So, the weekend in Chicago was great. Left work early Friday, got to Chi-town early, found a great parking spot a block from my buddies place... drinking and fun insues, and around 60 hours later I return to an much dirtier truck, hop in and turn the key... Rrrurrr rurrr... rrrurr.. click click click click.. D'OH!!! This after boasting to my buddy how freakin' wonderful my truck is. HA! So I get a jump, head on the road and two hours or so later, spot for some gas. I fill up, get in, turn the key... click click click. What?! Grrrr... Get another jump, drive home, park it. A little bit later I go outside and attempt to start it. Nuttin'. Slap the charger on it for an hour or so and it cracks right over. haven't tried it today, but me thinks a battery is to blame. Time to visit the dealer! Any other thoughts? I guess it could be the alternator... yes?

 

I think its just you..

 

Or could it be light on in glove box or some dumm thing like that ?

 

It started just fine after you substituted the battery charger for the alternator. More likely a charging system problem at this point.

 

Or could just be that you have a faulty battery. A cell that isn't pulling it's weight won't operate the starter no matter how well the alternator is doing.

 

Huh??? The battery alone starts the vehicle. Alternator charges it.

 

I'll bet you a 12 pack you have a dead cell in your battery. Run it up to Autozone (or something similar) and have them look at it. They can plug it up and tell you how many volts it's holding/giving.

My money is on a bad battery.

Alternator could be the culprit, but doubtful...if it were, more than likely you'd have been stranded on the side of the road, not after you had stopped. The alternator can't/won't charge a battery with a dead cell.

I am so getting my money back for those cigars. You better post back with what the problem was.

I really wish I could have been there when you were bumming around for someone to jump you off.
That's always the worst feeling.

 

Me thinks bad battery, but I would just take it to the dealer and let them hook it up and be sure. If it is the battery youre in the right place to get a new one for free. Isnt the warranty wonderful? Heers one for the road.

 

Yup, I too think its the battery. I'm gonna take it to the dealer first thing and demanding a new battery.

Oh, no lights left on or anything plugged in.
I'm sure your right tuff, but I'm not dumb enough to take your bet!

Oh yeah, worst feeling is right. When I'm at the gas station, the guy on the pump next to me says "That's a nice truck". He's the one I asked for the jump. After I started up, I ask him "Still think its a nice truck?!" We laugh... so sad..

 

 

Lets make it a case of beer and Tuff and I will split it.

Same thing happend to me with my 02 GT. Had it about 8 months and the battery just died. Ran the car the night before with no problems. Got up the next morninig and it was dead as a door nail. Took the batt. out replaced it for free at the dealership, installed new batt. and never had a problem ever again.

 

Exactly. He charged the battery for a couple of hours and it started the truck just fine.

 

FWIW, alternators don't charge batteries per se. They maintain a fully charged battery. An alternator will not revive a completely DOA battery; this is why there's labels and warning tags all over new alternators stating that a fully charge battery is required when you replace the alternator, otherwise alternator damage may result.

 

Quintin is right... and each time the battery was dead. After a couple clicks... it reset my trip odo & other things... that's a dead battery! Same thing happened to our bimmer after 6-8 months & my buddy's Porche Boxster. Battery companies are doing a poor job at QC!

 

Alternators DO charge batteries. The battery must have sufficient charge to energize, or excite, the alternator to begin the charging process. It is possible to have just enough battery to start the engine, but not excite the alternator - that's why the warning tags.