Is my battery dead? or dying?

[mat_me]

Kinda more of a Vehicle question than CB question but if anyone has an idea that may help then thanks. Truck is a 98 dodge ram running a stryker 440 and a wilson 1000 mag mount if it matters. The battery seems weak or maybe dying. There is an internitend problem starting the truck . Before I try to start it the multi meter reads 12.85 V if I turn in the key, but dont try to start the volts drop steadily and slowly down to about 7 V. Obviously when I turn the key nothing happens not enough power. It only seems to do this first thing in the morning. Once the truck is started via a charger or a boost the volt meter reads 14.3 ish V on the meter, and the truck runs well. This leads me to believe that it is not an alternator problem. After the volts have dropped to 7 if i turn the key off and dont try to start the truck the volts come back up to read just above 12 V in a couple minutes. Does this sound like a battery issue to any one else? could there be a short in the elec. system? or is there any other possible issues that have escaped me? I just installed a spare battery in the truck and the truck started fine. I will monitor the issue in the following days, maybe this will solve the problem, and I can buy a new battery. Thanks for any and all ideas. :r&r:

[drdx]

That sounds like a battery. My jeep did that once. It would barely start, had marginal voltage, and barely run when cold, then after a few min. of driving it would get enough charge to sustain smooth operation. This was on a brand new optima battery. Evidently it had sat on the shelf too long. Go to autozone and have them test it, they'll do it for free. If it was your alternator you'd be having to jump it. Once your car loses the alternator it pretty much turns into a big flashlight, battery wise, but I guess the alternator could just be poorly performing but I'm guessing it is the battery. What kind of shape is the wiring harness that goes to the battery and alternator in, and the terminals? Does the battery have any prorated warranty left?

-drdx

[626]

Im with the good doctor on this one. Go to autozone, or O'reilly. My work has a tester that will say what the cold cranking amperage is. It also reads the voltage etc. Not sure if a regular DMM will tell you CCA. But, most of those places will test it for free. If the battery is older then 5 years or has excessive corrosion, that may give you a bit of a clue. Once your vehicle is running, the battery has nothing to do with operation.

[mat_me]

the wiring harness looks good. I started the truck and disconnected the battery and the truck ran fine so it doesnt seem likely the alternator is bad. As far as th battery, I have had the truck for 2.5 years and this was the battery that it came with so i am guessing there is not likely any warranty left. The battery looks old aswell. And it is winter here so the cold weather is amplifying and battery problems aswell. I will take the battery into part source and see if they can test it and give me a definate answer to the condition. Thanks DRDX for the quick reply. :r&r:

[Sporty Mike]

Like Gunny stated, the only thing a Battery in a vehicle does is start the engine , that's it. Once running the entire vehicle is powered by electricty generated by the engine itself. When they start cranking rough, check alternator output to verify that it is good, if it checks out replace that battery and keep on truckin. That's the bad thing about batterys , they usually give you no warning , they just go out. And temperature can play a big part in it too, a batterys worst enemy is extreme cold.



Mike

[maters]

Be careful doing the disconnect the battery to test the alternator thing on newer vehicles . The ecu is sensitive to voltage spikes.

[knuckle1947]

Be careful doing the disconnect the battery to test the alternator thing on newer vehicles . The ecu is sensitive to voltage spikes.

what maters said ...... your battery is shot ...

@ sportymike ... don't want to start an argument, but HEAT is actually worse for a battery. just sayin' ..... knuckle1947

[Polish Eagle]

Where you live it sounds like a trip to Canadian Tire. Have them check the battery I agree with the others. 90+% that is your issue.