Third OEM battery in less than 24 months

Burn2k12Ram · Sep 21, 2022

Take a look at this link to give you an idea https://www.ramforum.com/threads/interstate-battery-14years-rip.193250/

BossHogg · Sep 22, 2022

BlueGuyRedState said:
Still open to favorite battery type/brand - we are in SOCO (southern corner of Colorado, New Mexico only 12 miles south) so might skip the AGM/Optima/etc. for something more mainstream. Retiree truck/tow vehicle so not a heavy hauler or even daily driver.

I have found by observation over the years that the best battery, hands down, is the one that is on sale.

I've had all brand names of batteries not only in my vehicles but in my land management equipment and in my boat. You name the brand and I've had it. I get 7 to 15 years of service out of a battery. The brand name of the battery isn't as important as matching the battery chemistry to the type of use you put your battery through. Realize that there is a limited number of battery makers but a sea of brand names.

There is a number of resources on the internet that discusses battery chemistry versus usage that may interest you.

Boxrfan · Sep 22, 2022

I too have had two OEM batteries die within 18 months of buying my truck. Terminals/leads are all good. There must be a parasitic draw somewhere in all the electronics. Dealer can‘t find anything though.

I finally bought an Optima AGM that can deep cycle without killing the battery.

Summit1 · Sep 22, 2022

While still not sure which brand will receive the greatest number of votes here, I also recommend checking current draw from the battery... there may be a "parasitic draw" occurring due to various devices that do not "shut off" when the engine is not running. A small amount of such draw is normal, but it should be a very small amount of current.

My OEM battery died after a couple of years or so. I could have taken it to the dealer to be prorated and replaced, but it was less costly to me (in my situation at the time) to just swap the batteries with NAPA AGM's. Those have been doing extremely will the past three years, but then I live in the northeastern US where ambient temperatures are not detrimental to vehicle batteries.

RickH · Sep 22, 2022

I went through this exact same scenario 4 years ago, where OEM battery finally died at 7 years and 80K miles. Local garage supplied new battery, having shown me how the original was truly dead, and then went over every ground point and connector in the forward half of the vehicle with an ammeter to eliminate any spurious flow and/or less than perfect grounds. SEVERAL were thoroughly cleaned and reseated. Been perfect since. Now at 101K miles and still not ticking either. This is the kind of service that makes me return to that shop with cash in hand for the Techs who go above and beyond. Hope this helps.

BlueGuyRedState · Sep 22, 2022

Dealer replacing alternator under Mopar Certified Maximum Care warranty; will prolly have to pay some $$ for replacement OEM battery (prorated 24 month warranty with 12 to 18 months gone by).

Any suggestions for code readers? Retired Macintosh computer repair tech - got the Certified Preowned truck and Certified Maximum Care to keep my lazy @ss out from under the hood or dash, but would like a gizmo that tells me what's what BEFORE having to go to the dealer. (BTW my local dealer has been outstanding... plus only five blocks from my house!)

grvlpt · Sep 22, 2022

I have had overcharging alternators cook a few batteries

mopareg · Sep 22, 2022

Just replaced oem battery in my 2017 in August

mopareg · Sep 22, 2022

Put an Odyssee battery in my 2000 Ram 1500 and it went 10 years before it died

huntergreen · Sep 22, 2022

Original battery in my 15 wrangler died the other day. A little over 7 years old. Replace either a Diehard battery from auto zone.

Dodge 1500 4X4 · Sep 22, 2022

To me Interstate is one of the good AGM batteries out there go with the H8, the battery tray will accept it, just got to remove the tab in the bottom of the tray.

farout75 · Sep 23, 2022

BlueGuyRedState said:
Bought our 2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab AWD Big Horn as a Certified Preowned in August 2020 from Baxter in Omaha NE (bigtime dealer). OEM battery replaced under remaining 36 mo. warranty by small town RAM dealer.

Fast forward to 2021 and retirement in southern Colorado, several trips from Nebraska to CO towing UHauls and a small travel trailer. Replacement OEM battery crapped out, replaced under warranty (despite above small town RAM dealer NOT putting dates on second battery).

Fast forward to 2022 and #2 OEM replacement battery crapping out. "Service Battery" warning on dash followed by red battery icon. Appointment made with local RAM dealer (who's been outstanding BTW); we bought FCA Certified Maximum Care warranty because of the complexity of this vehicle's systems. Full disclosure - I was a ACMT for several decades (Apple Certified Macintosh Technician), happy to work on Mac laptops, iMacs etc. but I leave auto computers to the pros.

ANYWAY: we will get our THIRD OEM battery replaced under warranty, but asking the RAM Forum hive mind... what should we replace THAT battery with when it inevitably conks out?

Truck is stone stock and will likely remain that way. We tow a 2,800 lb. travel trailer a few times a year - truck has factory trailer brake controller - and will probably tow a rented flatbed full of tree limbs and the like to the local landfill a few times.

Just want a battery that will last longer than 12 to 18 months and that works well with Uconnect etc., towing trailers and all that.

Thanks in advance!

Batteries are not what they once were, Because more is demanded of them. We have small draws all the time and that takes its toll. My first battery lasted 3 year from when the truck was made, I replaced it with a Walmart battery 800 crank. It lasted 16 months. That was 8/22. I just accept batteries don't hold up wit all the electric demands we now have.

BlueGuyRedState · Sep 23, 2022

Final update: dealer replaced alternator AND battery due to "p2504 present". Something something "found charging voltage and actual voltage to be greater than .2v."

