Batteries and Manually Jumping

[KNorthcutt]

I am looking at the dual batteries in my 2004. 5 after the salesman indicated the truck requires 24 volts to turn over, but once running, the truck turns to 12 volts. Not sure about this, but with the batteries hooked into series, if I should happen to have a weak cell in one of the batteries, preventing the truck to turn over, and I elect to jump from another truck with a 12 volt system, which battery should I hook to in my truck to jump start. The weak battery or the good battery?

 

[rashwor]

I could be mistaken, but I think your salesman is a bone head. 12 volts all the time just like the 2nd gens.

 

[bpenrod]

My 03 will start and run ob one battery, I'm sure the whole systems is 12 volts but the extra amps from the second battery help starting and with the grid heater in cold weather.

 

[DHess]

rashwor is not mistaken - the salesman IS a bonehead. Your batteries are hooked in parallel (positive to positive). You have 12 volts but the batteries will share the load.



Where do they find these salespeople?



Dave

 

[Dean Upson]

Salesman must have learned that at Mc Collage.



Dean

 

[rashwor]

Ex-Ford salesperson.

 

[MCrossley]

Hey look at it this way it would be very entertaining for everyone standing about 50 feet away when you hit the 12V system with 24 volts... PCM what PCM...

 

[klenger]

Call the salesman and tell him you tried to jump it with 24 volts, and now your truck is blown up and you are in the hosipital. Then tell him the next call will be from your lawyer.

 

[CChase]

He's thinking large diesels, they have a series/parallel switch that does change the battery harness configuration to be in series when starting... either that or he's a service guy looking for some job security... or maybe he is just a bonehead.



And to answer your question, there is a sticker in there that tells which battery to jump to. Believe it is the passenger side, but it should be the one closest to the starter in the circuit.

 

[TexasDodgeRam]

My dealer tried to tell me the same thing. He also said if I needed a jump I would need two sets of jumper cables and two cars to get my truck started. About that time he started to sound like charlie brown's school teacher. I just wanted to finish the paper work and get out. Next time I go to buy a new truck I will wear my hip waders to protect me from all the BS.

 

[klenger]

"bla, bla, ... bla, bla, ... bla, bla, bla!"

 

[nickleinonen]

Originally posted by CChase

He's thinking large diesels, they have a series/parallel switch that does change the battery harness configuration to be in series when starting... either that or he's a service guy looking for some job security... or maybe he is just a bonehead.



And to answer your question, there is a sticker in there that tells which battery to jump to. Believe it is the passenger side, but it should be the one closest to the starter in the circuit.

some trucks have that, but many are just 12v systems. when i was in school, we had a deutz engine that ran on 24v starters and someone fried the series/parallel switch, so it was always a great bit of fun starting that engine up with some booster cables and 2 batteries

 

[Grayhackle]

My salesman, who I have known for 25 years, told me that the 03

had 2 six volt batteries. Also told me to plug the trailer brake into the slot under the steering wheel. (computer plug). He knows nothing about the Dodge trucks obviously. I really believed the part about the 2 six volts until I looked it up in my repair manual. He had me fooled there. One look at the trailer plug told me it wouldn't fit. They must not get any training or don't pay attention.

 

[GerryDrake]

Originally posted by Grayhackle

My salesman, who I have known for 25 years, told me that the 03

had 2 six volt batteries. Also told me to plug the trailer brake into the slot under the steering wheel. (computer plug). He knows nothing about the Dodge trucks obviously. I really believed the part about the 2 six volts until I looked it up in my repair manual. He had me fooled there. One look at the trailer plug told me it wouldn't fit. They must not get any training or don't pay attention.

Y'know... I have NO respect for someone who gives information like that. I have the utmost respect for someone who says "I don't know" instead.



To pick a line from Clint... "A man's just got to know his limitations"



This guy obviously doesn't, and insults your intelligence by feeding you BS.

 

[Grayhackle]

I agree, especially when I went back in and confronted him about it, then he made matters worse by denying he ever told me that!!

We are not that close anymore. I will speak when we pass.

When I bought my truck, I went to all the Salt Lake Dealers, Bountiful. Orem, checked with Dave Smith Dodge in Idaho and found pretty much the same things. The salemen were all full of bull and spouted lots of it. Being a member of this board I knew what I wanted, just didn't know all the small things.



In all fairness to Dave Smith, I only communicated with a salesman by email and gave him a list of options etc I wanted. Just didn't like his price.

 

[KBennett]

As my wife always asks:



What's the difference between a brown-eyed salesman and a blue-eyed salesman?

The blue-eyed salesman is only full of it up to his chin.

 

[JohnnyH]

There is a sticker on my truck, right next to each battery. It says, Do not use more than 12 volts when jump starting.

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by Grayhackle

The salemen were all full of bull and spouted lots of it. Being a member of this board I knew what I wanted, just didn't know all the small things.

I don't think some of us could survive without the TDR. I think the only way to dealer with the dealers is to know more than they do. I know they don't like it either.



My cousin's 03 dually is slipping its clutch pulling hills - and it's all stock. The clutch was rattling too. His dealer did not want to do anything about it until I gave him the TSB for the clutch rattle. They tried to get out of it by saying they never heard of it -- until my cousin gave him the numbers. Then they fixed it!