New battery already bad??

[patperry2766]

2013 Ford F-150 5.0.

I replaced the battery Friday. Started the truck up great for the rest of the day.

Started up fine Sat AM, but after sitting at work all day Saturday, it kinda slow cranked.

This AM, I had to jump start the truck to get to work. I've gone out a couple of times today to make sure it will start. After letting it sit for about 6 hours, it kinda starts to lug when starting.

To me, I think I have a bad battery and will take it back to the store tomorrow to exchange, but is there some way I can check to see if there is a parasitic power drain when the key is shut off?

Another thing.

When I jump started it before I swapped out to the new battery....the truck wouldn't shift out of third gear.

This AM, after I jump started it, it stayed in 5th gear. I re-started the truck and it shifts fine.

My problem is that I'm leaving in a week for vacation and I don't want to sweat the truck not starting whenever I need it to.

[patperry2766]

Well....my enthusiasm and exuberance over thinking my truck was fixed was shot down this AM. Same problem as I've been having. Being short on time and patience, I took it to the dealer to have it checked out. I can't fathom two separate batteries being bad, but stranger things have happened. They both had a 6/17 date on them, so maybe they had a bad batch of them.

On a different note...Enterprise put me in a 2017 F-150 CC 4x4 with the 2.7 Ecoboost. Dang !! That engine runs like a scalded ass ape !! If the 2.7 performs virtually identically to my 5.0, I will really have to consider the 3.5 Ecoboost on the next purchase.

Will let you know how things ultimately turn out.

[wowens79]

We bought my wife a new Honda a few months ago, and it had to be jumped off twice in the first 2 weeks. It would act fine for a few starts, then it would be dead. Had them replace the battery, and it is fine.

Just shows that even new batteries can be bad.

[RoyJ]

What's your idling voltage and the voltage at say, 2500 rpm?

Alternators are constant voltage devices for the most part (varies a bit depending on intake / ambient temp). A lead acid simply draws whatever current it needs based on alternator voltage and the battery's state of charge.

[patperry2766]

Charlie D. wrote:
Thanks for the new info. NOW, keep us informed of how things go after you begin your trip.

I know where Saginaw is and wife's cousin lives there. Don't make me have to drive up there to find whether the new battery did or did not resolve your issues.:)

No problem

[Charlie_D_]

Thanks for the new info. NOW, keep us informed of how things go after you begin your trip.

I know where Saginaw is and wife's cousin lives there. Don't make me have to drive up there to find whether the new battery did or did not resolve your issues.:)

[Sam_Spade]

patperry2766 wrote:
so hopefully this will correct the problem.

It may not IF the new one is not fully charged manually before being used. You can NOT trust the battery seller to do that for you.

Charge it fully with an external charger NOW before you head out on your trip. If you do not, you might be sorry.

[patperry2766]

Took it back to have the battery tested. They said it was "inconsistent" and replaced it. Everything else checked out fine.

We're leaving Friday for our trip and I don't need this looming over me, so hopefully this will correct the problem.

Thanks for all the input

[ib516]

The funny transmission behavior is due to the weak battery voltage. That will correct itself when you get the battery issue sorted.

[Charlie_D_]

Auto Zone and others can test load the battery and check charging system for free. Go ahead and have them use their scangage to check for other issues.

[patperry2766]

No CEL coming on, nothing-nada.

[kerrlakeRoo]

Have any of your dash lights been on? If the "check engine" light is on the computer may have a problem, and be causing a drain.
When you go back to have the battery checked, have them connect an OBD II code scanner and check that as well.

[Sam_Spade]

patperry2766 wrote:

My problem is that I'm leaving in a week for vacation and I don't want to sweat the truck not starting whenever I need it to.

Did you fully CHARGE the new battery before use ? Most need that initial charge.

Then....you need to take the whole truck back to the "battery store" so they can test the battery AND the alternator.

P.S. The 12 V gauges and/or idiot lights are useless....because even a failed alternator seems to put out just enough so the light won't trigger and the needle isn't off enough so you can tell.

[camp-n-family]

Sounds more like an alternator problem to me. Battery is not getting charged.

[patperry2766]

When I had them originally test the battery, they said it was charging.

Had to jump start it again last night after work. After 20 minutes of driving and being in front of my house, I restarted it, and it started strong.

As far as the starting out in 5th gear after jumping, Ford actually has a TSB out on that. I'm gonna have to call the dealer this AM to find out more about what's going on.

[blofgren]

Have you checked to ensure the alternator is charging?