Dead battery problem?

[jerryj]

Last week I decided to change the fuel filter on my 2004 3500 Ram Pick up prior to a trip. The next morning both batteries were dead. I thought I must have left a light or something else on. I charged the batteries and all was well. Fifty miles into the trip the high pressure line in the #4 cylinder sprung a leak where it connects to the #4 cylinder.

I had the truck towed to the nearest city. Being Sunday I had to leave it at a dealership with a note of problem. On Monday the dealer went to bring the truck into the shop, again both batteries were dead. They charged them and repaired the line, but the batteries went dead again. They replaced both batteries with new ones. I returned home with no problems, parked truck and and 2 days later both batteries are dead again. The batteries would not take a charge until I disconnected the passenger side neg wire.

Has anyone else had this problem? Could I have disconnected or shorted a wire while removing and replacing the fuel filter or what?????



Help JerryJ

Jacksonville, OR

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

 

[Prairie Dog]

Something is providing a pretty good draw. Any chance the cargo light is on or are the brake lights coming on by themselves?

 

[HBarlow]

A way to diagnose the cause is to carefully label and remove all the fuses and breakers from the panel under the hood and connect a multimeter set to read current (not voltage) between one of the batteries and the load distribution center.

Your meter should initially show no current draw. Then one by one reinstall each fuse and watch for current draw. When you see current draw determine what circuits the fuse is supplying.

If you removed or broke a wire and reinstalled it on the wrong post or connection troubleshooting may be more difficult.

 

[JLandry]

A stuck relay could cause it too.



John L.

 

[GaryOwen]

Don't know if 04's have the problem, but a lot of 2nd gens had problems with glovebox light staying on. I removed the bulb on mine.

 

[jerryj]

Dead Battery Problem

Thanks you for your replies. It gives me a place to start looking!

JerryJ

 

[Wingate]

Electrical drains can be found using the "Harvey Method" as described above... .

I found one on an old Ford dually awhile back, it was the puddle lamp on the rear door. Could never see that the light was staying on due to when the door was closed, the light was up against the side of the seat!!.