Charging problem ???

[machinemover]

I want to post series of events to try and explain my problems better.

Left refrigerator in truck on and drained batteries.

Charged Batteries

1400 miles later on a trip

truck started, ran 5 minutes and alternator indicator showed a very low charge.

Engine light came on, stopped at local dealer and they replaced the alternator.

Ran another 1000 miles, same problem... .

Stopped at local dealer on the road, tested and said the ECM is calling for only 1. 5 volts. problem is the ECm not the alternator.

ECM not in stock was told a week to get, I took my chances to make it to Florida and figured I'd be better there then where I was.

Brokedown in FLorida on the Florida turnpike. (cost me $100 to tow, another story altogether)

Towed to dealer, dealer says batteries drained, threw no codes, and no indication of a problem. I have since put 4000 miles on the truck and it has been trouble free, however my original problem has never been fixed and no one has an anwser. I now have 23,000 miles on my new truck, I make a living off my truck and I'm not sure if I can depend on it or not. I'm thinking bad batteries, and maybe I'll just go out and buy new ones. Opinions???

 

[jelag]

I have an engel fridge in my truck. . it can sit 7-10 day and still starts... I never turn off the fridge... .



I'm guessing you have a loose connection in your truck causing all of this..... I'd first start to pull the battery cables and clean all the ends... . at the batteries and at all connections... . I'd than wait and see... . Something that comes and goes is usually a loose connection and unless its doing it at the time of inspection... . you won't find it... .



Hope this helps...

 

[betterthanstock]

Our trucks have "starting" batteries, not deep -cycle. If you "drained" your batteries, anything below 12V causes permanent damage to the lead plates.

Charging dead batteries takes several days, and proper recharging require several different charge rates, equalization (really bad for maintenance-free batteries since it boils off too much water) with periods of rest in between to allow them to cool off, and prevent boiling.

The stock alternator will overheat if it has to recharge a dead battery.

There are 2 sensors under the batteries which monitor battery temperature, and tell the ECM to back off the charging cycle if they get hot, to prevent boiling.



It is possible that now they are finally properly charged, though their life will probably be shortened by 1-2 years due to damage to lead plates, and higher than normal loss of water.



Get a digital voltmeter, and check voltage in the morning, before starting truck. If less than about 12. 5 V, get new batteries. Use the same type batteries, or you risk boiling them off. Deep cycle batteries require different charge voltages.



The ECM may simply have been detecting hot batteries and only calling for a lower voltage. It is probably fine.



I've just charged a couple of batteries (tractor and boat) and it took me over a week to finally have them properly charged with a multi-rate charger.