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dogthenine

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
For the second time in 6 weeks, my battery has gone dead. For a few days before it just won't start, it acts like a week battery when I try to start it. (But it does start). I have had the battery test at two different places and it tests good. (terminal are clean). Today, I take the truck to autozone to test the alternator. He tests it in the truck (99 durango), It tests out at 13.67v. He said 14 is where it should be, and 13.5 is minimum. He suggested I take it off to do a better test.

Is 13.67V bad? And is my alternator in need of replacing?
 
#2 ·
alt is fine. hows your tensioner?
 
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#4 ·
might be a wire loose, or something maybe? have more info on what it does when you try to start it? does it crank and crank, or does it crank slow, like the battery is weak as hell? cause if it just cranks and cranks, but eventually starts, it may be a crank or cam sensor. might also be a spot where the main wire connects to the auto shutdown solinoid...?
 
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#5 ·
Might be a small drain somewhere.
 
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#9 ·
mopar31898 said:
Might be a small drain somewhere.
Click to expand...
That's what I think it may be, I'm having similar issues as well. If you drive or start the truck every say...4-6 hrs, will it still start (and so you only have problems if you let it sit for 8+ hrs)? Have you tried jumping it? If it will take a jump and it wont start only if you let it sit for a min, then it may be a electrical drain somewhere.

CobraKilla said:
Go buy a battery. Its old and wont hold a full charge. And by chance you go buy a new battery and it doesnt fix it, just take it back.
Click to expand...
Sometimes when you get a new batt, they take the old batt as a core, by the time he finds out it wasn't the batt, his old one is long gone.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
realdeal7369 said:
have more info on what it does when you try to start it? does it crank and crank, or does it crank slow, like the battery is weak as hell? cause if it just cranks and cranks, but eventually starts, it may be a crank or cam sensor.
Click to expand...
It will start (crank) normally after a full charge on the battery, for about 3-4 weeks, then gradually begins to crank slower and slower each day for about 4-5 days. Then one day, it will not start. It acts like the battery is not getting charged enough by the alternator.

realdeal7369 said:
might be a wire loose, or something maybe?... might also be a spot where the main wire connects to the auto shutdown solinoid...?
Click to expand...
Back in march, the dealership fixed a broken/loose wire to the coil, so any loose/broken wire should have been caught then, while they had it hooked up to the computer.

mopar31898 said:
Might be a small drain somewhere.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't even know where to begin to track that down. Besides, I drive it everyday, so a small drain shouldn't drain it that fast? And would start from the first day from a full charge. Unless, like I said before, the battery is not getting charged enough by the alternator.
 
#11 ·
dogthenine said:
Besides, I drive it everyday, so a small drain shouldn't drain it that fast? And would start from the first day from a full charge. Unless, like I said before, the battery is not getting charged enough by the alternator.
Click to expand...
How far do you drive it? If you live real close to work, then it isn't running long enough to properly charge the battery - lots of short trips can cause a weaker battery to be a complete peice of crap.
 
#12 ·
only way i can see that statement being true is if the guy lived down the block or something. after it starts, not more than 2-3 minutes, it should have been charged to the point of what may have been used to initially start the truck.
 
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#13 ·
dogthenine said:
It will start (crank) normally after a full charge on the battery, for about 3-4 weeks, then gradually begins to crank slower and slower each day for about 4-5 days. Then one day, it will not start. It acts like the battery is not getting charged enough by the alternator.


Back in march, the dealership fixed a broken/loose wire to the coil, so any loose/broken wire should have been caught then, while they had it hooked up to the computer.



Wouldn't even know where to begin to track that down. Besides, I drive it everyday, so a small drain shouldn't drain it that fast? And would start from the first day from a full charge. Unless, like I said before, the battery is not getting charged enough by the alternator.
Click to expand...

do you have an alrm on the truck? anything aftermarket on it at all? did you check all the grounds and hot wires leading from the battery? check the condition of the wired leading to the starter, fuse box,(one under the hood), ground strap from the block to the battery, ground from batter to vehiclle body (found on the inner front drivers fender behind the headlight area), check the charge wire from the alt to the fuse block.

sometimes the dealer will only fix what they are supposed to check. they wont spend the extra time to hunt other wires or do extra work. you would have to tell them in advance (if you havent already), as to what issues your having, and would want the whole wiring system checked (and this will take some time).

what kind of battery do you have? is it the right size for the truck?
 
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Discussion starter · #14 ·
realdeal7369 said:
only way i can see that statement being true is if the guy lived down the block or something. after it starts, not more than 2-3 minutes, it should have been charged to the point of what may have been used to initially start the truck.
Click to expand...

I do live in a small town, but most of my drives are at least 5-10 minutes.
 
#15 ·
still shouldnt matter. i lived 6 miles from my first job when i had my 96 dakota. never had an issue with it.
 
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Discussion starter · #16 ·
realdeal7369 said:
do you have an alrm on the truck? anything aftermarket on it at all? did you check all the grounds and hot wires leading from the battery? check the condition of the wired leading to the starter, fuse box,(one under the hood), ground strap from the block to the battery, ground from batter to vehiclle body (found on the inner front drivers fender behind the headlight area), check the charge wire from the alt to the fuse block.
Click to expand...
No alarm, just an aftermarket radio, and two monitors. I haven't started on the wires, I am Dreading that!!


realdeal7369 said:
sometimes the dealer will only fix what they are supposed to check. they wont spend the extra time to hunt other wires or do extra work. you would have to tell them in advance (if you havent already), as to what issues your having, and would want the whole wiring system checked (and this will take some time).
Click to expand...
That's just it, they didn't know what to check for. All they knew was the truck would just shut off--like the key was turned off.

realdeal7369 said:
what kind of battery do you have? is it the right size for the truck?
Click to expand...
The battery is the correct one for my truck.
 
#17 ·
You need to find somewhere that can load test the alternator to see how many Amps it will produce. Just because the Voltage is correct doesn't mean the alternator is putting out enough Amps to recharge the battery and run the accessories.
 
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