I have a 2002 F150. I started it this morning (around 60 degrees out) and the gauges all jumped to the far end and back and then to the appropriate settings. About 20 minutes into the drive, the radio and all gauges went out for 10-15 seconds and then all came back on. 10 or so minutes later, everything went: speedo, fuel, heat, oil, radio, blinkers, all lights ... I was able to drive the 5 miles back home and then in driveway, shut it of. Tried to start it and nothing, just a click. Waited 10-15 minutes, tried to start, gauges all came on but battery was low from drive home. Am charging now but do not want similar problem shortly. Any ideas as to cause? Thanks!

 

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thread moved to appropriate electrical forum. Good luck!

 

Start by checking the cables to the battery for signs of corrosion.
- Need to check where they enter the insulation, not just the terminal end.

Next a real load test on the battery ( not the 5 second test Autozone does ).

The sounds of the issue at the start, the battery was low ( gauge sweep ).

How far did the battery get drained ?
- too low on a battery puts a strain on it and shortens the life, on an old battery it could be the last straw.

You also could have a loose plate in the battery ( or terminal posts to battery ) that cause an intermittent connection and simulate a bad cable, but I would put that farther down the list.

 

These recent high heat days is also the last straw on an old battery, been seeing alot claims from dealers last couple weeks.

 

Good point to make.
A lot of people think the cold is what does a marginal battery in, where heat will do it in quicker.
- That old wives tale that I grew up with about winter being the time the battery will croak.
Think it had to do with cokes and carbs on cars, and the amount of cranking that was required to get them to catch is what really did the battery in, in the winter months.