you think the battery is shot? It is the original battery, a 2001 F-150 SuperCrew with 130,000 miles on it.
Thanks for your help,
-John
Yesterday, I got in my truck that has NEVER had a problem starting and I noticed it "dragged" a little when I started it, sounding like low juice in battery. The gauge showed the needle towards H and I drove it about 18 miles to work. I was in work about 1 hour and when I came out it was completely dead. I jumped it with the work truck and ran a couple errands, keeping the truck running. I then went to a buddies house for about 2 hours and when I came out it started with no problem. So, when I got home, I took and cleaned the battery cables and the starter connections. Went to start it and it was dead again. I jumped it and checked the volts as it ran and got 14.5, good output. I let it run for awhile and shut it off and it restarted. I checked the volts when it was not running and got 12.0. I checked it this morning and it was at 5.0. I did a battery check, using a battery/alternator check meter and it shows 5.0. I would think that is normal, as things do run while the truck is not running and it is not a battery draw. So, my question is do you think the battery is shot? It is the original battery, a 2001 F-150 SuperCrew with 130,000 miles on it.
Thanks for your help,
-John
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
I also agree, it sounds like the battery. But is it the original? how old is the battery? If the battery is only a few years old, then maybe its a draw?
When you are putting the new battery in, conect 1 terminal, and run the other threw a volt meter, just to make sure you dont get any surprises in the A.M. Make sure all the lights are off. And you should ony read minimal draw .o3 or so...
I also might add, replace it with the biggest one you can fit in the box... I always replace mine with the Diesel one. What a world of difference on cold or hot days.
Run threw meter= touch cable to neg on meter, and pos on meter to appropriate terminal.( one cable would connect to. aka if test is run on pos then pos)
When you are putting the new battery in, conect 1 terminal, and run the other threw a volt meter, just to make sure you dont get any surprises in the A.M. Make sure all the lights are off. And you should ony read minimal draw .o3 or so...
I also might add, replace it with the biggest one you can fit in the box... I always replace mine with the Diesel one. What a world of difference on cold or hot days.
Run threw meter= touch cable to neg on meter, and pos on meter to appropriate terminal.( one cable would connect to. aka if test is run on pos then pos)
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
I'm looking at a Diehard with 875 CCA's. Original was 650CCA's , so this should be better. Also, I normally check this way= Disconnect the neg cable and touch black wire from volt meter to neg cable and touch red wire from volt meter to positive post of battery, with positive cable connected to battery.
Thanks for all your help,
-John
Thanks for all your help,
-John
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,512
Likes: 18
From: Detroit
George
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 747
Likes: 2
From: Pelahatchie, MS
Bobtail - I think Mustang was talking about checking for amperage draw rather than a voltage check. Hook up parallel to check voltage, but the meter has to go inline to see an amperage draw.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
crestfallinman
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
33
Mar 1, 2012 09:54 AM
