2000 Ram 1500. Battery is okay. Posts and connections clean. Dome light will come on but everything goes dead when you try to crank or turn on the lights and then a high tone coming from inside under the steering column followed by clicking like a stopwatch running.

 

Sounds like you have a connection issue, Either the battery terminals or ground. How do you know the battery is "OK"? Was it load tested?

 

Battery condition doesn't really matter here. You have a bad connection somewhere.

 

If you're convinced the battery is good and connections, I check the fuse box and grounds, do a voltage drop from the battery to ground, battery to fuse panel. Have someone help measure battery voltage when you try and crank.

 

My charger says the battery is at about 13 volts and good. I thoroughly cleaned posts and connectors. I even tried jumping it off. I'll check the ground wire. Everyone is ignoring what is going on below the steering column with the beep and then clicking. I'd really like to know what that is.
There is no power getting through to the truck now. No dome light etc. I'll check the voltage drop to ground and see what that is and get back to everybody. My meter just bit the dust for some reason, probably old age, so I'll have to go get another one when the wife gets back from her day out with a friend. Thanks to you and the others for your replies. I'll let you know what I find.

 

Beeping and clicking are probably a low voltage issue. How old is your battery? It may have correct voltage, but can't take any load.

 

Just because it it reading 13 volts doesn't mean it's good. It may have power during no load and drop under load(cranking the starter).

 

Yea, when truck has low or no power computers and buzzers and such you're used to hearing act way different and sound weird. I'm assuming is a result of an issue not an issue to address at the moment.

Static voltage isn't a test of a good battery, loading the battery to half or 75% CCA and measuring drop over a period of time is. Carbon pile is the only way to fully test a battery. I'll fight to the death impedance testers are junk, just easy for people to use and a good scapegoat for warranty

 

My charger says the battery is at about 13 volts and good. I thoroughly cleaned posts and connectors. I even tried jumping it off. I'll check the ground wire. Everyone is ignoring what is going on below the steering column with the beep and then clicking. I'd really like to know what that is.
There is no power getting through to the truck now. No dome light etc. I'll check the voltage drop to ground and see what that is and get back to everybody. My meter just bit the dust for some reason, probably old age, so I'll have to go get another one when the wife gets back from her day out with a friend. Thanks to you and the others for your replies. I'll let you know what I find.

Sorry, something came up and I've been gone. Here's what I've found so far. Battery to engine ground is same as battery voltage. Power to and from fuse box in engine compartment is battery voltage. Don't see any fuses burned out. If I disconnect the battery for a while when reconnected dome light and key in ignition bell work. Turn the key to on or accessories no power to the radio. If I try to start it there is a clunk and everything goes dead including the dome light. Disconnect the battery for a while and then the dome light works again. No more tone or clicking from below the steering column. Anybody got any further Ideas?

 

Please remove the battery from the truck and take it somewhere to have it thoroughly load tested to ensure that the issue isn't with the battery. A battery showing 13 volts on a charger can still be bad and fail when it's put under load.