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Voltage Issues - Complete Battery Replacement?

Discussion in 'International Forum' started by Tmaj12k, Jan 20, 2015.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Jan 20, 2015 #1
    Tmaj12k

    Tmaj12k Bobtail Member

    33
    1
    Apr 2, 2013
    Jersey City, NJ
    0
    What's up guys. I have a 2010 Prostar and this morning I fired it up with no problem but noticed my voltage was holding around 12 volts. As I drove, the voltage began to drop lower. I turned the radio and heat off and the needle raised a little but no higher than 12v. I drove it straight to the shop and now they're telling me all 4 batteries need to be changed. Has anybody heard of all 4 batteries going bad at once?? This seems very weird to me. Maybe 1 or 2 would go bad but all 4?? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
     
    Tmaj12k, Jan 20, 2015
    Tmaj12k, Jan 20, 2015
    #1
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  3. Jan 20, 2015 #2
    Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

    3,845
    5,123
    Apr 2, 2011
    bismarck, nd
    0
    sounds like a bad alternator to me
     
    Ezrider_48501, Jan 20, 2015
    Ezrider_48501, Jan 20, 2015
    #2
    Hammer166 Thanks this.
  4. Jan 20, 2015 #3
    Freddy57

    Freddy57 Road Train Member

    1,731
    8,243
    Nov 29, 2013
    Mount Vernon, MO
    0
    I had an alternator cooked my batteries and I got the privilege of replacing all four. Usually vibration kills them one at a time but some circumstances can kill all of them at once. Looks like it's your lucky day!
     
    Freddy57, Jan 20, 2015
    Freddy57, Jan 20, 2015
    #3
  5. Jan 20, 2015 #4
    201

    201 Road Train Member

    11,302
    22,905
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    Hi Tmaj, several things to check. Belt tight on alternator. Alternator tight. Connections to alternator. Bad ground to frame. Bad ground to cab. If 1 battery is shorted, it can screw up the others, but not all at once. Have alternator output checked and load test the batteries and ground wires or cable. Cold, and salty roads do goofy things to the charging system.
     
    201, Jan 20, 2015
    201, Jan 20, 2015
    #4
  7. Jan 20, 2015 #5
    Tmaj12k

    Tmaj12k Bobtail Member

    33
    1
    Apr 2, 2013
    Jersey City, NJ
    0
    Thanks for the quick reply guys. Shop is telling me the alternator test fine.
     
    Tmaj12k, Jan 20, 2015
    Tmaj12k, Jan 20, 2015
    #5
  8. Jan 20, 2015 #6
    Old Man

    Old Man Road Train Member

    4,597
    13,466
    Apr 3, 2009
    Oklahoma City, OK
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    Did they load test it or just put a test light on it?

    Fried battries can pull the voltage down
     
    Old Man, Jan 20, 2015
    Old Man, Jan 20, 2015
    #6
  9. Jan 20, 2015 #7
    Tmaj12k

    Tmaj12k Bobtail Member

    33
    1
    Apr 2, 2013
    Jersey City, NJ
    0
    I'm heading to the shop now. I'll ask once I get there. That's a great question
     
    Tmaj12k, Jan 20, 2015
    Tmaj12k, Jan 20, 2015
    #7
  10. Jan 20, 2015 #8
    Tmaj12k

    Tmaj12k Bobtail Member

    33
    1
    Apr 2, 2013
    Jersey City, NJ
    0
    Was told that the alternator was load tested and its charging fine. All 4 batteries swelled up and were dead. I just bought this truck used back in August and looks as if these were the original batteries
     
    Tmaj12k, Jan 20, 2015
    Tmaj12k, Jan 20, 2015
    #8
  11. Jan 20, 2015 #9
    Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

    7,162
    6,734
    Sep 25, 2007
    Rosamond, SoCal
    0
    WHen a battery in a multi battery system goes bad if it is no caught right away it will actually cause a strain on the other batteries.

    I had always been told by my Dad to replace them together, same with steer tires or drive tires.
     
    Powder Joints, Jan 20, 2015
    Powder Joints, Jan 20, 2015
    #9
  12. Jan 20, 2015 #10
    scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

    10,788
    12,499
    Mar 14, 2010
    california norte
    0
    have the batteries tested too. When I changed my batteries about every week for a couple weeks the voltage would drop and discovered the connections were loose evidently by vibration. Got them nice and tight no problems. Check the dates on the batts too, usually good for 18-24 months max but I have gotten 3 years out of deep cycles.
     
    scottied67, Jan 20, 2015
    scottied67, Jan 20, 2015
    #10
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