Hello, Im new here so please bare with me. I have a '98 Dodge ram 1500 4x4 E/Cab S/Box with a 318, now my problem is that i put in a new battery about 3 months ago i just thought the one that was in it was finaly giving out go i got a new one and put it in and it worked great for about a month then it started going dead wen it sat for a day or so do i took the battery back and they load tested and it dident do good so they gave me a new one again i put it in and its been a month and its doing it again is there anything else i can check. I tested to see how many ampes were being drawen wen the truck was parked and it was about 3 mili amps with the alarm set. i was wondering if the altenater could be over/under charging? any ideas?

 

Welcome aboard

How long have you had the 98? If you just bought it recently, does it have underdrive pulleys on it?

 

Thanks
I bought it about 2 years ago, could you explain underdrive pullys?

 

I dunno about the pulleys but Indu can help you with that.

It very well could be the alt. Go to autozone or something similar and have them check the output. It should be right around 136 amps if you have the H.O. one, which I think most do.

Also could be you got another bad battery, but thats a pretty slim chance.

 

thanks a lot!!

 

underdrive pully systems is a set of pullys that are attached to the motor.. pretty much makes the engine work less as hard to drive all the accesories,, hopefully acheieving more power ,, b/c its working less.. different size of the pullys..usually a set ,, wheree,,i think the crank pully is smaller and the rest go larger.. so the piston speed is at its maxiumum potential...i think... someone slap me if im off the boat on the sizes... ANYWAY.. if you had an underdrive system ,,, everything wouldnt run as fast on the engine,,therefore your alternator not spinning at optiumum speed,,inturn not charging the batter as well.. also a decrease in A/C efficiency,,, etc etc etc.. pretty much everything thats ran off the belt doesnt put out as much is it would or should with regular pullys... im assuming you dont have an underdrive pully kit on your ram..

ill put a buk on it that your alt. is slowlying going ... sounds like the alt isnit maintaing the charge well enought to overcome the cranking draw when starting the truck for a while..common sighn of a alt going bad... IF YOU CAN.. and if you chose to replace it.. see about getting the offroad package alt. a bit more expensive but it put out a wopping 136 amps...as opposed to the stocker that i think runs 100 or less...means more electrical power for when you need it.. the regular stock will do fine...

first i suggest that you take it to autozone or advanced and have them test the alt for you...i think its free..they put it on the bench and run it and itll test what charge is putting out... you can also do it with a digial multimeter...but you gotta be hand with it to udnerstand the readings..

hope this helps..welcome to DF!

 

thanks ill half to get the alt tested

 

how did you hook up for the parasitic amp drain test?? that's my second guess. buy a good battery and keep it clean and full of distilled water if it's serviceable, make sure it passes a HL test which you did, or replaced it for failing.
try parking it the same way but only lock your doors and don't apply the alarm, my guess is your alarm or something else is killing the battery..

but hey i am wrong all the time, check you alternator as well drive it to a parts store and have them test your charging voltage, which tests actual output on the vehicle at idle and revved up a little.
that way you could rule out your alternator with the quickness and for free with little work on your part.

 

I have a "new to me" 98ram 2500 360. Have the same problem. I have been told that the seatbelt system if the belts are not fully retracted can run down the Battery. Have gotten into the habit of making sure the belts are fully retracted when I get out and seeems to solve problem. It sounds too simple so I am going to the dealer to get their opinion. There is a tsb on the topic. I also went out and got a new battery and redid all connections and grounds in batt system but that did not help.

 

thanks are some good ideas here