Bad Starter?
So over the past month or so I have been having a problem starting my truck due to dead batteries. Something is draining them while it sits and I haven't quite figured out what. I thought it might be my gauges, but then I thought the gauges don't draw enough power to drain the batteries overnight. I had to get a jump from a AAA tow driver recently and when we hooked up the truck just clicked, didn't try to turn over. He said my starter is binding up. We left his jumpers on while he went under and tapped on the starter, few minutes later, and continuous hitting on the starter, it started. Now I can't seem to keep a charge for more than a few hours of sitting.
Could I have worn out the starter from trying to start it without enough juice? Could the starter play any role in the draining of the batteries?
I also notice that when it does turn over, the starter does not disengage right away, like if I was holding the key in the start position after it was started.
Thanks for the help.
Could I have worn out the starter from trying to start it without enough juice? Could the starter play any role in the draining of the batteries?
I also notice that when it does turn over, the starter does not disengage right away, like if I was holding the key in the start position after it was started.
Thanks for the help.
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have you added any new electrical toys in the past 2 months?
with the truck off
pull one fuse at a time in the under engine fuse compartment and jump across the fuse connections with a DVM set for AMPS.
looking for an off state current draw of more than 100 ma.
with the truck off
pull one fuse at a time in the under engine fuse compartment and jump across the fuse connections with a DVM set for AMPS.
looking for an off state current draw of more than 100 ma.
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460 Posts
Only things added were gauges and HIDs
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Anyone else have any ideas or did these two pretty much cover everything?
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300 Posts
#1 Charge your batteries up, go to autozone and get them tested. Clean battery terminals and wire terminals #2 Get your starter tested, RMFD is 130+ New from napa is160. 3# parasitic load, start pulling fuses on NEW items.
Batteries tend to die during 2 seasons Winter and summer.
Batteries tend to die during 2 seasons Winter and summer.
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Something else I just thought of is my lights will flicker on occasion. I have the anti-flicker kit installed for the HIDs but sometimes they will go from regular to bright and then back to regular for about 1 second. Could this be from my batteries going bad?
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300 Posts
Thats the warmup cycle for the grid heaters, everyone has that.
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No, it happens while I am driving. I can be on the road for an hour before it does it.
On startup I realize the grid heater cycles and uses a lot of battery power
On startup I realize the grid heater cycles and uses a lot of battery power
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5,876 Posts
what does your volt gauge read with the engine warm idle and no lights on?
then with the HIDS on?
may need to have AZ test your alternator also.
then with the HIDS on?
may need to have AZ test your alternator also.
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460 Posts
It reads right about the same with them off and on, right about 15
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