Dead batteries

[rncordy]

Went to start the truck a couple of days ago and NO JOY! Batts dead, clicking sounds, etc, all the electronics went crazy, voltmeter showed 8-10 volts. Truck is 5 months old!



Charged the batts overnight and it started normally. Took it to the dealer (a good one, 125 miles away) and they could find nothing wrong. Took it home and it#@$%! started normally for the next two days (today being the second day).



Does anyone have any ideas as to what might have happened (and what might happen again)?



Thanks!

 

[rncordy]

Dead Battery addendum

Don't know what happened to my personal stuff??



My truck is a 2010 3500 Laramie, 4X4, SWB CrewCab

 

[viper700]

Could you have accidently left the dash lite dimmer switch on so that the interior cab light and the light out over the bed were on over night?????????

Normaly your interior cab light is on a timer and you could have walked away thinking the lights would time out. I did that on a an s-10 blazer and the rear light at the back window was on a for 2 days and man was that battery dead.

 

[rncordy]

Thanks Viper. I don't think so. The night before the problem I had actually turned the dash lights down. And the morning after I charged the batteries I did not notice those (any) lights on. I had thought, maybe incorrectly, that "the computer" shuts everything down after a few minutes.

I did leave the key in the ignition, in the off position, maybe there is a drain when one does that? But I have done that before, so I really have no clue!

 

[sag2]

OK, you can't leave the keys in the ignition on any of the new vehicles. Your right, they all have load shedding and should have turned everything off, but you fooled the controller. When you leave the key in the ignition, the key in switch tells the controller you are ready to start the vehicle or turn the ignition on. It's not smart enough to know you aren't coming back for a couple of days (just like my dog) so it keeps the bus awake (stares out the window). It draws several amps until the batteries go dead (gets tired of sitting in my chair).

 

[gtoli]

It's not smart enough to know you aren't coming back for a couple of days (just like my dog) so it keeps the bus awake (stares out the window). It draws several amps until the batteries go dead (gets tired of sitting in my chair).

:-laf Thank's, I needed that this morning!!! :-laf

 

[MChrist]

... . I usually leave the keys in my truck and haven't had a problem yet, sometimes for a week. Is the '06 different than the '10?

 

[rncordy]

I sure hope that Sag2 is correct! After the holidays, I might run the experiment!

And, MChrist, do you have the electronic key in the 06? An "electronic key" being just a plug that goes into the dashboard vice a traditional key that goes into the steering column?

Thanks for the solutions everybody, keep them coming. By the way, truck has started normally since the recharge, but has been in relatively warm garage. Today will be a better test, outside in 30 deg weather.

P. S. How do I get my "Truck Profile" to appear along with my signature? Type it in I guess.

 

[MChrist]

I guess traditional key?? Big honkin' key fob with metal key that goes into the steering column.

 

[JRS]

I had the exact same thing happen to me, twice. Once on November 1st and the next time exactly a week later. Since then, everything has been fine.

 

[rncordy]

JRS,

Did you leave your key in the ignition? Or do you have some other explanation? I'm not keen on unresolved mysteries, especially when they keep me from starting my new $50,000 truck! Hard to explain to the DW!

 

[rncordy]

MChrist,

That would be a traditional key, in my jargon. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[GaryOwen]

I would clean the battery connections if you haven't done so already. Poor connections can have similar symptoms (low voltage on gauge and weak starting) while the batteries are fully charged.

 

[rncordy]

Thanks Gary, I'll do that as well.

 

[JRS]

No, I did not leave my keys in the truck. The first time (the morning after Halloween) I thought maybe I had left an interior light on or something. Basically, I blamed it on something I did. I was extra careful for a week, making sure I shut everything off when getting out of the truck. Exactly a week later the truck had the same problem, dead batteries. It hasn't happened since then. I've taken to calling the truck "Christine", because it has an electrical mind of it's own. I did notice that after the second battery drain, my radio no longer updates the satellite stations every time I get in it. Now it is back to randomly dropping stored "favorite" channels!

 

[rncordy]

JRS,

That's not the news I was hoping for! If it happens again to me I guess I'll just post that event.

TDR team, thanks for all the ideas and experiences!

 

[JRS]

Chrysler ok'd the dealer installing a new radio, I just haven't made it over there to have them find all the numbers to order a new one. (who'd thunk you couldn't get the right radio with the VIN number?) Anyway, to be perfectly honest, I think it's the satellite radio. This is the history:

1) radio worked fine when I purchased the truck last April

2) about three months into ownership I noticed that the radio started radomly dropping my stored satellite channels.

3) got in the truck one day last September and started it up. Turned on the radio and it flashed something like "system too hot" and then turned on. From then on every time I started the truck it would have to reload the satellite stations. This would take 15 seconds to 15 minutes. BUT, it no longer randomly dropped my favorites.

4) Dead batteries (Nov. 1st)

5) Dead batteries (Nov. 8th)

6) Now back to step 2 above (randomly dropped favorites)

I figure if I wait long enough it might go back to Step 1!!!!

 

[kmcdonough]

I'm having a problem with a dead battery. I have a 2011 with 3800 mi. One morning truck wouldn't start and had to jump it. Since then can't start without a jump. One battery only reads about 10. 8V and won't hold a charge (charged battery twice). Also found a drain on system using my multimeter. Few days prior to this all happening, I turned off truck and got out WITH KEY but info center was chiming reading "key in ignition". Put key back in, turned to on, then back to off, and pulled key. All seemed ok. I'm wondering if my ignition switch has malfunctioned and is causing the drain. Anyone else have a similar problem?
Kevin

 

[MChrist]

Sounds like when your drain dragged the batteries down, it probably shorted at least one battery. The dealer should also replace your battery(ies)
Dealer time!

 

[rncordy]

I have not had a dead battery in my truck since I started removing the key fob when the engine is not running.