I'm not much of a mechanic but I'm trying to learn and the electrical system is one thing that pretty much has me intimidated. I've only had my truck for about 6 months and either fixed myself or gotten a number of things fixed. It's a 94 long bed with the small cab, 5 speed 4WD. It has been running very well since the initial round of repairs after I bought it. I usually drive it on weekends as I have a much smaller vehicle that gets much better mileage. A few weeks ago after the truck sitting for a couple of weeks it wouldn't start, even the dash lights wouldn't come on it was so dead. A jump got it started and then it seemed fine for a few weeks but I used it every several days. Then I let it sit for about a week and the battery lit the dash lights but the truck wouldn't start. If this is just batteries, I'd hate to pay a mechanic's fee to replace a battery. Is this a case of the batteries finally died or is there something draining them down? How do I tell? They didn't need to be topped off with distilled water when it needed to be jump started. If I do need to replace the batteries is there anything special about the batteries that I need to know to get the right kind or strength or anything? It has Wal Mart batteries in it now but I've always been partial to Interstate. Thanks for your counsel.

Kru Heller
Powhatan, Va.

 

Do you know how old the batteries are?

 

No idea

 

should say month and year on the battery's sticker... its easy to swap it out... just get your self some wrenches and take off the battery cables... negative first, positive second... and if that battery dies within a few weeks.. then its possible your alternator has seen better days.. or.. its no longer charging your battery.. good luck

 

should say month and year on the battery's sticker...

Yes it should have been, and maybe it was once but both batteries are a mess and the stickers are gone. Thanks for the counsel on how to change the batteries. I think I can do that I'd hate to replace functional batteries though. How to I know this is the problem?

 

Take it to your local auto parts store and have them load test the batteries, most will do for free and see if they're ok.

 

Excellent. Thank you.

 

If a new bat doesn't fix it, you'll have to disconnect all neg cables and hook an amp meter up. See how much parasidic draw you have. I think the spec should be under 500 miliamps.

 

The old batteries tested bad. Thanks all.

 

ANOTHER problem solved RIGHT HERE at the Dodge forums !!