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Consistent battery drain?

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by aowen7a, May 14, 2017.

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  1. May 14, 2017 #1
    aowen7a

    aowen7a Bobtail Member

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    Ok so I just bought this 1999 with a Detroit in it. Test drive and everything else went fine, I drove it about 3hours and shut it down to grab food, I came back out and the batteries were dead? Ok jumped it off got it home replaced all 4 batteries and drove it then today after 5 days of being of on the road I'm heading home and again I shut down came back to it and the batteries were once again dead.

    Known- while running volt gauge shows charging at 14v off it shows 12ish v.
    All wires are correctly installed on batteries

    Unknown-
    If the alternator is any good, but it seems that if it wasn't the once the truck was jumped off that if the alternator was bad the truck should die?
     
    aowen7a, May 14, 2017
    aowen7a, May 14, 2017
    #1
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  3. May 14, 2017 #3
    aowen7a

    aowen7a Bobtail Member

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    Also I know about checking for a draw using a test light but this doesn't sound like a draw being as if it was that even if it was drawing voltage while the truck was off if I only have it sitting for a matter of minutes the truck should start back up as long as it wasn't for an extended period of time. This seems more like a failure to charge the batteries issue
     
    aowen7a, May 14, 2017
    aowen7a, May 14, 2017
    #3
  4. May 14, 2017 #3
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Chinatown, May 14, 2017
    Chinatown, May 14, 2017
    #3
  5. May 14, 2017 #4
    BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    Not much can draw that amount of current and not have larger problems. I suspect the alternator. Park it for an hour and put your hand on the alternator. If it is hot it is killing your battery. Then when you are running the internal regulator changes things and it charges the battery.
     
    BoxCarKidd, May 14, 2017
    BoxCarKidd, May 14, 2017
    #4
  7. May 16, 2017 #5
    aowen7a

    aowen7a Bobtail Member

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    I figured it out thank you for your help! The alternator was only charging 1 battery! The daisy chain cable between the front battery and the #2 had a bad end connector and was severely corroded inside not allowing the other 3 to charge
     
    aowen7a, May 16, 2017
    aowen7a, May 16, 2017
    #5
    DavidK57918, jsnell, BoxCarKidd and 3 others Thank this.
  8. Oct 17, 2020 #6
    Hollywoodsaint

    Hollywoodsaint Light Load Member

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    Hollywood California
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    Same thing is happening to me right now in my 2014 Peterbilt 579.
    I just changed all 4 batteries with brand new ones.
    I took 4 days off, came back to my yard and completely DEAD. I charged with my personal car with cables but it took and hour and a half to get it going.
    Man I hope that drain doest start messing the the starter but it did this to my Dash Computer 20201016_124746.jpg
     
    Hollywoodsaint, Oct 17, 2020
    Hollywoodsaint, Oct 17, 2020
    #6
    jsnell Thanks this.
  9. Oct 17, 2020 #7
    062

    062 Road Train Member

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    Maybe @pushbroom has some ideas.
     
    062, Oct 17, 2020
    062, Oct 17, 2020
    #7
    jsnell Thanks this.
  10. Jan 3, 2021 #8
    iggybest

    iggybest Bobtail Member

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    I have a problem with my 2014 Peterbilt 579. When the truck is of a LOW VOLTAGE DISCONNECT message comes on on the dash and the engine would be hard to crank, sounds like bad batteries. Replaced all 4 batteries and alternator at Love's shop. Nothing changed, having the same problem.
    Any ideas what's going on?
     
    iggybest, Jan 3, 2021
    iggybest, Jan 3, 2021
    #8
  11. Jan 3, 2021 #9
    062

    062 Road Train Member

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    I’d find a shop better than love’s to diagnose the problem. It could be something simple or it could take hours to diagnose.
    If it’s slow cranking at whatever the low voltage is set at now. I’d have the voltage number bumped up for the low voltage alarm.
    I’m guessing that’s adjustable @pushbroom @Goodysnap
     
    062, Jan 3, 2021
    062, Jan 3, 2021
    #9
  12. Jan 3, 2021 #10
    BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    I do not that that is adjustable. Voltage drop tests of battery cables is always good to do.
     
    BoxCarKidd, Jan 3, 2021
    BoxCarKidd, Jan 3, 2021
    #10
    062 and pushbroom Thank this.
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