I have a 2000 RAM 1500 4X4 pickup with a 5.9L engine. Over the last year or so, it has been eating batteries at a rate of about 1 every 3 months. I put in a new battery, and about 3 months later, it has a bad cell.

AutoZones test equipment says the electrical system is fine, as does my tester. I can't find any power draws or shorts. It has taken out 4 batteries, not counting the original battery, witch went out the same way.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Tom

 

not really a whole lot of info to go with here.. but, we'll get there..

what brand of battery? same one each time? have you considered bumping up a few amperage hours/deeper cell?

what do you have drawing directly off the battery? Anything power hungry enough to drain it in a short time?

what type of alternator are you running? Are you producing enough to run whatever accessories you have+ recharge the battery at the same time?


batteries are pretty simple in concept.. the ones we use are lead acid.. they will operate for a long long time if you don't abuse them.. abusing them is draining them down too deep in a cycle before recharging them.. if they get low enough they can actually reverse polarity, which has nasty consequences- one of which could be fry your PCM (though it is somewhat protected from such), and another is releasing the remainder of their charge through the grounds.. not good either..

If your battery is sitting on something that is grounded, it could possibly drain like that all by itself...

I'm just tossin' those items at you as something to look at, but in all seriousness, what I would think most possible: you don't have a solid clean ground on it.. it may be grounded, but not enough.. think of the grounds like a little pipe and electricity like water.. you can only shove so much juice through it.. it may be flowing enough to 'check out' on a meter, but not enough to allow suitable charge to refresh it.. I bet your grounds aren't clean and solid.. Take them off, and either trim them back an inch or so, or if they are dirty- hit them with a wire brush.. hit the location they bolt to with the brush too.. smear a good bit of petroleum jelly on them to prevent future fouling, and see what happens.

 

Ive had batteries last me 8 years with a 400w amp and system. Ive also had them last not long. If i were you Id look up dodge ram BIG 3 UPGRADE. Do that, if that doesnt fix it, install a new alternator (yours might just be getting weak). Lastly I would get a really good battery like an optima red top.

Like drew said nice clean grounds are very important for a batteries life.

 

The battery is a Duralast from AutoZone, rated very high at the time I purchased it. AutoZone has been replacing it under warranty, 3 times, but they have decided the problem is not the battery.

I have been through the electrical system checking all connections, nothing. I've tested for any unusual power draws with an amp meter, nothing. I've tested the charging system both normal running, and under load, it's all good.

I don't have any large power using devices, no amps, no winch, no high powered lights.

The battery is not just draining, 1 or 2 of the cells goes bad.

Thanks

Tom

 

Autozone is the likely culprit, most all of their electrical items are crap. Clean your grounds as mentioned, and try another manufacturer.

 

Checking all the electrical connections did include the grounds.

Thanks