So my post is a 2 part question.


So I have a 2001 ram1500 4x4 v8.


About a month ago I used my winch on it to straighten a few fence posts, I didn't leave the truck running while doing so and it drained my battery to the point it wouldn't even stay running in idle!! Stupid I know! I didn't think the winch would drain so much battery in a few mins. Though its a old batter I think. It came with the truck when I bought in 2011. Now it sometimes has a hard time starting, if say the lights are left a few mins or radio. Yesterday it died at the gas station while at idle after driving 40mins, fortunately I got it start again and drive off! My guage inside the dash always says 14v while its running and my battery tester says its full charged. But can the battery still be bad and need to be replaced???


Also


Anyone else ever have a clacking/clanking noise come from their passenger side front tire area? I thought it was some lose bolts on my bumper over there, nope I tighten them up, it still make the noise! Then I thought it was my shocks, replaced it, nope it still makes the noise!!! Nothing else over there wiggles or anything, yet I the noise never stops!!! ANYONE HAVE A CLUE??!!! haha

 

if the batt is 4 years old or more LOSS IT!!!!!. to help know to toss it. put a volt meter on the batt. if the volt drops below 10 volt at cranking the batt voltage is to low start an engine. the next thing is to check if the batt is bad or not. try by charging it and if it doesnt hold a charge TOSS IT. EDIT: when i was in an apartment with no 120 volt at my truck, i just had my batt AND my starter swapped out every 4 years. i went 10 years and never a NO START.

 

It is possible if a battery gets too old that it just simply won't hold a charge anymore. I don't agree with if the battery is more than 4 years old to toss it. They last longer than that. I've had the same battery in my truck for 10 years now no problems at all, and the two batteries in my 05 cummins are factory and at 9 years old. But, If a battery gets drained too many times, its time to change it. As far as your clanking goes, check all the suspension and steering parts as well. Thought they may seems good when under there, have someone move the steering wheel and look for slop in whatever moves under there.

 

Yep all batteries have a limited number of times they can charge up.

In my experience drastically draining the battery like you did often speeds up the inevitable

 

thanks guys! the truck starts but sometimes its not right away. as for the F'n clanking I think I will just need to have a shop look at it that has a lift. I cannot find anything wrong, everything is solid. rrrrhhhhhh!!!

 

Check your shock bolts. they cause all sorts of weird noises.

 

I would check the sway bar link. Mine broke in half after 4months and the rumbling was terrible only happened on the side with no linkage

 

Does yours have a k&n air tube on it that runs over to the wheel well and goes through a metal plate. I had a similar noise. It drove me nuts. I couldn't pin point the noise and noticed no change in anything. So after weeks of trying to track it down I left it alone. One day I was checking the trans fluid and heard the noise right under me I looked down and the metal plate the tube goes through was loose and the vibration from the engine caused it to tap on the passanger wheel well. I cut a piece of the gasket from the top of the plate put it between the wheel well and plate and no more noise.

 

pretty sure I found that clanking noise!!! agree?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwIM...ature=youtu.be

 

Well that's definately a bad u joint.