With it being a new truck I highly recommend if you have any burned marks on the battery to replace it with a new one exactly like it. I am retired, but spend time several mornings a week down at my local CDJ dealer in the service area because I like to see the new vehicles coming in and most of the techs and all the service writers are my friends now. Anyhow, Chrylser really makes them look for anything the customer may have done that violates the terms of the warranty. (of course dont' buy it at the dealer where you plan on having your service done) To put in a different type replacement battery when the battery is under warranty for a year (I think) would be a give away. But just ignore me--I worry about things too much too often. I hope you enjoy the new truck and get a lot of great service from it.

 

i wouldnt worry... Change the battery?!? are you crazy?? if you do, send me the old one!
Jumper cables will normally spark even when hooking them up correctly. the few little marks you might have on your terminals definately shouldnt cause any problems with warrenty or any other issue.
My advice, teach your wife how to properly hook up cables and enjoy your new truck!

 

My battery just died, 3rd gen, I'm guessing the gen with all the problems. Shoulda waited and bought new. But then dodge doesn't make nightrunners but once in a lifetime. That battery would of told you something is wrong by now, imo. Enjoy that truck,and leave the jumping too the men.lol

 

I wouldn't waste any money on a battery just thinking that it's going to save you on a warranty. If it's running fine, you've done no damage. I was tempted to tell you you might have fried the polarity controller, but just didn't have the heart.

In any event, don't spend money where you don't need to. If there's no damage, there is absolutely no reason to replace perfectly good equipment. If you're worried about the spot where the arcs came from, you might just file them down a little, but certainly don't waste money replacing the battery or the terminals. That's really soft metal and can easily be shaped.

 

Hey as money tight as the car companies are getting a hundred out of pocket now, could go along way when say next week; a computer goes out, they see the arched terminal and claim that is what caused it. but hey chance it if you want, yes not saying it hurt the truck but saying i would spend a hundred out of pocket now to save the chance a week from now the computer goes out and they won't pay to fix it cause they claim that when you arched the terminal it fried the computer.
Yea you could file and they may not notice, but then again they may.

Question is which way would you rather gamble.

yea they normally will spark some, but not enough to scar the terminal.

 

I don't know about your trucks, but my 2010 Ram 1500 CC with the 5.7 HEMI has an AGM battery. AGM=Absorbed Glass Mat. It isn't a standard wet cell battery. This would be more inline with the Optima's or gel batteries. Suffice it to say they are not the cheap options to replace "just because".

Maybe if we could see a picture of any terminal damage, that would help clear up any misunderstandings.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. Everything is still working fine and the battery terminals don't look that bad. I may change the battery if I do run into electrical problems later and need to take it in for repair but as of now I feel comfortable. I really appreciate all the replies and look forward to spending more time on these forums as a new dodge owner.