Yep, the whole dash came out. I remember it well because I was literally leaving for Ohio the next day, and they stayed until 8:00pm finishing it up. And here's the kicker. The A/C repair was done on August 24th. Replaced the battery for the first time October 8th. 6 weeks later. Or about as long as each of the batteries have lasted, give or take.

 

Awfully coincidental, don't you think?

I doubt you will have any success getting them to find, and fix the problem though. (unless of course, you throw large piles of money at them.)

Do the draw test I outlined in my previous post. I suspect it will show a problem. Alternatively, (or, better... additionally,) have someone load test the alt. ON THE TRUCK. (voltage regulator is in the PCM, need to make sure that works right too.)

 

Crap. Yea, I didn't realize how close the A/C repair was to the battery going out until I looked up my paperwork.

The truck is going in in the morning. When I stopped by tonight he gave me a jump box to make sure I could get it started in the morning. I will print this out to show to the mechanic. (I'm sure he will love that, lol.) As for the draw test, I will have to buy the VOM you spoke of.

I am sure the mechanic is going to come up with something he says he fixed. Unfortunately, new town, new mechanic, and now I'm into it.

 

Yeah... might annoy him.

At the shop I worked at, and later ran.... we charged by the hour for electrical diagnosis..... that could get expensive in a hurry. But, I couldn't ask my mechanics (that worked flat rate...) to put 8 hours in trying to find a problem, and then charge the customer for 1..... go broke quick doing that......

As opposed to printing this, and possibly annoying your mechanic.... (hence, he would charge you more.....) Just let him know that this problem started occurring like clockwork after the A/C repair. That will give him an idea of where to start looking. (and keep him relatively happy..... always a good plan.)

Also, see if you can find out what he has done so far to diagnose the problem.....

 

Will do. I will very casually ask him what he has done so far, and post it back here in the morning. I don't want to give the wrong impression. These guys are decent people.

As for diagnosis, I suppose there are numerous things that could have come loose while doing the A/C repair causing the battery drain? Especially with the dash out?

 

one pinched wire would be more than adequate. Considering the number of them in there....... good possibility. Hopefully, he can find something, fix it, and not cost you an arm and a leg, half your soul, and your first born male child.

 

Ok, just got off the phone with the mechanic. Ugh. He told me that one of the three cables connecting to the negative battery terminal was not grounded properly. Not at the battery, but at the other end. Stupid question, but where exactly do the three negative cables go/attach? Not at the battery, but at the other end?

 

I think the fat one goes to the motor. Another goes to the body. Not sure about the third. (I think mine only has two?) However, I seriously doubt that is the problem. Now, if it were a bad ground that the alternator uses...... maybe......

 

One to the engine, one to the body (typically on the fender, very near the battery), one to the frame. The third might actually go to a strut that's bolted to the frame, which strikes me as silly.

 

Well, I got it back. They said they tested the alternator-perfect. They tested the starter-perfect. They said the only issue they found was a voltage drop on one of the grounds to the battery. They replaced the entire negative cable. And they also said that if this is not it, they do not know what it could be. Does this sound plausible?

They didn't charge me anything, so I guess it is worth a shot. I will be picking up the multimeter tomorrow, as it seems like a good thing to have on hand.