Battery help

[Yukongk]

Need some help guys. Every day I go to start her up- dead battery. Interior lights work sometimes, sometimes the alarm remote is able to unlock the doors, sometimes totally dead. I get her started using a boost pack and then I'm okay for a day. The battery guage never goes past 14 volts which seems odd since I thought the alternator should be charging the battery. Also, my drivers door sometimes doesn't cut the radio off when I open it and the ignition is off- maybe a faulty door pin is causing it to drain?

Thanks

 

[Physh1]

It's a 12v battery so you're charging voltage should be running around 13.8-14.8v.

How old is the battery?

If possible, get hold of a voltmeter with an amp clamp. It will detect drain. For a drain to kill your battery overnight it has to be something significant.

Definitely sounds like a drain...you'll need an amp clamp & voltmeter to check & locate the issue.

Cameron

 

[YukonXL04]

Also take the truck to Autozone and have them load test the alternator and battery. One of those may be weak and the slight drain of the radio being on is enough to kill it completely. I would definitely replace or lube the door pin.

 

[Yukongk]

It's a 12v battery so you're charging voltage should be running around 13.8-14.8v.

How old is the battery?

If possible, get hold of a voltmeter with an amp clamp. It will detect drain. For a drain to kill your battery overnight it has to be something significant.

Definitely sounds like a drain...you'll need an amp clamp & voltmeter to check & locate the issue.

Cameron

Thanks. Battery is 1 years old (Costco- equivalent to Duralast Gold). I may have fibbed- I let her sit 1.5-2 days each time, not one day. I'm betting it's the Driver door switch. I have a digital multimeter but no amp clamp. Will see what I can find.

 

[Yukongk]

Had the alt and battery tested yesterday. Alt checked out fine and battery was only at 200 CCA which was to be expected since I just boosted it to get it over to the auto parts store.
Please forgive me, I have a lot going on and a significant detail totally slipped my mind. This all started when I left an interior light on (I'm using upgraded LED bulbs). I guess the alt won't charge a dead battery so my batt has probably been low since that incident and the reason why I don't have enough juice to crank it in the morning. I hooked a battery charger to it and will let it charge up. Then if it still dies, I'll look for a parasitic drain.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Physh1]

You're correct...alternators aren't designed to charge batteries. They are designed to maintain a charged battery. Good plan...let us know what you find. If you happen to get an amp clamp .8a or less is good, .8a-2.0a would be suspect, & anything 2a or higher will likely cause issues.

Cameron

 

[Yukongk]

Charged he battery up and let run for 20 min. A half hour after being off, I measured 1.34 amps.

 

[ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)]

dude i left my cell phone charger plugged in to the ciggerette lighter over night and my battery was dead by morning so no it doesnt have to be significant

 

[Yukongk]

Im getting a 40-50ma draw now and still getting a dead batt every 2-3 days. IGN B is drawing about 30ma. Radio is drawing about 10amps. I've been told I shouldn't have more than a 20ma draw. I'm not sure what else to try. I replaced the battery, to rule out a bad battery. In order to test for parasitic draw, I have to disconnect a battery cable to wire my digital multimeter in series. I'm wondering if the problem is not showing itself Bc disconnecting the battery might fox the issue temporarily.