Hello,
I have a 2007 Dakota with 53k miles. I went out this morning and the battery was dead so I pulled out the jumper cables and tried to get it started with my wifes car. It would not turn over at all so I'm thinking my starter is dead, but when I go back out to remove the jumper cables i notice a sulfurous/rotten egg smell. Now I wonder if it's only a battery problem, but why would it not turn over when it was hooked up to the other car battery?

Anybody have any experience with something similar or have any thoughts/advice? Before I start spending money I want to make sure I'm going down the right path from the get go.

Thanks!

 

Your battery is dead. The rotten egg smell is the sulfer that collects inside all bstterys as they age burning off. Tap the sides of the battery. Its likley hot and expanded, it should sound like it doesnt have any acid.

 

When my battery went, it would not turn over with another vehicle connected. I would agree with bad battery. You might get it to turn over by just connecting the terminals to the jumper cables and not to your battery.

 

I am going to say its a dead battery too only because the run down protection should have atleast gave you enough power to get it to start. Your wifes car wouldnt be able to start it on a good day, it doesnt have enough cranking amps to do so and these trucks are temperamental electronically.

 

Mine went dead last month. Not bad, 6 years. Took advantage of one of those $30 off codes at advance auto & got a new one.

 

Yep bad battery for sure, deal with batteries at work everyday. You couldn't crank your truck because the bad battery was 'absorbing' all the amps from the other battery. So I think its internally shorted(could be from no acid inside). If you leave it hooked up to your wife's car for too long you'll cause damage over there as well so be careful!

 

Thanks all for the info. I put a new battery in and it started right up. Enjoy your memorial day!

 

I have this problem and my battery is new. It’s the starter.