For the second time from new my battery has given up, I had to call out breakdown to jump start me today.

The breakdown guy checked the alternator and all appears to be OK, I drove the truck about 25 miles yesterday and had driven about 3 miles to a shop this morning before finding it wouldn't restart to go home again.

It's going to go into the dealership asap as the battery should be warranted, but I'm going to insist they put something better in it's place.

Has anyone else had problems with the original batteries failing in less than 2 years?

 

Wow! I still have the stock Mopar battery in my '02 Grand Cherokee and in my '04 Hemi truck. Lot of electric accessories on the truck also, including a huge amp drawing winch that I do use fairly often.

If the alternator checks out ok, I'd be looking for something drawing amps when the truck is parked...

 

Some batteries just last longer than others. Engines are no different

 

The only non-standard item that will draw a small current is the additional alarm system, I drive the truck at least once a week and only drove it yesterday, so this just looks like some bad luck with batteries. I'm wondering whether the fact the battery has had to be imported from the US to the UK has had an effect on it, especially if it was shipped wet, the original battery probably went because the truck was in storage for some time (about 6-8 months) before I purchased it.

It's frustrating, because it's not the easiest engine to start from a jump pack or from using jump leads another car and I didn't have either on me today as I was collecting plasterboard and needed the bed clear!

I'll try putting an ammeter in line to see what's happening before I book into the dealership.

 

My 04 stock was still going strong.

 

Still have the Stock Batt in my 05 too. Though, I have been looking into a Optima battery, as I expect someday soon I should replace. Red Top? Yellow top? not really sure yet. I have extra Hella lights, and a Sound amp. not much to draw on.

 

OK, just completed a current reading analysis and got the following results:

On connection 2A (this is mainly due to the CD player resetting itself)
After approx 1 min 600mA
After approx 2 mins 210mA
After another 5 mins 48mA

So it looks like just another crappy battery!

Going to book her in to the dealership asap.....

 

I just put a new battery in my 2007, it wasn't dead but it didn't like to turnover in the cold. I decided to put in a duralast gold. Turns the motor over a lot faster than the old mopar.

 

Not having much luck with the dealership as I'm just over the 2 years on the battery warranty!

So, my questions is, what is the spec of the battery? Ah, max current draw etc? Then I can buy the right battery, thanks.

 

It's a Group 34 for the size. and right around 800 CCA