Battery Maintaining

[DeansRedRam]

So, my truck will sit for a week or two at a time and upon start up the other day I got "Battery Saver Mode On" on my dash. Well trucks only an 18 so I brought it to the dealer today and waiting to hear back if I can get free new batteries. ( also brought it there for other issues but added that in) I just don't think the batteries should be hurtin' in under 3 years/24k miles.

I'm thinking of adding an On-board battery maintainer hard wired to the batteries, thinking of going with a NOCO Genius brand...

I looked at my battery and I figured an 18 would have AGM but didn't see anything that stated AGM but saw Part no. 56029635AC. Anyone know if this is an AGM or not for definite? 730CCa, 140RC and 80Ahr.

I also see 00442/2013 on the battery, made in 2013 maybe?? Who knows.. I'd be pissed..

I was also thinking about getting a single 5amp battery charger, and hooking it to one battery, since they are connected in parallel, I imagine this would be suitable.. any input on that would be appreciated as well. Thanks!

 

[AH64ID]

I have a NOCO 3500 I plug into when the truck sits more than 3 days.

That being said, I am not impressed with the OE batteries in my 18. My truck sat out in the cold mountain last weekend for 48 hours and started really slow. The coolant/trans temps were 7/11 by the time the screen came to life and the ambient temp was 36. It was noon, so it must have been COLD the night before. Still, they were on the charger the week prior and 2 hours of driving prior to parking.

The OE batteries in my 05 were stronger than that at 5 years old.

I don’t think these will make it to next winter.

 

[DeansRedRam]

Yeah I noticed slower than normal cranking... I’m not impressed either. I never do much short drives with the truck either, it’s mainly 150 or more miles at a clip. I know there’s a lot of electronics but come on... they should design for that.

That’s funny you say that about your 05... my buddy had an 06 that the original batteries lasted til early 2016 almost 10 years. It was a running joke after he had the truck for 6 years about when the truck wasn’t going to start when we went upstate New York during winter months but kept on starting every time in sub zero temperatures.

 

[endoscott]

What the heck! I have original batteries in a 2014 and they are going strong still. Had them checked a few months ago. I got one more year of warranty so if they last until the end of 2021 I won't have to replace before I trade it in. Although if they don't come up with re-designed fuel pump I might just keep this truck. It's been pretty good. Lots of $1000 repairs but no $10,000 repairs. I might just decide to keep and be my own warranty station. I love the Aisin trans too, not sure I want one of those ZF "never change the fluid" trannys. That sounds "too good to be true" eh? The ZF probably going to be in the 2022 models?

 

[nukegm]

18 2500 here. was 5 degrees this am. not plugged in. synthetic rotella. truck barley started. seems to me the batteries are on the way out. my 01 2500 had original batteries for10 years. just sayin. cheers!

 

[lpennock]

My 18 got 2 new batteries under the 3/36 warranty this summer. About normal battery life in Phoenix .

 

[DeansRedRam]

Maybe its something in the 18s..? I have a friend with a 2017 and I don't remember him ever complaining about starting issues. I have a friend with a 2016 and will try to get contact with him tomorrow, I wonder how he is making out.

 

[seafish]

18 2500 here. was 5 degrees this am. not plugged in. synthetic rotella. truck barley started. seems to me the batteries are on the way out. my 01 2500 had original batteries for10 years. just sayin. cheers!

But ALSO your 2001 likely didn;t have more then 1% of the computational power, and electrical needs of your 2018...just sayin' !!! LOL

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Batteries in these trucks are junk for the most part. I think FCA buys from the lowest bidder.
They are only covered by the 3/36 bumper to bumper part of the warranty. And, if it's a diesel with two batteries, dealer will only replace the one that shows bad, even though every other authority on the subject says you should replace them in pairs.
I regularly leave my truck sit for two weeks at a time, if I was going to leave it longer than that I would have a battery maintainer hooked up to it.
My original batteries crapped out in a little over a year, but I had over 100K on it by then so no warranty. Replaced them with AGM's and so far so good.

 

[DeansRedRam]

Just got a call from the dealer.. really cool guys actually I have to say. Batteries tested OK apparently over 1100 Cranking amps apparently.

The meat of the conversation was my oil leak. When crawling under the truck last month I noticed the front of the pan to be wet. They just called me back saying I have a front case/ front main seal leak, found through a dye test. My first thought was timing cover but he explained this is different. He then told me that Chrysler doesn't consider it a leak, but they can 100% fix it under warranty.

I told them to hold off as it's not actually dripping, but I'm still on the fence. I can always bring it back the day it gets worse and they will fix it. I still have another 6 months of basic 3 year and 3 years of power train as well as lifetime on power train. I'm just afraid of opening a whole can of worms when its not unbearably bad.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Front seal leaks are common unfortunately, so are rear main seal leaks.
And, it could just seep for years without ever dripping.

 

[DeansRedRam]

Front seal leaks are common unfortunately, so are rear main seal leaks.
And, it could just seep for years without ever dripping.

