New battery, truck is dead again>>??

[midwestdually]

ok... just replaced my old battery and got a new one... . started right up the other day... . now this morning and yesterday the truck was deader than a doornail?? any ideas to what is going on??

 

[Grey Wolf]

When you changed the old battery did you check or have someone check the charging system?

 

[Greenleaf]

The problem may not be battery related. With a volt meter, check the battery at posts. Look for 12. 6 volts dc. If you do, check for power elsewhere. Do the lights work, do you have power when you turn the key switch ? You may be experiencing trouble with one of the connectors at the battery harness.



Scott

 

[TrqMonster]

Voltage regulator

My alternator went out and I replaced it after I had made sure it was not the battery. Then the voltage regulator went. Both jobs are very easy to do, I can say this because I have only basic knowledge of mechanics. But you may check these items as well.

 

[midwestdually]

come to think of it since u guys mention the lights... they sometimes work and sometimes dont... . i can be driving down the road and they will turn off for like 30 secs and then come back on for a short bit and then off again... . i really havent benn driving the truck very much at all lately becuz of this and i have been in a dump truck for about the last 3 weeks... . i will check the volts and the posts... . this is very irritating

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

The lights turning on and off indicate a problem. The lights have a circuit breaker and will do that when there is a problem. It sounds like you have a short somewhere in your electrical system -probably the lighting circuit. With the truck running you should read 13. 5 to 14. 0 volts at the battery. The headlight switches on 1st Gen trucks are not the best - Dodge has a heavy duty switch replacement kit available. That might be a good place to start looking.



Bob

 

[jbolt]

I went through the same thing earlier this year. Turned out one of the windings on the alternator was bad. I was only getting 7 volts on the charging side. If I remember correctly one field if for the charging system and the other is for the engine electrical.



Another thing to check is your ground connections at the batt and the engine block.





Jay