Battery dies after parking for a day

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basskisser

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Hey ya'll my 2020 Ram worked fine Friday. Didn't drive it Saturday, Sunday wouldn't start. Jumped it ran fine. Shut off won't crank. Jumped it ran fine. Took it to the mechanic 30 minutes away starts fine now that the battery is charged. Mechanic can't get the truck to repeat the not cranking issue. Drove home Tuesday. Drove the rental car yesterday so didn't run the truck. This morning dead battery. If you remove a battery cable it sparks which I think is showing something is trying to draw power. Towing it back to the dealership tonight unless ya'll got some insight.
 
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turkeybird56

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YUP, a big draw somewhere. Since new truck, let Dealer mess with it, IMHO...

ADDED: And it is a big draw, not a lil mili-amp draw, like the same amount "alarm" sentry system uses. SO something that pulls juice is definitely thirsty.
 
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retired

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my 2020 ram 2500 had its battery and alternator both replaced at under 9000 miles and like 9 months. apparently it was a fairly common issue to have a bad cell in a new battery but less common to have a bad alternator at the same time. When mine went it went in a hurry ie fine one day and the next dead in the water and would not maintain a charge after a jump.
 

zogg

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My last truck was an f150. At 2,000 miles the battery quit. Replaced by dealer. Unfortunately it sometimes just craps out without warning. Igh
 

tul9033

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Is it a limited? If so if you leave the running boards in the out position it will drain your battery overnight.
 

Splattered23

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Is it a limited? If so if you leave the running boards in the out position it will drain your battery overnight.

Why in the world would leaving the running boards out overnight while the truck is off drain your battery? o_O
 
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basskisser

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Dealer says nothing is wrong. Recommends replacing the battery. So here we go again.
 

mikeru

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Is it a limited? If so if you leave the running boards in the out position it will drain your battery overnight.
No, it won't. I've left my boards deployed overnight many times and have never had a battery issue.
 
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basskisser

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So the ignition lights stay on after I shut it off. Like when you push the start button without your foot on the brake. So frustrating.
 

tul9033

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Why in the world would leaving the running boards out overnight while the truck is off drain your battery? o_O
No idea, but there was a thread where several of us were having this problem. If you leave the boards deployed on my truck the battery will be dead the next day. I mean DEAD, showing 6v on a volt meter.
 
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mikeru

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No idea, but there was a thread where several of us were having this problem. If you leave the boards deployed on my truck the battery will be dead the next day. I mean DEAD, showing 6v on a volt meter.
You have a problem if leaving your steps deployed drains your battery. Like I posted above, I do that often. I raise my suspension to OR2 and deploy the steps when parking in public parking lots to help cut down door dings. A couple of times were in the airport parking lot for almost a week each time. I've never had a battery issue. The wife does the same thing on her 2020 Limited and hasn't had a battery issue.
 

SittingBull19

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I had this same issue with my truck not starting/ battery dead after sitting overnight. Dealer said that they replaced an ignition switch. No problems since. The running board issue isn't that far fetched, if it's a Limited as these are linked to certain proximity features. Another member had this issue as we'll. I've even seen this on my Big Horn when making a few passes near the truck not thinking about my keys being in my pocket and even lying on my toolbox a few feet away in the garage. I noticed the light from the mirrors and the radio on. The buttons on the fob were not accidentally pressed. The radio wouldn't turn off til I cycled the ignition to on (not all the way to start), then off and locked the doors.
 

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