had the truck for 2 months, put a fresh battery in when i got it. let it sit for 6 days now the battery is dead, Ididn't leave anything on so whats the problem???? any ideas thanks

 

I'm not too big on electrical know how but usually the alternator causes problems too. Try getting a jump and drive around for a bit, but I can't think of anything else.

 

Check for a windshield leak in the lower driver's side.

Leaks onto the GEM and fusebox. Shorts out and drains the battery.

Steve

 

How do you know the battery is dead?

If you put a new battery in and only ran it on short trips with lots of stuff on and then parked it it prolly never fully charged. New batteries do not come fully charged.

A very common problem on these trucks is the solenoid on the fire wall goes bad and/or the wires to the starter corrode near the starter. You must pull the insulation away to see if there is corrosion.

good luck-

 

If you bought an automotive battery that wasn't fully charged from the store, you got ripped!

 

alright chester let me reprase what I meant.

batteries from the factory have enough of a charge to start the engine but they are not fully DEEP charged and if you do not run them they will die quickly.

 

Hi...HCMQ Is correct, to some extent. The batteries from most parts stores are charged, but you have to remember, they sit on a shelf for 6 months, perhaps even longer. having worked for a franchise parts store, I know that the batteries are SUPPOSED to be rotated, charged to 12.6V, and tested for cell life every month. I can count on one hand the number of times that happened in two years at TWO different stores. Use a voltmeter on the 20V Scale, and check battery voltage between the two terminals. Anyhting less that 12.4 Volts with the key off is unacceptable. If the battery has removable vent caps, pry them off, and put the black lead from the meter onto the Negative post, and the positive lead into the first cell hole. You should see about 2.1 Volts. Repeat the process for all 6 cells, and you will either find that;
A) Their all healthy, contributing cells
B) You have A weak/dead One.
Remember that a battery is essentially six cells connected in series.
12.2 Volts is a battery that is only 50% Charged, don't let the .1 Difference in voltage fool you. 12.4 Is 75%, 12.6 Is A perfect 100% Charge.

If the above checks out Ok; Remove the negative battey cable from the terminal, and using an Ammeter set on amp scale, Measure between the cable and the post. This is checking for a draw. Anyhting above 45mA is large. Remember that the ECM Requires 20 mA for RAM, ROM, And EPROM, And that the Radio has a 10-15mA Keep-alive setting for your stations and such.

If you get the truck running, Using your Meter set on 20 Volt Scale (voltage) Measure between the positive and negative battery posts with NO electrical load, that is ANYTHING electrical turned off. You should see over 13.4 Volts at idle, and over 13.9 At 2,000 RPM. Now turn on ALL The electrical accessories, including but not limited to Highbeams, Wipers, running lights, four ways, blower motor, A/C, Radio. This induces a load on the battery. Voltage should remain constantly above 13.4 Volts. If the voltage drops below 13, Bring it into a shop to have the battery load tested. Thats about all the writing I can do for now, Get back to us and Let us know what happens.

-Jimi

 

....go buy you a new alternator.

 

double post.

 

o.k. jump started fine, put the charger on and within 20 minutes charger said battrey was 100% started fine, sits for four hrs and dead i'm guessing bad battery, but will look for the leak in the windsheild short, thanks ya'll and keep it coming gotta fix it by tommarow

 

Yeah, pretty much, but it may also just be a severly discharged sulfated battery. That's why I recommended a proper carbon pile load test at a garage, just to be safe.

-Jimi