Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Engine will not start

[Black Cloud]

OK, we just had our coldest night of the season, about 22 last night. So today around 3 pm, just a tad warmer, I go out and try to start my truck. I cycle it twice and then try to start but it justs cranks. I cycle the engine again and try but the battery was too weak to start it. I did not pug the block heater in last night either.



Anyway, do you think the batteries were already weak and the cold weather did them in. I've only had the truck since August and this is the first time this has happened.

 

[Whitmore]

Batteries are killed by the heat of the summer and in the winter when the cranking is hard is when you actually find out the batteries are weak, I installed Optima red tops and now will never use anything but. Plug you r truck in to warm it up so you can get it going for now then start thinking of battery replacement

 

[Black Cloud]

I installed two new batteries this morning and she fired right up. Good times!

 

[JR2]

Whitmore - if you have red tops did you cut down the drivers side outboard hold down bolt?? If not it will eventually the wiring harness that is under there costing you big $$.



Just an FYI.



JR2

 

[monkfarm]

optimas

I didn't know about optimas before I went to buy 4 for a T2000 (Kenworth) (ISX) I own. It was most difficult to get information on them. The help at the stores I went to really knew nothing about them. (The Optimas) Optimas are not affected by the cold weather (like most batteries). I decided I am going to try 1 yellow top (optima) group 31 battery (in the dodge). I have yet to install it, and I will have to change the battery mounting to accomodate it's slightly larger size. But I should have room for something else it's place.

 

[Thomas]

There is information on Optima batteries at the Optima website.

 

[monkfarm]

not a heck of a lot of information. The website didnt' answer half of my questions when I went to buy the batteries. It did however tell me that the cold temp do not affect these (optima) batteries. There was no info (for example on the application of big trucks for their group 31 batteries. Other questions I had at the time were left unanswered. I wrote them after looking at their website, and commented on all the questions I had. They had no forthcoming reply. Maybe their webmaster did not want to cater to a bunch of truckdrivers. I received zero info from them even tho I left my phone # and e-mail.