Still having battery/alternator issues (dead when try to start)

[okiepowerstroke]

i started this thread a while back Ughhh i hate diesel problems... dead battery on cold nights.....

I did end up having a bad battery and auto zone replaced it for free. But recently seem to be having issues again.

I cant blame it on the cold because it would not start yesterday in the 70's. Im starting to wonder if it could be a ground issue? Or something is occasionally drawing power when the engine is shut off? I say occasionally because some days it seems perfectly fine some days NO start and dead!

this is driving me crazy! any ideas on where to start

[okiepowerstroke]

i got the other battery replaced by auto-zone. SO now i have 2 new batteries. Started great the first day, then Yesterday everning temp was mid to upper thirty's and barely started (this is after sitting around 6 hours. Then this morning i tried to start it temperature was 32* and it was completely dead.
I have no aftermarket parts that use electrical.
How can i test to see if something is drawing power?
Is it possible my glow plugs are drawing power?

My Wife drive it yesterday and said the radio was flickering on and off, sounds like maybe a electrical issue???

[coot1]

Disconnect both batteries and then hook an ammeter in series with one of the disconnected batteries and the cable you disconnected. With everything off your current draw should be around 100 miliamps.

[seven_point_three]

Does the flickering of the radio happen while you're driving, and have you came close to losing power while driving? If yes to either, replace your altenator. If not, do you have an aftermarket stereo in your truck? Was it installed properly? A friend on mine had this problem, and it was his power wire for his amplifier, was cut through and grounding on the metal in between the door "bad install". If either isn't the case, highly suggest pulling out the multi-meter and start playing around. doubt this helped, but you never know.

[jesilvas]

What are the CCAs of each battery? Should be 850CCA minimum.
Then, check all your connections; on the batteries, frame grounds, starter, alternator, and anywhere else you can think.
To see if you have a parasitic draw, just leave it all hooked up. Get an ampmeter and see what draw you have. It should be basically nothing, like coot said. But if you unhook the batteries, you'll have no power draw to test . . .
I'd also see what voltage is off the alternator. Should be 13-14VDC or so.

[seven_point_three]

minimum of 750CCA, 850 is just a step up.

[nationfam]

check positive cables for wire rot.....

[NoRalPh]

Originally Posted by nationfam

check positive cables for wire rot.....

Are you just trying to Up your post count by resurrecting all these old threads????

[nationfam]

ARE YOU STALKING MY POST TO WORRY ABOUT IT? All I did was make a comment, no need for you to be a dick about my post.

[2006PSDSD]

Originally Posted by NoRalPh

Are you just trying to Up your post count by resurrecting all these old threads????

As far as he or anyone else is concerned, there was never any resolution of the issue for the OP. Why do you bring the attitude?