Truck Completely DOA

[2013megacab]

I came out to the truck and unlocked it with remote. Doors and tailgate unlocked, tailgate glass did not. Started troubleshooting that and then suddenly nothing worked. I had to open drivers door with key. Dash did not light up. Checked batteries and read 5 volts. OK, something discharged batteries, so I hooked up my charger. Pegged needle at over 10 amps (not surprising) but a moderately loud sound like someone tapping on a bongo drum at about 1/2 second intervals started under the drivers front fender (big auto-reset circuit breaker?). I unplugged the charger. Bongo drum ran for a few seconds, got erratic, and stopped. Then I started hearing a light tapping coming from the fuse box.

This is weird. Has anyone had this happen?

Al

 

[jhenderson]

I’d say you have a shorted battery.

 

[2013megacab]

I came out to the truck and unlocked it with remote. Doors and tailgate unlocked, tailgate glass did not. Started troubleshooting that and then suddenly nothing worked. I had to open drivers door with key. Dash did not light up. Checked batteries and read 5 volts. OK, something discharged batteries, so I hooked up my charger. Pegged needle at over 10 amps (not surprising) but a moderately loud sound like someone tapping on a bongo drum at about 1/2 second intervals started under the drivers front fender (big auto-reset circuit breaker?). I unplugged the charger. Bongo drum ran for a few seconds, got erratic, and stopped. Then I started hearing a light tapping coming from the fuse box.

This is weird. Has anyone had this happen?

Al

Well, maybe not shorted battery, but they were dead, and maybe drawing enough current from my 10A charger that the voltage came up but not far enough. I disconnected the negative cable on both batteries and put the charger on the driver's side. I measured the voltage and it was up over 12V; I didn't look carefully at it. After a while I took the charger off and hooked up the negative cable. The alarm went off and scared the S*** out of me. I hit the unlock and everything worked. I put the charger back on and hooked up the other battery. Everything acting normally now, batteries charging. I'll let it run overnight and see what happens. Batteries are about 3 years old so it may be time.....

As I'm reading this I remember that my ham radio (drawing an amp or so) got left on for a couple of days a week or so ago and when I discovered it and turned it off I didn't think to start the truck and charge up the batteries. That is probably the smoking gun here.

Al

 

[Jim W]

I would have the batteries individually load tested to make sure they are still good and can be used. If not it is time to replace them as a pair of new batteries. Every one has their preference and why they like the batteries they choose. I would do a search on this forum looking at what other users have chosen and why!
Let us know if you replace them or just use the current batteries as is.

 

[2013megacab]

Well, I'll be using them as is for the next month, anyway. (Way) over 65 here so staying at home. Left them on the charger for a few hours last night, then started the truck and ran it for 10 minutes or so. I haven't tried to start it this morning, but I did lock and unlock it. I hope I caught the batteries before too much damage was done. I'll probably take the truck out for a short run this morning to try to top them off. I will have them tested when I go out again.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Batteries seem to be the cause for many problems. Changed mine out at 4.5 years before having issues.

 

[gsbrockman]

Well, I'll be using them as is for the next month, anyway. (Way) over 65 here so staying at home. Left them on the charger for a few hours last night, then started the truck and ran it for 10 minutes or so. I haven't tried to start it this morning, but I did lock and unlock it. I hope I caught the batteries before too much damage was done. I'll probably take the truck out for a short run this morning to try to top them off. I will have them tested when I go out again.

Current mileage on your truck?

 

[2013megacab]

Current mileage on your truck?

Just over 100,000. On the second set of batteries.