battery voltagr issue

Having issues with battery voltage to the point where I don't want to turn the truck off. Changed the batteries and alternator a week ago due to same issue and these new batteries seem worse. Getting 14 volts at the batteries while truck is running. Shut it off and after a few minutes its down to 12 volts at the batteries. No hot wires or batteries but I will have a better chance to look at things tomorrow.


My leading theory is these new batteries are junk, possibly frozen when shipped. Very cold winter up here.

 

I haven't checked everything but the main positive to the batteries from alternator and cab is drawing .4 amps and slowly goes down. I should check starter wires and espar wires. I think if anything was drawing it down that much my truck would be on fire.

 

10 minutes they're at 12 volts or less. Yesterday I shut the truck off for an hour and ran the heaters, was down to about 11.6 volts ans barely started. I've shut my trucks off hundreds of time in the same co.ditions overnight and never had this.

 

Ok tool everything apart and disconnected everything including the starter cables except the espars, each gets two batteries. Will check voltage in the morning. Didn't notice any sparks when taking things apart which would indicate major draw or a dead short.

Bad news is the truck may not start in the morning. Good news is there's a kenworth dealer within walking distance.

 

Starter was no good replaced it and no more voltage issues. I did do a bit of wiring not sure if that helped or not. Volts are 12.3-12.4 over night running both espars. Thanks for the help.