are my batteries toast?

[H0USE]

in the last 3 or so months, only on really cold mornings (around 10 degrees or less) my batteries only have enough juice for one long turn over (after warming up glow plugs) and then they give up, resulting in no start. This has happened 3 times so far this winter. Any other time it starts up really quickly. When it died those 3 times, it took a one second jump from another car to start up, really easily.

I had the batteries tested and they assured me they are perfectly fine.. now I'm not sure if I should drop 300+ on a pair of batteries, or get a 40 dollar jump box or even those jump boxes that you plug into your cigarette lighter to start up.

can the deep freeze overnight totally drain a battery?

[dhanna6powerstroke]

Originally Posted by H0USE

in the last 3 or so months, only on really cold mornings (around 10 degrees or less) my batteries only have enough juice for one long turn over (after warming up glow plugs) and then they give up, resulting in no start. This has happened 3 times so far this winter. Any other time it starts up really quickly. When it died those 3 times, it took a one second jump from another car to start up, really easily.

I had the batteries tested and they assured me they are perfectly fine.. now I'm not sure if I should drop 300+ on a pair of batteries, or get a 40 dollar jump box or even those jump boxes that you plug into your cigarette lighter to start up.

can the deep freeze overnight totally drain a battery?

The cold shouldn't drain them over night unless something is wrong with them. If it's under the 3 yr./36k warranty, I'd take it to Ford and make them replace them.

[H0USE]

have 96k on my 08, I believe they are originals, also this is the first winter experiencing this problem.

[rlpzzz]

When you had them tested did they remove the cables from one battery? Since then are wired in series you will get a false reading on a bad battery.

I had the same issue as you and it turned out one battery was bad.

[zeddy]

They are wired in Parallel not series, The old diesel toyotas were wired in series thats why they were 24 volt. Which is actually a better design since half the current is required at 24volt so smaller wire guage is possible. But it makes it a ***** for adding accessories

[rlpzzz]

Originally Posted by zeddy

They are wired in Parallel not series, The old diesel toyotas were wired in series thats why they were 24 volt. Which is actually a better design since half the current is required at 24volt so smaller wire guage is possible. But it makes it a ***** for adding accessories

Parallel is what I meant, guess thats what I get for posting while intoxicated.

[pyro2nite]

When a pair of battery's are used, most of the time one will go out before the other. This will cause the good one to also drain down. Odds are you need to replace the battery's.

[HoosierHick]

I would guess you need new batteries. I went through the same thing with my 2008 after 40,000 miles batteries were completely toast, if I didn't plug it in the truck would not start.

[GetLifted]

What is the Cold Amp Startup yours give out? You should have atleast 850+ for 19 degree's and under

[BlueF350]

I replaced my OEM batteries at 3 years/37k miles. That's about how long they last. Doesn't makes sense to risk a "no-start" by pushing the batteries much longer IMO.