Dead!!!!!

wotahoe · 03-30-2005, 07:50 PM

Help. Has this happened to anyone else??? So I spent a few hours detailing the truck. It was parked half in, half out of the garage. I go to start it and...click, click, click...it's dead. (NO problems ever before) So I'm thinking "how the hell did my battery go dead?" And it's making clicking noises like a dead alternator. Anyway, try to jump it - nothing. In fact it goes so dead that you can't even read the odometer or any of the icons on the dash. So I get it toed to the dealer...They jump it, say my battery is fine, all the fuses are good, the computer doesn't say anything is wrong etc. Sure enough it fires right up. The dealer's mechanic saw how dead it was, then after 1/2hour tells me, "yep it was dead, now everything is working fine - I don't know what to tell you" Anyone else...? Any ideas???

Vegas04 · 03-30-2005, 07:54 PM

I always check the battery terminals before I freak out about a dead battery. Pull them off and then wiggle them back on and tighten the nut. Also, if there is some corrosion on the positive side you can pour coca-cola on it and it will eat away the corrosive crap.

buzzkillwill · 03-30-2005, 07:58 PM

Just another reason why I don't wash my truck. It won't start once I'm done!

Seriously though...no past problem?

Did you lose any of your pre-sets on the radio? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they'll erase after the battery has been disconnected or goes dead.

Bama334 · 03-30-2005, 08:14 PM

Yeah, that's weird, did the interior light run the battery down maybe or do you have some big amp system in there. If it happens again I know two ASE certified mechanic's in your area that would be glad to give you a hand. See if you recognize them?

IMADOGMAN · 03-30-2005, 09:22 PM

Check the battery cables on both ends...especially where the Neg cable connects. If you lose any of these connections, you will get nothing. Let us know if you find something.

**loufish** · 03-30-2005, 11:06 PM

Might want to check the TSB list, I recall a issue involving a "No Start" situation...The interior light should shut itself down after about 45 minutes to save the battery.

TitanHauler · 03-30-2005, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loufish

Might want to check the TSB list, I recall a issue involving a "No Start" situation...The interior light should shut itself down after about 45 minutes to save the battery.

Correct sir! See the following TSB.

http://www.infinitihelp.com/Ownershi.../NTB04-131.htm

StumpZ · 03-31-2005, 10:13 AM

Were you listening to the radio while you were detailing it? I did the same thing one time and killed the battery after about 3-4 hours. The amp sucks a lot of juice.

velopede · 03-31-2005, 07:39 PM

I wonder if Coca Cola will eat your stomach too??

NDJollyMon · 04-02-2005, 08:00 PM

wotahoe...
Your exact same scenario happened to me as well. I know I didn't run the battery down...as it was only on for about 10 minutes. I was cleaning the windows, and the CD stopped playing. I went to check out what was wrong, and the interior light came on REAL DIM when I opened the door, and the radio was off. I checked some fuses, and everything looked good. (nothing wet either) Tried to start...Same click, click, dead sound. I turned on the headlights, and they wouldn't come on at all.

I hooked up a battery charger, and the engine started in 10 minutes... like nothing was ever dead! Voltmeter read normal. Clock setting was off by 2 hours, and the electric sunroof had to be reset. The gas tank was full, but the fuel gauge read empty with the amber light on. I idled the truck for 15 minutes, and it climbed...ever so slowly. (1/16th tank per minute slow)

I drove to the Stealership, (no appointment) they did a quicky check, and of course they couldn't explain it. They tried to tell me it was probably humidity because I was washing it, blah blah blah. Bring it back if it happens again.

I have BIG TOW with the heavy duty battery. I've gone "tailgating" with a 'ghetto blaster' hooked into the rear bed 12 volt plug blasting for hours and not killed that battery.

What the heck?????

*Squid* · 04-02-2005, 08:26 PM

Gremlins!!!!

*DCtitan* · 04-02-2005, 08:58 PM

man the gremlins yo they always do crap like that if you catch them could you ask them to give me my socks back

*tortuga* · 04-02-2005, 09:03 PM

gremlins under the hood and drunk leprachauns in the dash clambering away!!!

Treebasher · 04-02-2005, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas04

I always check the battery terminals before I freak out about a dead battery. Pull them off and then wiggle them back on and tighten the nut. Also, if there is some corrosion on the positive side you can pour coca-cola on it and it will eat away the corrosive crap.

I've had that happen on another vehicle. I moved the terminals around and it was like night and day. Go figure... I'll save that Coke for the Captain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NDJollyMon

I hooked up a battery charger, and the engine started in 10 minutes... like nothing was ever dead! Voltmeter read normal.

Did you test the voltage of the battery while the engine was running or just sitting there? Also, a good way to test a battery is have someone get a reading when you are turning the key to start it. If you were hearing the 'Click' there is some life left in the battery. Sometimes there is enough to turn over the engine if you leave it alone for a bit and turn all the electrical gadgets off.

It's pretty strange to have the battery get drained like that without you knowing it. Especially with the battery saver feature...

NDJollyMon · 04-02-2005, 09:37 PM

Battery was never tested. By voltmeter, I meant the charging gauge in the dash. (normal during engine run) Stealer never tested the battery either.

I guess it's the waiting game.