No other components replaced. May explain why trailer battery died prematurely last year, perhaps trailer brake controller on trailer too.

OTOH we put about 7,000 miles on it this spring towing first a U Haul (moving eldest daughter from Nebraska to Washington state) then home to southern CO minus U Haul, then a pair of shorter camping trips, without any incident until dash starting flashing "service battery" text and icon.

Moral of the story: 8/100 Certified Maximum Care warranty has now saved close to half of its purchase price, good to 8/2026 or 100K (have 45K now).

Connie Mack · Sep 26, 2022

I also had the yellow tops. they just quit. went top auto zone to get checked out, the complete terminal came out when trying to take off. wound up buying there top of the line, 180 cranking

Hemimania · Sep 26, 2022

Save yourself the time and headache. Go to Advance and get a Die Hard. That's what I woulda done after the second one. If it happened again then I'd think it was something else.

Tonino

Jeepwalker · Sep 26, 2022

Save yourself the time and headache. Go to Advance and get a Die Hard.

If it's the Premium Die Hard version, it likely comes off the same assembly line, made to the same spec as Interstate (??), both made by Clarios. So, yeah, it could also be a great battery.

Jim113 · Sep 26, 2022

BlueGuyRedState said:
Bought our 2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab AWD Big Horn as a Certified Preowned in August 2020 from Baxter in Omaha NE (bigtime dealer). OEM battery replaced under remaining 36 mo. warranty by small town RAM dealer.

Fast forward to 2021 and retirement in southern Colorado, several trips from Nebraska to CO towing UHauls and a small travel trailer. Replacement OEM battery crapped out, replaced under warranty (despite above small town RAM dealer NOT putting dates on second battery).

Fast forward to 2022 and #2 OEM replacement battery crapping out. "Service Battery" warning on dash followed by red battery icon. Appointment made with local RAM dealer (who's been outstanding BTW); we bought FCA Certified Maximum Care warranty because of the complexity of this vehicle's systems. Full disclosure - I was a ACMT for several decades (Apple Certified Macintosh Technician), happy to work on Mac laptops, iMacs etc. but I leave auto computers to the pros.

ANYWAY: we will get our THIRD OEM battery replaced under warranty, but asking the RAM Forum hive mind... what should we replace THAT battery with when it inevitably conks out?

Truck is stone stock and will likely remain that way. We tow a 2,800 lb. travel trailer a few times a year - truck has factory trailer brake controller - and will probably tow a rented flatbed full of tree limbs and the like to the local landfill a few times.

Just want a battery that will last longer than 12 to 18 months and that works well with Uconnect etc., towing trailers and all that.

Thanks in advance!

I had a similar issue with the OEM Batteries in my new 2013 RAM just two weeks after I bought it ... After the second one, I went to a battery specialty shop in my town and bought a new NorthStar AGM and put it in ... Never had an issue after that ... and when I traded the 2013 in on a new 2017 RAM, I had the dealer put the NorthStar in the new truck as well ... And it was still going strong when I traded for my 2020 ... Just forgot to make the battery switch that time .. LOL ...

blackbetty14 · Sep 26, 2022

my 2018 OEM battery died in less than 3 years and only had like 30k on it. Dealer would not replace as batteries only have 1 year warranty on them. I put in a Champion AGM $180 battery and its been 2 years and not one issue. Every AGM I looked at (at the time) was $210+, Champion was on sale and I got a discount plus a better 4 year free replacement warranty. Stay away from DieHard and Optima, I've heard interstate is great. I want to do lithium on my next!

Bandit1859 · Sep 26, 2022

BlueGuyRedState said:
Bought our 2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab AWD Big Horn as a Certified Preowned in August 2020 from Baxter in Omaha NE (bigtime dealer). OEM battery replaced under remaining 36 mo. warranty by small town RAM dealer.

Fast forward to 2021 and retirement in southern Colorado, several trips from Nebraska to CO towing UHauls and a small travel trailer. Replacement OEM battery crapped out, replaced under warranty (despite above small town RAM dealer NOT putting dates on second battery).

Fast forward to 2022 and #2 OEM replacement battery crapping out. "Service Battery" warning on dash followed by red battery icon. Appointment made with local RAM dealer (who's been outstanding BTW); we bought FCA Certified Maximum Care warranty because of the complexity of this vehicle's systems. Full disclosure - I was a ACMT for several decades (Apple Certified Macintosh Technician), happy to work on Mac laptops, iMacs etc. but I leave auto computers to the pros.

ANYWAY: we will get our THIRD OEM battery replaced under warranty, but asking the RAM Forum hive mind... what should we replace THAT battery with when it inevitably conks out?

Truck is stone stock and will likely remain that way. We tow a 2,800 lb. travel trailer a few times a year - truck has factory trailer brake controller - and will probably tow a rented flatbed full of tree limbs and the like to the local landfill a few times.

Just want a battery that will last longer than 12 to 18 months and that works well with Uconnect etc., towing trailers and all that.

Thanks in advance!

I have a2019 had to change battery2021 just pass the replacement warranty

jimmyfjk · Sep 27, 2022

i had this happen in a brand new 2021 rebel. the dealer refused to replace the battery saying it was not covered under warranty. i bought and installed an energizer agm battery from batteries plus. Had it happen again. Then i learned that the plugs in the ram stay hot even with ignition off. This is so you can charge phones etc with truck off. started unplugging stuff and the problem went away.

Third OEM battery in less than 24 months

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