2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Batteries fried - No start - No jump

[icarus33]

Original batteries RIP after 4. 5 years.



Was forced to put in Optimas red tops in yesterday. No warning at all that the batteries were going south. Had been out running errands in the morning, then tried to start and just had the starter solenoid clicking away. Had barely enough juice to hear the door chime. Must have been a dead short failure in one battery.

Tried starting with one battery, other disconnected and not even a roll of the engine. Tried jump starting from another car with the batteries disconnected just to get home and there was not enough juice to get the motor turning fast enough to fire off.

Now have the red tops in, but if I left lights on or something one day, I may not be able to jump start it again. Anyone else been in the situation where you needed to jump start that Cummins and been succesful?



ic

 

[Motorhead]

At UPS we have some 12valve powered Package cars. The idiot carwashers leave the lights on all night and we havea dead car in the AM. They have two batteries also. The way we get them to start is to jump from another truck BUT you have to run the other truck sometimes 15 minutes to charge the dead trucks batteies enough plus the assist of the running truck. Of course when you have barreries that took a dump on you, you have to replace them to even have a chance of starting. Chris

 

[illflem]

What you need is heavy gauge jumper cables, heavier than you'll find at an auto parts. Home made out of welding cable is the best. Other ways I've done it with heavy equipment is to use two pairs of jumpers, one pair for each pole. You can also ground the vehicles together with a chain or butt them up to each other then use both jumper leads for the positive pole. This is middle of nowhere stuff, otherwise use a battery charger.

 

[stick]

Been there... .

Mine happened on the coldest day of winter, on a sunday, in a vacant parking lot. I called a wrecker, and this guy shows up with a huge semi wrecker. He says he can jump start it with no problem, WRONG!

That's why mine has Red Tops now.



Stick

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by icarus33

Original batteries RIP after 4. 5 years.

No warning at all that the batteries were going south.

ic

Did yours still show green in the battery site windows before they went south?

 

[carson6]

4 year's

I forgot to disconnect the trailer one night and in the mourning we found out how hard it was to jump a cummin's. the next day... two new mopar's

 

[icarus33]

The OEM batt's lost the green charge indicator 3+ years ago so I figured that indicator was pretty much worthless. I've scanned the truck a few times with my laptop and Alex Peper's OBD-II software and for the past 2 winters have seen a code related to the charge circuit. So from that point, I knew they may be on the way out, but went through 2 winters and 2 hot southwest summers till now.



I can sure believe what illflem stated, not enough copper in the cables to get it to the starter from the jumper car. I have the largest guage cables I could find at the time, but they are long. I'm sure heavier guage and a 8-10 ft length would be the ticket. Maybe since it was a F@rd Mustang giving it the boost there was hesitation from the Ram.



Truck spins up real fast now with the Opt's in. Hope that situation doesn't come up again.



ic

 

[M Barnett]

illflem is right on. Several times I've had a driver to leave the lights on the semi and I have to jump it with the Dodge. I made my own cables from welding cable and supplies enough amps to turn over the big truck and get going again. You can order big clamps from a parts store.

Michael

 

[GAmes]

Charge indicator

If the window goes black it means that the water level is low. The indicator is just a ball that floats under the the little glass window. Even the "sealed" mopar batteries can be refilled, it just takes a little more weight on the filler caps.

 

[LarryB]

Be careful using jumper cables that are too small. They can heat up real fast and cause some nasty burns, smoke and even fire. The little ones sold at the average auto store should be illegal. Our Cummins starters use enough amperage to fry the average jumpers even freewheeling on the test bench without the load of cranking the engine. Don't ask me how I know that!

 

[lizzyhermit]

a jump start giggle

a very warm (hot everywhere else) July afternoon in Phoenix. Picking up #1 daughter and truck won't turnover. right in front of a county mounties residence, "can I give ya a jump"? he believes his mighty ford cruiser can do anything.



"sure, we can try it but I don't think it will have the power". we get it all hooked up per the book and guess what? The Cummins won't budge. As we're unhooking (by the book) he mumbles something like "man, those things do have some compression" as he goes about his yard work.



I appreciated his offer and attitude. Now we have a new "learned one" about the power of our toys. BTW, I had to go buy 2 new Diehards just before closing time so I could go on holiday the next early AM.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Old US Army rule jump start with a same type vehicle Tank for Tank 5ton for 5 ton jeep for jeep . Reason same amps all have slave receptacle on fender and heavy cable for max amps. Same holds for our Rams Rams for Rams or Rams for Fords :-{} Ron in LOUISVILLE KY

 

[icarus33]

Popped the battery tops off last summer and filled with distilled. Both batteries took quite a bit of water then. Maybe that's what helped them make it this long.



ic