battery trouble

[hometool]

hi i would like to get some opinions on something going on with my 2009 f250 5.4gaser i do not drive the unit every day at times it sits idle for 7 days or so and when i go to use it i find the battery dead!! i have to jump it or charge the battery to get it to start once started it works normaly till i let it sit for a few days. when i talked with the dealer about it he tells me it,s recomended to use a battery charger/maintaner on a unit not used for piriods of time. i would agree if the truck was hybernating for several months. but i am talking 7 days! also the eye on the battery is red i think i need a new battery?? thanks for reading lee

[RJay]

The battery condition indicator being red means it's time for a new battery. When you leave the RV for a week do you open the battery disconnect? The battery disconnect removes the batteries from the coach loads. You should also turn the inverter off.

[Ray,IN]

Lee if the indicator is red it means the battery is near end of life. Using a weak/failing battery in cold weather can destroy your starter motor from low amperage. Virtually all battery stores will test your battery free.

[Randy the sly old fox]

Not to mention damaging the alternator - sometimes it is hard to tell which went first. Usually the battery gets weak and puts more strain on the alternator which then can cause diode failure.

[hometool]

yes ray that is what i thought my point is i am trying to get my ford dealer to replace it i/w. i called the dealer today trying to find out if thay would replace it thats when i was told need to keep a charger on it when not a daily driver. i do not think i should have to keep a charger on it for short term not being used and wanted to see if outher people agreed with me. thanks for the responce lee

[Wanabee FTer]

hometool,
Don't let someone on the phone at the dealer decided if you have a problem or not. Call the dealer to make an appointment to have your battery checked out. If they ask, just say it goes dead all the time. Don't ask for advice over the phone. Allot of times if the dealer's service department is busy you will get the brush off. Once you have an appointment they pretty much will have to check it if it's still under warranty.

[wa8yxm]

Starting batteries do not have a lot of "Headroom" or capacity. If you can put a battery tender on it (if it's parked) or a "Trick-L-Start" if you 1: ARE hooked to shore power and 2: The house system does not already charge the chassis batteries.

One thing problem I have had... I have on several occaisons had to use the Emergency Start switch to start the engine off the house batteries even though the main chassis battery was both fully charged and in excelent health.

Turned out to be dirty connections, 4 times out of 4 (So far)

[bachler]

I keep Our DP pluged in all the time;; Went our To start the engine batteries were dead 1 year old;; Called the service dept; They said that the chassis batteries do not charge from shore power. Of course they could be wrong, They have only been selling and repairing motorhomes for only 45 years;; They installed a float charger;;;; There are some who belive that the engine battery charges from shore power.. WRONG:: Now even with the float charger I hooked up a Good battery charger;; Al is good;; Life is good too;;

[Ray,IN]

This is a pickup truck for petes sake, they should sit without starting for at least 2 months with a good battery. My wife's Grand Cherokee must have a lot of parasitic drains, it will have a dead battery(and it is a new one) it if sits for over 3 months.

[Wanabee FTer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bachler I keep Our DP pluged in all the time;; Went our To start the engine batteries were dead 1 year old;; Called the service dept; They said that the chassis batteries do not charge from shore power. Of course they could be wrong, They have only been selling and repairing motorhomes for only 45 years;; They installed a float charger;;;; There are some who belive that the engine battery charges from shore power.. WRONG:: Now even with the float charger I hooked up a Good battery charger;; Al is good;; Life is good too;;

I don't believe the OP needs a battery charger just because he doesn't run his Ford P/U gasser more then once a week. I would think the parasitic draw would be very low on a mass produced truck. Now if he was parking it for 3 weeks or more then yes, I believe he would need a float/charger.

[Mopar1973Man]

Here is a old way I check for problems.

with everything off in the truck. Disconnect the positive cable and take your digital volt meter and go between the positive post and the postive cable. Set this on a Amp scale. There should be little to no amp draw...(mA Scale)

As for the battery have it tested at your local part store. See if it will stand up to the load test...

[hometool]

thanks for the replys went to ford dealer today battery was checked and deamed to be falty and was replaced with a fresh one at n/c so hopefully my problem is solved lee

[Wanabee FTer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hometool when i talked with the dealer about it he tells me it,s recomended to use a battery charger/maintaner on a unit not used for piriods of time. i would agree if the truck was hybernating for several months. but i am talking 7 days! also the eye on the battery is red i think i need a new battery?? thanks for reading lee

I'm glad to hear you did not listen to the first bit of advice the dealer gave you. Sounds like it was just a faulty battery and covered under warranty as it should have been.

[Randy the sly old fox]

Glad to hear things went well and you got a new bat N/C