Battery Issues - 2002 Dakota Sport
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Battery Issues - 2002 Dakota Sport
I've got a 2002 Dakota Sport with the 3.9L V6 and a 5-Speed.
Yesterday I had it in the shop to get some work done on a caliper, and when the mechanic went to start it up to bring it back, it wouldn't crank.
Checked the volts the battery was putting off, when cold read 9-10. When jumped and running, it read 13.5-14. Check all other contact points, it seemed everything was fine connection wise. Assumptions are that the battery is just done and needs to be replaced.
We got it running to get me home (after having to reset the idle control, which I'm told happens anytime the battery is replaced or is really dead).
On the drive home the battery gauge on the dash was pegged to the right, upon turning the truck off the battery no longer had enough juice to lock the truck.
Jumped it this morning, got it over to the shop, and same issue with the gauge pegged to the right. Told the mechanic about it, and he seems to think it could be an alternator problem.
Thoughts from the board? Is it more likely that the battery is just bad, and the PCM is trying to hard to charge it? Or is it likely that there is another, more costly issue in the electrical system?
Yesterday I had it in the shop to get some work done on a caliper, and when the mechanic went to start it up to bring it back, it wouldn't crank.
Checked the volts the battery was putting off, when cold read 9-10. When jumped and running, it read 13.5-14. Check all other contact points, it seemed everything was fine connection wise. Assumptions are that the battery is just done and needs to be replaced.
We got it running to get me home (after having to reset the idle control, which I'm told happens anytime the battery is replaced or is really dead).
On the drive home the battery gauge on the dash was pegged to the right, upon turning the truck off the battery no longer had enough juice to lock the truck.
Jumped it this morning, got it over to the shop, and same issue with the gauge pegged to the right. Told the mechanic about it, and he seems to think it could be an alternator problem.
Thoughts from the board? Is it more likely that the battery is just bad, and the PCM is trying to hard to charge it? Or is it likely that there is another, more costly issue in the electrical system?
Section Moderator
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,858
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From: MA
I moved your post to the correct forum.
I'd start with the battery. Replace it as it isn't holding a charge. Then you can find out what's going on with the charging system - don't use the dash gauge either.
The regulator is in the PCM so lets hope it's OK.
I'd start with the battery. Replace it as it isn't holding a charge. Then you can find out what's going on with the charging system - don't use the dash gauge either.
The regulator is in the PCM so lets hope it's OK.
Record Breaker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 20
From: Clermont, Florida
Welcome to the forum..
Sounds like a dead cell in the battery. If the alternator was bad the battery voltage with the truck running after a jump start would be a lot lower than 13.5. You can remove the battery and take it to most any parts store for a load test to be sure. It is best to get it checked out and replaced asap because a bad battery can possibly damage the alternator.
Jimmy
Sounds like a dead cell in the battery. If the alternator was bad the battery voltage with the truck running after a jump start would be a lot lower than 13.5. You can remove the battery and take it to most any parts store for a load test to be sure. It is best to get it checked out and replaced asap because a bad battery can possibly damage the alternator.
Jimmy