The doors hadn't been open at, but the hood had open about 10 minutes or so. But the hood light had gone out so i thought it was long enough. I will wait at least 1/2 hr after opening the hood to measure again. Also, don't know if it matters but the truck horn has been out for quite a while, long before we started having trouble with the battery draining so i don't think it is related.

 

Easy enough to check that, just unplug the horn.

 

this still going on?

TAKE IT TO A SHOP ALREADY!

Abusive language removed.

 

Jimbo, please show more respect. Nobody deserves that kind of abuse.

 

not abuse at all.

People have said disco the battery to test. He refuses. People have said the $5 meter from harbor freight isn't going to cut it. He is making it more difficult on himself.

There is only so much hand holding any one can give before it is a lost cause.

 

Jimbo, he has a VERY good reason not to disconnect the battery, if you read all his posts.

 

I agree that this thread has become frustrating,but I also agree with glc that no member deserves an abusive reply. Oldpops also has a valid reason for not disconnecting the battery, as glc has pointed out.

Let's all just take a deep breath and realize that this problem can only be solved by oldpops taking his truck to a competent mechanic that knows how to diagnose it and make the necessary repairs. I suggest that be our unified advice from this point forward. With the constraints that oldpops has placed upon himself, the issue is clearly beyond his capabilities.

I don't want to close the thread, but I will if it doesn't follow this approach.

- Jack

 

Lock it up! Lock it up! 😁

 

Hi all. I want to thank everyone for their help and advice. My son finally offered to have the truck towed to an auto shop that works on automotive electrical. They found two items. They said the alternator was bad (something about diodes) and that moisture or water had gotten into the GEM unit connector. They cleaned off the GEM unit connector(s) and replaced the alternator. After the repair they couldn't get the truck to start after disconnecting/reconnecting the battery. So my son had to go down there when they and played the game with the PATS system (or whatever causes the truck to not start). Guy who worked on the truck said he hadn't seen anything like it but wondered if the issue is in one modules instead of the PATS system. My son finally got the darn thing to start and drove it home. Anyway, the truck has started every morning since.

I am sorry for frustrating those here who offered help and advice - it was never my intent to cause any trouble. But please know that I do appreciate all the help. At least I learned A LOT about parasitic drains!

 

Thanks for getting back to us, oldpops. I'm glad your truck is working now and hope that parasitic drain has been corrected. I'm still puzzled that disconnecting the battery will cause a starting problem after it's reconnected, but, glad your Son was there to help.

- Jack

 

Sounds like you may have a windshield leak. Also, why are all your wires loose under the dash? To me, that sounds like bad grounds.

 

Early on, I mentioned that the Alternator could be the drain from shorted or leaky diodes and told how to detect this but it was ignored.
The person who felt the Alternator with his hand was testing for the case to feel warm. If the diodes were shorted to a low enough resistance, the case will get warm from the heat generated if the battery was not already drained down.
It's a shame for all this hassle because some one did not listen after coming here asking for help.
I reply for others benefit and to learn from this.
Good luck.

 

Bluegrass - I know you feel frustrated that your advice about disconnecting and reconnecting the alternator was ignored. But it's pretty clear to me that oldpops has NO expertise in electrical or electronic circuits. Telling him to perform that test is akin to telling a non-pilot to try flying a jet fighter. I'm sure he was paying attention, but simply felt that the advice he was getting was way beyond him. AND, he probably did not relay that advice to the actual people that came to his help. I'm sure all of us would be guilty of similar behavior under the right circumstances.

- Jack

 

Jack if your going to run a forum of help, it won't be absorbed by everyone but the issue has to be aired for others to learn from.
Go to a doctor and not listen, he will tell you no use to come back if not going to listen.
it's a decision that has to be made one way or another..
Me frustrated, no his problem is not mine it's his until he decides to change his outlook.

 

Bluegrass, please don't think I was chiding you for your thoughtful and reasonable post, I wasn't. I'm sorry it sounded that way. I agree with you that others can learn from this incident and have no problem with you pointing out the failings. Still, not everyone has the knowledge and understanding to react properly to advice, even when presented in a clear manner. I don't quite agree that it was the OP's outlook that was at fault, I think it was simply a lack of understanding.

- Jack