Problem Corrected.

-1st: Took starter to be tested yesterday (forgot battery due to time restraints on getting to g-babies 1st birthday party)

Starter tested ok. But bought new one anyways since this was the orig and has 202K miles on it. Installed, same problem. Checked all cables, removed heat shrink from pos cable to make sure corrosion hadn't gotten inside jacket, all ok, nice pretty shiny copper.

Ground cables tested, resistance within spec.

- Took "2 month old" Duralast Gold down today to get tested. Tested BAD. This battery was a free warranty replacement in late June this year from the orginal Duralast Gold. So, this is the 3rd DG battery from the original purchase.

-Installed, starts like new again.

Sorry to say, my faithfulness in Duralast just went down the toilet. *Duralast Gold*

 

Just goes to show just because it is new doesn't mean it will work like new.

 

Always start with the simplest things first

 

Yeah, that's true. But, on #3 under free replacement with their product. Something is wrong with their quality control. Optima on my list.

 

You must not of read the OP

 

I had the same problem with my battery and hate to say it was a Optima Yellow Top. Jump starting truck all the time. Battery in ACC would not last more than 20 mins and assumed it being a new battery it wasn't the problem. I went with Diehard Gold and never a problem. Even though something is brand new doesn't mean it isn't crap. The Luck Of The Draw!!!!

 

I hear ya Kev. Luck of the draw is so correct for me and batteries as of late. Plus, just found out that the DG and Optima are made by Johnson Controls...only a few manufacturers out there.

Well, at least I get a brand new 3 year free replacement warranty.

 

Glad you got another "new" battery for free. I normally get all my stuff from autozone and haven't had much trouble with any parts that I can think of. 2 years ago I got a battery from Advanceauto and just had that replaced like last month. Before I got the Ram I had bought a brand new 04 Silverado and I lost count of how many times the dealership swapped out my battery under warranty in just 2 years. Finally the service manager told me that the batteries they have to use are basically junk. It's so sad that we have to spend so much money to buy these trucks and the quality just isn't there.

 

I would like to add a question to this topic Ive got a 2005 Ram with a 4.7 Ive had this problem happen once before. I get a soft click and only clicks one time. I try again and it normally starts. Somes times it may do it 3 or 4 times. This happened almost a year ago exactly did the same thing but it wouldnt start period. I changed the battery, starter and ignition switch with no luck. I finally changed the negitve battery cable and worked fine until now. I swapped a negitve cable out again (didnt buy a oe cable) and it didnt do it for about a week. All the grounds are clean and tight. I didnt know if the battery cables are a common issue or if theres somthing else to look for.


Also Johnson Controls manufactures battery for GM, Duralast, Optima, Diehard, Everstart, Autocraft. The different companys request different internal constuctions. From my experience GMs and the Everstart arent your best bet I see alot of these go bad fast I know every cars different but the Duralast Golds seem to do a good job and the Optimas quality has really went down in the last few years. They used to seem like they lasted for ever. On another note my Crysler battery lasted almost 7 years thats almost unherd of.