That would work but I'm 40 miles from the nearest city. Next dealer down the line is 60 miles 1 way.

 

Yuk! I agree with Wreed, you need a different dealership.

In one of your posts, you said the battery was too low to start the truck after only about three hours but at another time, it sat for a week and was fine. That points to a "random draw" thing - very possibly exactly what Wreed had. I'm 99% certain that's your problem and I haven't even seen your truck.

However, this deep discharge cycling on your battery is killing it. They aren't designed for this kind of service, even the "deep cycle" kinds like you put in RVs don't really like to be deeply discharged. I'd tend to agree with you that your battery is probably pretty much gone. However, I wouldn't replace it until the cause of the problem is fixed, or you'll ruin the new one too.

Hope you get this resolved before too long. The way things are going with the "Big Three", I wonder just how much longer we'll have any kind of support for our trucks.

- Jack

 

Here's another symptom I think. Sometimes I'll crank her over and even tho I let go of the key it keeps on cranking by itself till it starts. Is this normal??

 

Nooo - That's not normal at all. When you put the key into the START position, it energizes the starter relay, which in turn pulls in the starter solenoid and that engages the starter motor (I think I have that right - if not, 10,000 people on this forum will correct me). So, if the starter continues to turn when the key is moved back to the RUN position, it means the relay or the solenoid is not returning to the "off" position. I'd put money on a sticking solenoid. Relays don't normally stick in the closed position im my experience.

If it continues to crank with the key back to RUN, then it CAN start.

But, neither of these components should "silently" drain your battery, in my opinion. If they stuck "on", I think the starter would tend to run and you would hear it.

However, I haven't looked carefully at the wiring diagrams (and maybe they wouldn't tell me anyway) but is it possible that the starter relay could remain closed (to the start position) which feeds current to the solenoid but if the key is not in START or RUN, is it possible the starter would not turn over? If this is the case, it could drain your battery quickly.

So, I'm not sure if this has anything to do with your dead battery problem, but it's sure something I'd tell the dealership about.

- Jack

 

I can turn my key into the START position for a split second, let go, and the truck will crank itself until is starts....

All newer Dodge and Chevys I have driven do this also.

 

My gosh! I had no idea this was a "feature". And, I'm not sure it's a good one. Let's just say that for some reason (perhaps the engine is flooded, or the fuel pump is not energized - make up your own reason), that the engine doesn't start. Does this mean it's going to sit there cranking steadily until the battery is dead or until the starter motor burns out? How in the heck do you stop the cranking in this case? Possibly by turning the key to OFF?

I wonder why this has been engineered into modern vehicles?

Anyway, if other vehicles do this, then it's probably not something causing the drain on the battery.

- Jack

 

I have had 2 other 07 owners tell me theirs did this too, but I wasn't sure if it was normal or what purpose it serves. For the heck of it I left my GPS and my radar detector on last night. She started right up this morning no problem. I am stumped. So until the dealer can duplicate the problem I don't see gettin it fixed.

 

The battery in the newer trucks doesn't have the capacity of the older ones. My 2006 had one that was around 7-800 CCA. the new 2008 was around 500 CCA. Not sure when they changed it, but my 2008 did the same as described. My dealer checked the battery acouple times, and the computer finally gave the approval to replace it. I payed the difference to install the larger battery. Problem is solved. I told the dealer it was embarassing to have a $40,000 truck that wouldn't start and my friends suggested I buy a Dodge!

 

Don't know if I could embarass my dealer. They own every dealership in town except Dodge.I'm gonna call in an appointment but not untill I yank all the aftermarket stuff out.Usually have to wait till a loaner comes in to.