Tonight I took my daughter to a church function. Truck ran fine with no problems. About an hour later when I went to pick her up, the truck acted like it was fine until I went to start it, then everything went completely dead. Very dim lights on the dash. Lots of clicking sounds under the dash. And the under hood light was blinking in what appeared to be a pattern, but I don't know what the pattern was. Voltage across the battery was would go from high 9's to low 10's (volts) when this was happening. After a little time, the clicking under the dash would stop. When I turn the parking lights on, dash lights are dim. If I do this a few times, they will come on bright like nothing is wrong, and voltage across the batteries is at 12.5v. When I turn the headlights on, there is nothing, and when I go back to the parking lights, they are dim again. When I turn it to run position, voltage drops to almost nothing. Radio is doing a lot of goofy stuff also.

If this is a short, why would it be there in a key off position with nothing on, then seem to return to normal with the parking lots on, then go to nothing with the parking lights on.

Truck has run flawless for as long as I have had it. I am sure what I wrote is confusing, but that is because I don't even know where to begin describing this, so ask questions.

The truck does have an alarm on it. Could it be the problem.

Thanks for your help.

Dave

 

Your symptoms are of a fault in the electrical supply circuit or its grounding system.

In the following order:

Bad battery -- Have the battery load-tested.
Bad battery connection -- Inspect and clean the battery terminals
Bad battery cable -- Look for corrosion inside the insulation jacket

There are a few less likely possibilities, but these at the top of the list.

Once the obvious fault is corrected, be sure to test the alternator to make sure it's functioning properly.

 

Chances are you have a bad battery connection.
Remove the connections, clean the terminals good (even if there is no sign of corrosion they can still not be making good contact). I have had cars just all of a sudden not crank. Check battery and it is good. Remove and clean with wire brush. Reinstall and tighten and on my way.

 

Has it been raining a lot.does the vehicle sit out side.you could have the infamous windsheild leak that is dripping water into your fuse box and causing the short/drain on your battery.the only reason i say this is because the radio is doing strange things.just a idea.

 

HI Dave,

Once you clean the connections to the battery and check for loose connections, if that does not resolve the issue have the battery tested.

If the battery's more that 5 or 6 years old even if it tests fine I'd replace it.

I had a battery in my Jeep over the summer start spiking on the highway,it was 5 years old.

I'd be driving down the road and all of a sudden I'd loose my gauges,then they'd come back on.

The alternator and battery tested fine. So I replaced the battery and that ended up being the culprit.

Sounds like a battery deal to me.Let us know how you make and and we'll post more things to try if we need to.

Tony

 

Also if your alternator has gone bad, the truck will drain juice from the battery while you're driving,which is why when you went to restart the truck,the battery had no juice in it to fire up the truck.

I'd have the alternator tested too. If you need a new alternator we have new ones,not the rebuilt ones the parts stores offer.

 

Thanks fellas. I will check this stuff out this morning

 

I put a new battery in and everything appears to be back to normal. I am going to get the alternator tested this morning just to be sure. Thanks for your help fellas.

Dave

 

Don't wait too long. You'll have 30-60 miles on the battery's charge before the truck dies at a very inopportune time if the alternator isn't charging...