Battery Drain - TDR Roundtable

Battery Drain

12-22-2000, 11:23 AM

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Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 52,710

Battery Drain

With the recent cold snap I have been having starting problems. I had to put a new battery in last year, so I was somewhat put out when I went to start the truck the other day and had enough juice to barely turn the engine over a 1/4 turn. I jumped it off, ran it for a while, and the battery charged back up. If I go a day without running the truck, the battery drains down again and will barely turn the engine over. Now according to the volt gauge, I am getting good charging out of the alternator. I have noticed that once I start the truck and the pre-heater kicks in the first few times, the volt gauge bottoms out on the low side. I haven't tested the alternator yet, but was just wondering if I could have a alternator going bad even though the gauge good volt output. I've got a buddy at work that has a '97 and he says the max life he can get out of a battery is 1 to 11/2 years. My probable suspects are battery, alternator, or somethings draining that battery. Any thoughts?

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93 D250, 2wd, 3/4ton Club Cab, 5spd, LE package, 3.54 rear, Banks Power Pack (K&N filter and Banks muffler).

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