Think need new batteries, 07 5.9

ScottG wrote:

john&bet wrote:
The batteries in my '04.5 went till Aug. of '12. Body shop started it to may times with out letting it recharge properly. Alt. does not give full output till you hit 20mph. They put in NAPA GOLD. We shall see how long they last.

Not sure where the 20 MPH thing came from but maybe your thinking this because the volt meter doesn't register until 20. Dodge disables the voltmeter (or actually freezes the reading) and does this so people don't call in to ask why it's swinging when the grids are cycling.
The alt full output is always available though (as long as battery temps are acceptable to the ECM).

Thanks Scott. Actually it came from watching my gages. I did not ask dealer. My headlights tell me the grid heaters are cycling. Some day I will put my VOM on it to test your theory. I wish they would put everything in the owners manual. Oh well life goes on.

PenMan wrote:
Still on the original batteries in my '06 Ram.

Replace the batteries in my 01 last spring, got 72 month OEMs from the dealer for $99.00 less a 10% coupon that they have on line. so got good batteries for $189.00.

I think many people believe they will have some warning before a battery quits. Most of the time you do but many modern engines will not fire off if the ECM doesn't see a fast enough starter speed and the Cummins is one of them.
There's also the case of a battery suddenly shorting internally. It's fine one minute and the next moment you can't even jump start it. I've had this happen twice throughout the years.
In either of these cases you'll get no warning at all before the battery dies.

Still on the original batteries in my '06 Ram.

ScottG wrote:
you can replace the batteries proactively under your own conditions or you can wait till they leave you sitting someplace

Yep. Not a good idea to try to wring every last AH from them.

My vehicle batteries get replaced at the first sign of "grunting." Usually about 4 years.

ScottG wrote:
The thing is, you can replace the batteries proactively under your own conditions or you can wait till they leave you sitting someplace and risk doing it under much less hospitable conditions.
Rather than being left sitting in the middle of the desert or out in the woods someplace with my family I just replaced them at home and in my garage at the 7 year point.

this is my thinking also. Friend is on 15 years on his ford pickup. His heart has about all that can be done for him to keep him a live so maybe a new battery would not help in an emergency. But I feel it can be a live or not live deal keeping a battery until it is dead.


chevman

john&bet wrote:
The batteries in my '04.5 went till Aug. of '12. Body shop started it to may times with out letting it recharge properly. Alt. does not give full output till you hit 20mph. They put in NAPA GOLD. We shall see how long they last.

Not sure where the 20 MPH thing came from but maybe your thinking this because the volt meter doesn't register until 20. Dodge disables the voltmeter (or actually freezes the reading) and does this so people don't call in to ask why it's swinging when the grids are cycling.
The alt full output is always available though (as long as battery temps are acceptable to the ECM).

Our factory batteries died after four years. We were in 18" of snow in Amarillo,Texas. Now going on three yrs.

The batteries in my '04.5 went till Aug. of '12. Body shop started it to may times with out letting it recharge properly. Alt. does not give full output till you hit 20mph. They put in NAPA GOLD. We shall see how long they last.

The thing is, you can replace the batteries proactively under your own conditions or you can wait till they leave you sitting someplace and risk doing it under much less hospitable conditions.
Rather than being left sitting in the middle of the desert or out in the woods someplace with my family I just replaced them at home and in my garage at the 7 year point.