Batteries.

Mike516882 · 10-24-2007, 12:58 PM

Hey guys, im Running two yellow optima's and sometimes when i get into my truck, the battery meter reads right at the notch before it gets out of the notch zone. *the white blocks* i installed a CB radio and a Siren in my truck, and i was wondering if you guys thing that could be draining it, even tho they are both off i am trying to think of why it is running lower, i mean it starts up good enough but i dont want it to strain. Im going to unplug the siren and CB and see if that makes a difference.

Any suggestions would be great!

Mike

mondtster · 10-24-2007, 02:18 PM

It's running lower because it is cold. The grid heater is cycling on and off.

Equine Tug · 10-24-2007, 03:13 PM

You may have a dead cell in the battery and this will cause the good battery to drain as well. Thus lowering your overall voltage

Mike516882 · 10-24-2007, 03:19 PM

Dead cell in an optima that is like a month old...

Equine Tug · 10-24-2007, 03:39 PM

I would take it back and ask to have the batteries tested If you have a multi meter separate the batteries and one will test at 10 volts And yes they will fail Optima makes good batteries however their Quality Control has slipped over the pas ten years that I have been using them. They aint what they used to be.

Mike516882 · 10-24-2007, 04:16 PM

ok well i just disconnected the siren and the CB and the under hood light, ill see if this makes a difference. I drove the truck til it was at 170sh temp ten min ago and the battery's were above 14 so ill see if it does it again.

Mike

AllBlkdOut · 10-24-2007, 06:15 PM

Could be a dead cell in the battery. Optima's quality has gone down the tubes as of the past few years. Hope it's not the batteries.

10-24-2007, 07:29 PM

Ambient temps will affect alternator output...

steved

Mike516882 · 10-24-2007, 08:31 PM

well i got the warrenty on the batteries and i got them this past month or so, i hope its not either, i think it might be tho, unless there is something draining my bats right now, i dont think there would be tho, becasue i just have the fass and the gauges hooked up right now. nothing else. It was a new alternator in May. But all i know is that this is the first time ive owned a diesel in the winter, so i hope its alright!

Hope nothings wrong.

Mike