Cold brings out the worst of batteries. Just had the same problem with my Exploder. needed a battery because it wasn't holding a charge. Would go dead if i let it set for more than 1 day. It turns over faster than ever before.

Look HERE

 

.75A is a bit high. Disconnect the alarm and try again.

 

Would the stock battery be covered under warranty?

 

Under the 3yr/36K bumper to bumper it would.

 

Alright, so here is what I have found so far.

I went back out to the truck and with the battery fully charged I tried a current drain test again. My meter read around 0.80 Amps, but just before I removed it I saw it drop to about 0.07 Amps. I tried it with the alarm armed and not and got the same result. It seems that after about 15-20 seconds everything goes into a sleep mode. I may have been getting a false reading because I was testing after I completely disconnected the positive lead, where as the second time I made sure not to loose a connection. Chances are that right after you reconnect the battery (VIA meter or just the cable) that the computer and relays may be doing things for a bit and then everything stops.

So I took the battery out and brought it to Canadian Tire. They tested it and it came in at 100% charged but 10% healthy. He said the meter showed 330CCA when the battery is a 600CCA. So, I guess it is just the battery. I will call Dodge in the morning and see what they say. Hopefully I will be getting a free battery.

Pisses me off though, seeing as I was already there and they said they had tested everything. Obviously not.

I will let you all know what happens. Thanks for the comments and links. Some great ideas

 

I brought the truck into the dealer today. They tested the battery and it failed so they replaced it under warranty. The old battery was just a plain black cube with no manufacturer name on it, and was rated at 600CCA. The new one is a Mopar Performance Pro60 that is rated at 850CCA. It may not be the best battery but it was free and should be a much better match for the truck.

I mentioned to them that they supposedly tested it when I brought it in Tuesday and it passed then. Their answer was "well I see it all the time, a battery passes the tests and then fails later". I am sorry but why can't they just admit that they didn't do a load test when I had it in earlier? I didn't get into it with them but I really wanted to. I got friggin frostbite diagnosing the problem myself because it left me stranded again.

Who the hell made the decision to put a 600CCA battery in a full size 4x4 pickup truck anyways? Well I know who, the accountants at Chrysler. I think the stock battery in my Mazda 3 is rated higher.

Anyways, I will give it a few days and see how it goes. I hope this was the problem.

 

Ive had this exact thing lately. They replaced my original with the Mopar performance, but its happening again. I have my amp unhooked so it wont be drawing as much, but if I leave it more than a day or two itll need a charge

Its too dang cold to be checking every inch of every wire for a hairline cut, so I gotta just deal with it for a few days

 

I started the truck tonight, the first time since I brought it home from the dealer. It started up perfectly. Now, it isn't very cold out but it has been sitting for a few days.

I guess it was the battery. I am happy it is nothing else.

 

600cca is standard and more than enough to start the truck since it has a gear reduction starter. The tow package upgrades the battery to a 750cca. This is what mine has.

 

^ 600cca is pretty piddly where it is below freezing 6 months of the year.