Archived Wife killed truck

[madmanmanick]

I am in the Navy and on deployment overseas and got an e-mail this morning the the truck willl not start and that the "check gauges" light is coming up on the dash. Now I have been having my wife start the truck once a week and let it run for 20-30 minutes each time she starts it. Now She says that the truck will not do anything but give her the check gauges light. Can someone please tell me if she just killed my truck, or if all I have to worry about is getting my batteries charged once I get home. I am now so wondering if the question from my father in the of "would I give up her or the truck". I am starting to not be as sure that my answer would be to get rid of the truck..... lol.

 

[Hoefler]

My bet would be the batteries. It will not charge the batteries enough just letting it idle, especially if she was doing when it was cold out and the grid heater was cycling.

 

[HBarlow]

You'll almost certainly have to replace both batteries when you return from your deployment.

A better method would have been a low amperage trickle charger attached to one of the batteries if feasible considering where your truck is parked.

I rarely drive mine now so it sits in the barn with a trickle charger attached.

 

[Newf Limo]

Sounds like it is time to just trade her in for a new one.

 

[Newf Limo]

The TRUCK! Not the Wife!



:-laf:-laf

 

[DavidC]

Tell the wife to go buy a battery tender and hook it up on one of the batteries. It will not overcharge the batteries. I use one on the dodge and the roadrunner and they are always ready to start.



Dave

 

[bcbender]

I second the "Battery Tender" they are alot cheaper than batteries, I have one on the Chevelle / Camaro / and my boat, always ready to go even after months of sitting, I also use them periodicly to charge up the tractors and my 5er.



Twice I have even brought back a flat battery on the chevelle (dead from sitting with the radio memory draw)



my $0. 02

 

[Missouri Mule]

madmanmanic,how long have you been deployed? Could the truck have run out of fuel?

 

[BGlidewell]

many times a battery will be discharged beyond the point that ANY charger can recover them. A possible solution worth trying is to float it back with another fully charged battery. After the dead battery is charged, it needs to be load tested before it is considered road worthy. Batteries in our trucks should be replaced in pairs so the weaker battery won't ruin the new one.


Thanks for your service!

 

[Chief USA]

Get you one of these:



Amazon.com: CTEK Multi US 7002 12V Battery Charger: Automotive



and leave it plugged in to keep the batteries topped off but not overcharged. I have been using one of these on my batteries and I am STILL runninng BOTH of my OEM batteries when I purchased my truck NEW in 2002.

 

[BigPapa]

It will not charge the batteries enough just letting it idle.....

Who told you that?



Scott

 

[madmanmanick]

I have bought a battery tender on Amazon and had it shipped to the house, the problem now is that my wife does not know how to open the hood on my truck. Also I don't think it has run out of fuel. She says that the truck wont turn over. At least I hope it hasn't run out of fuel. I filled it right up to the cap before I left and if she started it once a week that should only be 16 starts for about 320 minutes (5. 5 hrs) - 480 minutes (8hrs) of total run time.

 

[AH64ID]

A check engine light doesn't mean anything as they are on whenever the enigne is off.

While your intention is good starting and idling for 20-30 minutes a week and not driving is much harder on the motor that sitting for a few months. Your probably best to just have her leave it alone until you get home, charge it up and let it roll.

 

[HBarlow]

Yep, having your wife start and idle it is worse than simply parking it for six months.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Yep. You need to just let it sit for 6 months instead of getting her to start it all the time. I'd suggest a solar charger with a built in regulator. I use them on my tractors in remote locations, and they work great!! I never have to jump one off unless the batteries have gone bad, and that's only after they're long out of warranty!! Well, if I can keep the rats from chewing on the wires to the solar panel... ... . I started using one on my '98, as it has the intermittent battery drain prone to that year, and I've never had a dead battery since. A 5 watt charger from Norther tool or Harbor Freight runs around $50, but works great, plugging into the power outlet, and leaving it on the dash. They don't have to be in direct sunlight to work, just a bright area. My '98 sits a lot, (39k miles!!) but the battery is always hot. One of my '97s has a lot of accessories between the 12v air compressor, lights, tool box lights, radio, and charging cell phones, it uses a lot of juice in a day, but with a 5w panel, the batteries are never dead the next day.

 

[6BT-Dakota]

I have bought a battery tender on Amazon and had it shipped to the house, the problem now is that my wife does not know how to open the hood on my truck. Also I don't think it has run out of fuel. She says that the truck wont turn over. At least I hope it hasn't run out of fuel. I filled it right up to the cap before I left and if she started it once a week that should only be 16 starts for about 320 minutes (5. 5 hrs) - 480 minutes (8hrs) of total run time.

Id start with calling a friend and ask him to go to your house and hook up the tender. Let it go for a week or 2 and try to start it again. Im betting that is your problem cuz at idle the alternator doesn't really produce enough to charge the battery only enough to run the electronics. Give the tender a try . . .



BTW, Thanks for your service to our country and stay safe . . .



Rob

 

[Chief USA]

Another possibility is that the fuel quantity sending unit is bad and giving a false indication, and the truck ran out of fuel. Ask me how I learned about this? I usually keep mine over half full. One time I ran past that and the engine died at 1/3 of a tank driving up a hill without any warning and no codes. The addition of 10 gallons of fuel and bleeding the fuel system up to injector 1,2, & 3 and she fired right up.



Sounds like the wife is trying to do you proud with your truck but something like this is way beyond her level. As already suggested, have a knowledgable friend come and check the truck out.

 

[madmanmanick]

had one of my buddies stop by and he hooked up the battery tender and charged the batteries and the truck fired up right away. He also showed my wife how to open the hood and how to hook it up. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

 

[DavidC]

had one of my buddies stop by and he hooked up the battery tender and charged the batteries and the truck fired up right away. He also showed my wife how to open the hood and how to hook it up. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

Leave the tender on it if possible it will not overcharge the batteries. If that is not possible hook it up every 2 weeks and leave it on for a few days to bring the batteries back up. Mine is hooked up now and I will only remove it if the truck needs to move.



Dave

 

[BIGNASTY]

YOUR WIFE KILLED THE TRUCK! This is my wife just going to the store. She complains about Tire ware, fuel mileage,lack of get up and go from the stop light, and how boring the ride to the next light is. JUST KIDDING HOPE IT WORKS OUT. Thanks for your sirvice. BIG