Battery Drain F-350 7.3 Diesel

[SS MAYFLOAT]

I left my lights on my bucket truck last friday. They were on for about 3 to 4 hours. Being a diesel, it has 2 batteries. I figured that with having 2 that the batteries still should start the truck. <br /><br />Well, yesterday (tuesday) It turned over about 3 times and ground to a halt. I put the charger on it and it kept kicking out for the first 2 hours. After 8 hours, I got it to start late last night. I let it run for about an hour. Tried starting it and it seemed to have charged the batteries up.<br /><br />SHould I be looking forward to buying two new batteries? I would think they should have held a better charge than that. BTW, yes the electrolyte level is good. Can I replace one battery now and another in a couple of weeks, or will that cause my new battery to prematurely fail?<br /><br />Thanks........SS

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Battery Drain F-350 7.3 Diesel

Hit up a parts store and put a load test on each battery individually. Maybe you only have one bad one.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Battery Drain F-350 7.3 Diesel

I've been running the 7.3ls for 2 trucks now,......<br /><br />I replace my batteries every other year,.....Every 3rd year Tops,.......Just a P/M thing.....<br />Only because If my truck doesn't Start,.... The Whole Fleet is at risk of Late starts,.. or No starts......<br />I don't have the part #s,.. But they are the Biggest, Baddest NAPA batteries that'll drop into the battery boxes......<br /><br />Ayuh,.......Always replace in Pairs,.....<br /><br />Something else I've discovered,.... The Starters on our trucks will sometimes Drag when they start going south,.. Acting like Weak Batteries........<br />I just picked up a New late model starter from D.B. Electrical out of Gray Tenn. for $150.00....Found them on ebay....<br />My local NAPA, which gives me Great Pricing was Twice that amount.......<br /><br />If I were You,.........<br />I'd put them on an Automatic Charger for a couple days,........<br />If the batteries Are Still Good,........ You'll be Fine.......<br />If it Still Doesn't want to Start,....<br />Load Test Both the Starter,+ the Batteries............

 

[Solittle]

Re: Battery Drain F-350 7.3 Diesel

Most chargers will not bring a depleted battery to full charge in 8 hours. Try 24 -

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Battery Drain F-350 7.3 Diesel

What a day its been. Since the weather warmed up, I had a full day installing new clearance signs at some of our stores. Truck was on the charger all night and it fired up this morning without any problems.<br /><br />Used it up until about a half hour ago. It started up each time I needed it to. Of course the bucket being driven by the engine, the charging system was charging the batteries pretty much all day.<br /><br />Thanks guys for the input. Bondo, I had to change my starter out last April. It went south right after I launched at the beginning of the boating season. I know now what you mean about them dragging prior to going kaput. Cost me $190 with a lifetime warranty. Was about the easiest starter I ever changed. (SIL did it for me )<br /><br />Boss told me that when May rolls around, the company will buy me new batteries for it. Coooool! <br /><br />I got a pretty cool deal with them. I use my truck to fix their stuff, they keep my tanks full.

 

[heycods]

Re: Battery Drain F-350 7.3 Diesel

Im betting on the batts. AS they said replace them both, and bigger and higher the cranking amps the better. If one test good ,shelve it and keep it charged, they usualy come in handy around here.