dodge diesel battery question

JOCCO · Feb 13, 2013

On an early 90's cummings dodge how many batteries should it have and what size? Currently has one and does not seem like it would be enough for winter use. thanks all

Dblair · Feb 13, 2013

mine makes out ok on one 1000 amp. it's a 12 valve

scotc · Feb 13, 2013

They came with a group 31, somewhere in the ballpark of 1100 CCA. You can use a smaller battery in summer, or two smaller ones year-round. Mine has two group 26 batteries in it.

Case Nutty 1660 · Feb 13, 2013

my 92 had just one my 97 has two both have always started but then when its cold I plug mine in also but on trips and such I have started both of them at -20 with not being plugged in

Trkr · Feb 13, 2013

I have a 93 W350,bought it new,has always used a 31-1000 amp,no problems.

uncle henry · Feb 13, 2013

i have a 04 with two 950s and plug it in when it gets below 40 when i make a trip i do not kill it til i'm back home

bobs old iron · Feb 13, 2013

depending which side the one battery is on, should be cables on other side of engine compartment to hook up another one,,you can get by with one if it starts up quickly with out draining battery, with two you have a lot longer starting peroid.. should normanly all have two..

Clodbuster · Feb 14, 2013

The question is: How cold are you talking about without it being plugged in? If it is really cold, the batteries do lose a lot of power.

Pre 1994 works fine with the one large battery but my 1994 starts much better with both of them hooked up. It seems like the inline pump needs a little faster cranking speed than the rotary injection pump.

Just my own observation.

ericlb · Feb 14, 2013

mine has 2, it always did, when i had to replace them i bought the highest cranking amps i could get and still fit it in the battery boxes, that has worked great for 5 years now, i dont get as cold as you might the lowest this year was 10 degrees last week, but i do plug it in during the winter months at night, the thing starts like it was just driven a few minutes ago, that extends the life of the batteries as well as the starter ect low amps is hard on electrical components

cumminspuller · Feb 14, 2013

I've not seen any 2nd gen. or new dodges with only one battery. I've seen several 1st gens. with only one and thought the same thing about it being hard to start in the winter. Everyone I know that says taht they have no problems with them starting just fine. I'm in southern middle TN. I can't help you on the size though.

Chris

oj · Feb 14, 2013

neighbours 93 diesel has one 1000 cca battery, my 1998 24 valve has two of the same... both start ok, although up here in the great white north (Canada) we both run coolant heaters, i have a circulating one, neighbour has a frost plug one. If your battery doesn't seem to have the grunt to start it in winter you could consider a heated battery blanket... they do amke a differance.

El Toro · Feb 14, 2013

I had a 1979 Chevy 1/2 ton that originally had the GM diesel engine with dual batteries. It was owned
by a farmer and had gotten tired of having engine problems so he had a local shop to replace the diesel engine with a 350cid Olds gas engine. Once it was converted the farmer didn't want the truck. I never knew why and I saw the truck advertised in the paper being for sale. I drove down to where the truck was located and took it for a drive. The repair shop must have bought the truck from the farmer. I bought the truck and ask the shop to inspect the truck. He said he would knock off $100.00 and I had the truck inspected. I had the truck for 14 years before selling it. It only had one battery when I bought it & only had 42k miles on it.

caseyc · Feb 14, 2013

A 12v cummins doesn't need to crank. They start instantly, even in cold temps. If it has to crank at all you have other problems. One group 31 battery is plenty. Even a a bad battery will have enough to make the one revolution that engine needs. I have a '93 and the battery is 14 years old.

Casey in SD

dodge diesel battery question

JOCCO

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Dblair

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scotc

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Case Nutty 1660

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Trkr

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uncle henry

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bobs old iron

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oj

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