Hey all. I have been poking around different threads asking questions but I figured this is a big enough problem that I should start my own.

 

Over the last month or so I have been having a problem with my batteries running dead in short amounts of time. I blamed it on the cold and put 2 brand new 850 CCA batteries in and changed out the alternator after having the light come on multiple times for it. I was having fuel gel issues and left it parked overnight (the block heater WAS plugged in) and came back the next day, batteries were to low to crank over. I know for a fact the block heater is working correctly, block stays nice and warm in the -30 weather we have.

 

I checked for amperage drawing on the batteries when the truck is off and at most there is only a .15 amp draw. Not enough to bring 2 batteries down over night. Just sitting, both batteries showed about 12.4 volts.

 

The other weird part is even plugged in all night, the grids still run every time. Should they run at all if the truck was plugged in?

 

The only thing I can think of is either the grids are pulling way to much power, my starter is drawing to much power, or maybe I have a faulty battery.

 

I am going to have the batteries load tested this week if I can get it to a shop.

 

Please help!! Any suggestion is wanted. This is our only vehicle and I dont have the means to work on it right now because of the cold and no where to get it inside for free.

 

:ahhh: :ahhh: :ahhh: :banghead: :banghead:

Yippee!!! Bet that makes you feel better! Congrats, I knoew you would figure it out in the 'warm' weather!!

Ya!! The -15 F actually felt really nice tonight after some of the weather we been having.

Thanks for going through this so i can use it for diagnostics in the future

..and the knowledge mountain keeps rising!

Always a good thing to go through all you basic diagnostics and testing first before throwing parts at anything.