Archived BIG battery drain problem

[Mark Starr]

I have a 2006 that has a problem with the electrical. Occasionaly the CHECK GAUGES light will come on. This is followed by the voltage indicator quickly going down to below 10 volts. This happens in less than 15 minutes. Lights dim and the truck will not start due to dead batteries. I suspect the drain is caused by the Grid Heaters as nothing else I can think of would suck the power so quick. Also when they turn on the Alternator by design stops charging. I disconnected the relay wire to the Grid heaters and that seems to stop the drain however the alternator will not charge when this symptom is present. I flashed the program with a Superchips 5800 when I returned the program to stock. That gets it charging again but after driving for 10 minutes the light comes on again. Any ideas?

 

[AKAMAC]

Check the IAT connections. The grid heaters are temperature dependant. A new IAT unit is about $35. 00 from Cummins if yours is bad.

 

[Mark Starr]

Thank you, I've jotted that down and will ask the dealer to check it as well. For now I have it working and can at the least get it to the dealer.

 

[PBrauer]

I have a 2006 that has a problem with the electrical. Occasionaly the CHECK GAUGES light will come on. This is followed by the voltage indicator quickly going down to below 10 volts. This happens in less than 15 minutes. Lights dim and the truck will not start due to dead batteries. I suspect the drain is caused by the Grid Heaters as nothing else I can think of would suck the power so quick. Also when they turn on the Alternator by design stops charging. I disconnected the relay wire to the Grid heaters and that seems to stop the drain however the alternator will not charge when this symptom is present. I flashed the program with a Superchips 5800 when I returned the program to stock. That gets it charging again but after driving for 10 minutes the light comes on again. Any ideas?

Grid heaters won't take it down that far. You probably just lost your alternator. Lost mine ('06) Saturday after watching it closely for the last month or so. Went from 14. 9+ to a little over 10V in a few minutes. Luckily it stayed over 10 long enough to get to a parts store. Oddly, when I would stop and idle, it would climb back up to normal. Injectors must draw more current than I thought... learned something.



'06 alternator app's don't show up at any of the parts stores, and dealer wants something like $250 for one. Look up '05 (at Autozone anyway) and you'll get an exact match reman. Bosch (Duralast box) for $140. My lucky day, I guess.



Changed it in the parking lot. Beat freezing that night anyway.



Post will/might be same OD but diff. thread. Don't lose the nut/washer off of the NEW one. Disco Batt's or protect the cable AND protect/insulate the wrench when removing the nut. Mounts are ridged, used short 2x4's to beat new one in... Easier to remove the airbox than to fight/work around it... Good luck.

 

[Mark Starr]

All great information. That sounds pretty close to the problem I've had. Actually it happened about a year ago and then went away until now. My fault for not doing something then. However, the problem wouldn't present itself to the dealer. They looked at me like I was nuts. Could be, but I had a truck problem too! Thanks.