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Battery's going dead

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Dwight Goertzen, Feb 17, 2025.

  1. Feb 17, 2025 #1
    Dwight Goertzen

    Dwight Goertzen Bobtail Member

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    Jan 2, 2024
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    Hello i have a 2007 386. I've got something drawing on my batteries very slowly. Whenever I don't drive for a few weeks(usually in the winter) the batteries will be completely dead. Last time it happened they froze so I put brand new batteries in. I've had it in the shop now for awhile and one day I noticed the batteries were completely dead again. It took about three weeks on the brand new batteries to be completely dead. Any ideas where to start or some things to check?
     
    Dwight Goertzen, Feb 17, 2025
    Dwight Goertzen, Feb 17, 2025
    #1
    austinmike Thanks this.
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  3. Feb 17, 2025 #2
    AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Unhook your battery cable, the negative one to the frame should work, and connect in a multimeter set to measure amperage between the cable and the ground stud of the frame. See how many amps are being drawn with the key off. You should leave it connected a minute or 2 to allow it to settle out. Anything over half an amp draw I'd say you've got an issue. In all honesty you really should install a battery disconnect or unhook the ground cable if you plan on leaving the truck sit for more than a week IMO.
     
    AModelCat, Feb 17, 2025
    AModelCat, Feb 17, 2025
    #2
    ducnut, Fieldrat and austinmike Thank this.
  4. Feb 18, 2025 #3
    Dwight Goertzen

    Dwight Goertzen Bobtail Member

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    Jan 2, 2024
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    Ok I'll give that a try! Yeah I'm thinking I might just put a disconnect on since it sits a lot in the winter. But I do wanna see if I can figure out what's drawing. Thanks!
     
    Dwight Goertzen, Feb 18, 2025
    Dwight Goertzen, Feb 18, 2025
    #3
  5. Feb 18, 2025 #4
    ducnut

    ducnut Road Train Member

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    Key off, you can pull all your fuses and check the draw of every circuit. You simply touch from blade clip to blade clip. That’ll narrow down what is pulling juice.
     
    ducnut, Feb 18, 2025
    ducnut, Feb 18, 2025
    #4
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