my turn... no electrical power

[walnuts4x4]

Well for last couple of months haven't driven the expy... and last time I tried to start it nothing not even enough power to use the key fob... can the battery just go bad? Only 2 years old so gonna get it tested this weekend it has a 3 year warranty... but its weird nothing that I can tell was left on and window hasn't been replaced and don't feel any moisture on the drivers side... I can hook up my charger and start it and it runs fine getting right around 14.2 volts on the edge while it is running.... can shut it off and it will start right up but if it sits even for a couple of hours (2-3) I go back out and it is dead.... really hate electrical issues.... but hoping its just the battery went bad... only drove the expy 5-6 times since beginning of December...

 

[toms89]

Sounds like you have the mystery load. Hate to say it but it sounds just like water in the fuse box gem module issue I had. Except I did have things not turning off like they are supposed to with key removed. You can attempt to find mystery load via the voltage drop across the fuses method....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3_yWnUH2Sw&feature=player_embedded

When mine got water in it there was no moisture on the floor or anywhere I could see but when I pulled it off water started pouring out. Problem is if any water gets behind dash it will likely find its way onto the wiring harness and it follows it directly to the fuse panel. Its mounted low relative to the harness and gravity can be a biotch.

 

[Jason_CPAPS]

I'd start with testing battery and alt.

 

[toms89]

I'd start with testing battery and alt.

The fact that the edge is reading 14.2 volts running tells me the alternator is ok. That and it starts fine after its been running but dies while sitting. The battery is worth checking but being only 2 years old should be healthy.

I would remove battery terminal after you turn it off. Before you go to start it up next day reconnect and if its dead...its the battery. If it starts fine...likely load on battery. I did this and the battery was healthy days later but when connected it would die just a few hours later.

 

[sgtowing]

I had to replace my battery but I had no clue how old it was.

 

[toms89]

I had to replace my battery but I had no clue how old it was.

And I had to change my oil !?

 

[Thermo]

walnuts, based on what you are seeing, I would get a load test done on the battery. Granted, you can also disconnect the battery cables, put the battery on a charger and then once the battery is up to full charge, remove the charger and see if the battery will stay at 12.6 volts over night. If it drops to even 12.5 VDC, then you have a bad battery. The other check you can do is to put the battery on a charger, get it back to 100%, then with a multimeter connected across the battery terminals, start the truck as you watch the multimeter. If it stays above 11.0 VDC, the battery is more than likely good. If it drops to below 11.0, you have a cell that is starting to go and you need a new battery.

One last check you can do is to use a multimeter on the high amperage scale (most multimeters will handle up to 10 amps). Disconnect the negative battery cable and then with the multimeter on the amperage scale, connect the multimeter between the battery and the battery terminal. The multimeter should be down under 20 milliamps (or 0.020 amps). If you are over that and you have all doors shut, then you have a draw going on and that is what is killing your battery.

 

[walnuts4x4]

well charged the battery for a good couple of hours and then it started up fine so I drove it..... then let it sit for a couple of hours and it was still good.... then let it sit longer and still good... then waited 2 days and still fine.... WTF... this thing is ******* me off... only thing I can think of is when I jumped it the first time I only let it expy run for 10-15 min.... but since then I've "actually been driving it" at 4.08$ for 87....lol... and hasn't given me a problem.... but its been raining good today so gonna check the floors... did wash it the other day and didn't see any moister... and the mud from hunting season on my floors was powdery dry...lol

 

[toms89]

well charged the battery for a good couple of hours and then it started up fine so I drove it..... then let it sit for a couple of hours and it was still good.... then let it sit longer and still good... then waited 2 days and still fine.... WTF... this thing is ******* me off... only thing I can think of is when I jumped it the first time I only let it expy run for 10-15 min.... but since then I've "actually been driving it" at 4.08$ for 87....lol... and hasn't given me a problem.... but its been raining good today so gonna check the floors... did wash it the other day and didn't see any moister... and the mud from hunting season on my floors was powdery dry...lol

Thats good news as long as it doesnt return.

I would drive it once a week at minimum just to keep things working.

 

[Thermo]

Walnuts, keep in mind that the PATS system does not turn off in the truck. It is always sucking a little bit off of the battery (same with the GEM module). if you do not drive the truck for a month or so, that little bit of draw adds up and it will be enough to kill a battery.

Just something to think about.

 

[Alan in AZ]

It may well just be the battery - take in to be load tested. I'd just start there.

If you are going to leave it without starting for >2 weeks at a time a battery maintainer is a good idea.

Batteries can just die a sudden death - especially where it is very hot (or very cold) - also discharging them fully (even slowly) damages them permanently...

Alan

 

[CARO'S98EB]

when a battery is slowly discharged by small loads over a long period it is very hard to recharge. you need a good charger and several hours to recharge it completely.