Yeah I kind of figured it was inevitable at some point after owning my 01. Hmm... I'm not second guessing my decision, they're gonna call me back in a little bit to discuss again. Maybe since its already there.

 

[lpennock]

Personally I would have them do the fix but my dealer has always done a reasonable or better job on warranty work.

 

[josephc1]

Back to batteries. I just installed the third set of batteries in my '14, oe batteries went three year, bought AGM batteries for the second set and got a shade over three years out of them. Now back to wet cell batts about two months ago, can't see spending the extra $$$ for the AGM's and still get the same three years. Truck never sits more than 2 days without running at least 25 miles and is a garage queen at night. Just the roll of the dice I suppose

 

[Ram4Sam]

Just got a call from the dealer.. really cool guys actually I have to say. Batteries tested OK apparently over 1100 Cranking amps apparently.

The meat of the conversation was my oil leak. When crawling under the truck last month I noticed the front of the pan to be wet. They just called me back saying I have a front case/ front main seal leak, found through a dye test. My first thought was timing cover but he explained this is different. He then told me that Chrysler doesn't consider it a leak, but they can 100% fix it under warranty.

I told them to hold off as it's not actually dripping, but I'm still on the fence. I can always bring it back the day it gets worse and they will fix it. I still have another 6 months of basic 3 year and 3 years of power train as well as lifetime on power train. I'm just afraid of opening a whole can of worms when its not unbearably bad.

My experience with several dealers over the years has taught me that this sort of co-operation by a dealer and their willingness to fix things that FCA doesn't consider a problem......can change as quickly as the weather.......

Sam

 

[DeansRedRam]

Well I decided I'm gonna have them do it... we shall see. i figured the truck is already there..

So does anyone know about the factory batteries if their AGM or not? I guess when I get the truck back I could see if theres caps on them or not to top them off and that will tell me. Definitely going to invest in an onboard charging system to maintain batteries charge.

 

[Tuesdak]

can't see spending the extra $$$ for the AGM's and still get the same three years

There are very few specific uses an AGM will outlive a wet cell. Generally "Longer Life" is now a LIE and NOT a reason to buy an AGM battery. Specific to diesel dual battery systems. It used to be true and sometimes still is. Overdischarge and sulphation kill them just as well as wet cells. I have had the oddball AGM last years in AZ on a gas engine but the failure rate of 75% of them was the same as wet cells in 2 years including cracking from high internal pressure: if you can't stand the extreme underhood heat get out of my kitchen.

Crack on unused top post also leaking.

You buy an AGM battery for:
1) No Acid Mess on top of the battery eating the cables and connections away. They are spill proof NOT leak proof. The can still leak if they crack. (Look up battery cable prices and an AGM may be cheaper if the cables last longer.)
2) When they are run down they can take 100% of the amps a dual 440 Amp alt setup can produce and scream "THAT ALL YOU GOT!?". I have blown several GM alternators charging run down AGM batteries. They would scream awhile before something burnt out... Offhand they can take like 1,000 Amps per battery.

This one (bearing failure) even smoked enough to pull the pin of the fire extinguisher.

3) With the faster charge rate they can top off faster than a wet cell.
4) Extreme vibration. Here is where an AGM will outlive a wet cell. Loud Old School 1990's single cylinder air cooled diesel engine light plants. IMO only rock crushers vibrate more. We had very good luck with AGM's on light plants that ran 7 days a week all night in the early 1990's. The wet cell batteries just couldn't take the vibration very long.

 

[BarryG]

I just replaced the batteries in my 17 just shy of four years. Not great. Truck wouldn’t start got a jump. Drove several hours that day with only one stop. Next morning same thing wasn’t that cold either. New batteries and no more issues

Batteries in my 01 lasted almost 8 years and may have very well have gone longer but with winter coming on and my frequent trips to areas that get well below 0 Didn’t want to be worrying about a no start situation in those temps.

Glad you decided to get your oil leak fixed mine started same and within a couple months became quite gusher.

 

[DeansRedRam]

I just replaced the batteries in my 17 just shy of four years. Not great. Truck wouldn’t start got a jump. Drove several hours that day with only one stop. Next morning same thing wasn’t that cold either. New batteries and no more issues

Batteries in my 01 lasted almost 8 years and may have very well have gone longer but with winter coming on and my frequent trips to areas that get well below 0 Didn’t want to be worrying about a no start situation in those temps.

Glad you decided to get your oil leak fixed mine started same and within a couple months became quite gusher.

Well that makes me feel alot better, well see how she is after!

 

[Newsa]

I have a slightly different question. We will be driving from South Florida to North Carolina at the end of this month. I am in my second set of OEM batteries. My experience is that 3.5 years is the expected life of OEM batteries. My concern on the trip is that I don't want to have to waste time not being able to get the truck started. So far the batteries have performed fine. But I know how quickly these batteries become toast. I am inclined to just ditch these batteries and spend $350-$400 in 2 new batteries. Looking for opinions on if I am being alarmist.