Dang nammit ennaways!

jon f mn · Sep 12, 2016

Got up and the truck wouldn't start. I knew this was coming but was hoping to make it til I needed heat. I have so much drain on the batteries that they only last a year or so, this set was replaced under warranty last year so I actually got 2 years out of them. Cost $629.49 for 4 950cca batteries.

greenmech · Sep 12, 2016

At least you have fuel. Ron Mn

K Effective · Sep 12, 2016

With the cost of said fuel, wouldn't it be cheaper to never shut it off than buy $680 worth of batteries? Oh, wait, it shuts itself off...

Dr. Walt · Sep 12, 2016

Jon:

Sounds like you need the same type of system that is on Fire Apparatus. An on-board 120 volt Charger with a long powercord on a retractable reel. When you park, you plug in to a Power-Port, so that the Batteries are always topped off and the rig is always ready to go on a moments notice.

Doc :>)

Bob Bancroft · Sep 12, 2016

That doesn't sound right at all. You have probably gone over this before, but I don't remember it. Does that truck really need 4 batteries? How do you get it started if the batteries are really depleted that much over night? A little lower CCA might last longer. Maybe you need deep cycle/marine batteries?

jon f mn · Sep 12, 2016

I tried both deep cycle and gel batteries before. The deep cycle didn't work because they wouldn't start the truck. The gel batteries lasted longer, but only about equal to the extra cost so there was no value in it.

SweetFeet · Sep 12, 2016

Switch it over to a magneto/governor system with hand-crank start??? LOL

Ouch on the battery price.

dpendzic · Sep 12, 2016

how many volts is the system? is the alternator putting out enough to keep them up? I only have 2-12v on my 24v dozer and one 12v 4D on my 12v dozer

denglish · Sep 12, 2016

0.495 megamiles. Impressive.

Bob Bancroft · Sep 12, 2016

My price on 31S/950CCA at my local auto supply is $101. If I was buying 4, I could do better than that.

jon f mn · Sep 12, 2016

Yeah,next month they would have been on sale for that at the truckstop too. Trouble is I needed them today. Lol. That's the way it goes.

retired farmer · Sep 12, 2016

Need to get you one of those small gas powered generators and a battery charger and put on the truck.

jon f mn · Sep 12, 2016

It runs at 13.7v on the road.

ss55 · Sep 12, 2016

December and below zero temperatures are less than three months away. A fresh set of batteries will be good to have in cold weather.

jon f mn · Sep 12, 2016

I had one on my last truck, still have the generator. With the cost and incovenience of getting gas it just was not worth it so I didn't put it on this truck.

jon f mn · Sep 12, 2016

Yep, it's an anual fall ritual. Sadly batteries will go on sale next month and would have saved me a couple hundred if I could have made it.

Bob Bancroft · Sep 12, 2016

OH! Stupid me. I was assuming you were starting up at home this morning.
Truck stop has a captive audience!

jon f mn · Sep 12, 2016

I'm in Nasheville today.

teddy52food · Sep 12, 2016

I wish I had your old batteries. They would start my small 6 volt tractors yet. You may have only one bad one that discharged the rest.

LarryH · Sep 12, 2016

if you get close to ky we sell that battery for 109.00

Lyndon - AB · Sep 12, 2016

Must be something with this Monday. I just got back from Edmonton, picking up a set for my Western Star. I can't complain too much though, I was at home when they died, and I got almost 2 years out of them (Interstate 31-XHD). I'll figure out which one in the set shorted, the rest can serve the rest of their lives on my tractors.

I tried AGM batteries too, they can be a little temperamental if you have to boost them, and they are plenty pricey.

sms · Sep 12, 2016

I think it's the electronic device charger that is burning them up from you looking for the daily funny.

caterpillar guy · Sep 12, 2016

The easiest way I have found is to dead short the batteries with a bar or a set of big cables ,with the cells open. The one with the cell that boils is the bad one. Or charge them separately then se if they stay charged. The ones that stay charged are good.
Any way that truck would start on 2 batteries. I have pulled them as they got bad and then replaced the whole set later.

showcrop · Sep 12, 2016

Do use a Southwind or equivalent or idle the truck?

Tim in OR · Sep 12, 2016

is the draw that is killing them, extra accessory's that kill them when parked? All the truck's in the fleet where I work live on 3 batteries with frequent starts. They usually last 2-3 years. If thats the case, could you separate the batteries and parasitic load (RV style)? just a thought.
Tim in OR

Dang nammit ennaways!

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