Battery/charging/damage

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Danweis1

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2016 Ram 1500 5.7l
While working on my truck yesterday (I’ll skip the gory details) I inadvertently touched a grounded ratchet to one of the posts on the positive battery connector assembly (see pic). Didn’t think anything of it until this morning when I was treated with a dead battery. It was old, so I replaced it. Put a charger on it and it’s taken hours to charge up. Something’s not right. Removed the positive battery terminal and put an amp meter between the battery and connector. It’s pulling a steady 2.5 amps with nothing turned on. So, I obviously damaged something.
Put the positive connector on, started truck and observed only 12.3 volts at the battery. Not charging. So, did I fry the alternator or ?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
 

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jws123

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I believe that is a fuse right behind the post you hit it is probably blown most of us mechanics have done this at some point the old ratchet/socket hitting the battery terminal Lmfaoo.
 
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Danweis1

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Ya, after further research, it looks like that’s a fusible link, so that explains the no charge situation. But it doesn’t explain the battery drain…
 

crackerjack1957

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Ya, after further research, it looks like that’s a fusible link, so that explains the no charge situation. But it doesn’t explain the battery drain…
If battery drains or doesn't charge or hold a charge disconnected........... a cell has shorted inside the battery.
 

ibike

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On that negative post is a sensor that measures (SOC) state of charge. I would not think grounding out the positive post could damage it, but stuff happens. It tells the computer to charge, don’t charge or shut off high current draws such as your seat heaters, heated steering wheel, heater blower motor, etc. I think it also puts the body control module to sleep and the lin. Maybe if it’s damaged it’s not shutting stuff and things off?
 

Jim BB

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Change the fuse be hind the terminal then check it again !
once done and checked do the cheap drain test by removing the ground from the battery connect a test light on it ( clip one side of test light to neg battery terminal and the other end to the battery post! the slightest draw will show up ! just make sure doors closed and key off it will take about 30 to 60 min for truck to go to sleep then check and see if still got a lil glow on test light you have a draw on battery which is a possible a battery killer
 

turkeybird56

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On that negative post is a sensor that measures (SOC) state of charge. I would not think grounding out the positive post could damage it, but stuff happens. It tells the computer to charge, don’t charge or shut off high current draws such as your seat heaters, heated steering wheel, heater blower motor, etc. I think it also puts the body control module to sleep and the lin. Maybe if it’s damaged it’s not shutting stuff and things off?
Sensor called: IBS, Intelligent Battery Sensor. And that sensor interacts with 3-4 other modules also.
 
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Danweis1

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Thank you everyone for your input. Much appreciated.
I have a new fusible link coming later today and will install that tomorrow morning. I checked the one I posted the picture of and it is indeed open. None of the auto parts stores around me had one in stock, so, good old Amazon with one day delivery, at half the price of a couple of other places on-line.
Last night I left an intelligent charger connected so the battery wouldn’t drain, and this morning I turned that off and just observed the voltage. Over the last 4 hours, no battery drainage at all. It’s been staying at a constant 12.6 volts.

ibike and turkeybird56, thanks for the info on the SOC. I might be needing that info later.

Jim BB thanks for the info also. I had no idea it took too long for the drain on the battery to shut down. That may be the primary reason for what I saw yesterday. I’ll see after I replace the fusible link and run the truck.

Cheers!
 

chopperman1

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When first putting an amp meter inline you will get significant power draw as you "wake" the systems by applying power. It can take 10, 15, even an hour sometimes for systems to go to sleep. The prefered/better way to measure draw is to use an amphound.
 

GTyankee

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My thoughts are sometimes jumbled

Is it possible that the battery some how changed polarity

Years ago, i recall having to do something to correct polarity from a Negative polarity to a Positive Polarity, or Visa Versa, so that that particular vehicle would run correctly

( i am thinking that the vehicle was a early 1950s Ford )
They may have been 6 volt positive ground

My 2016 has a slightly different setup

1686114889173.png

1686115018507.png
 
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chopperman1

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My thoughts are sometimes jumbled

Is it possible that the battery some how changed polarity

Years ago, i recall having to do something to correct polarity from a Negative polarity to a Positive Polarity, or Visa Versa, so that that particular vehicle would run correctly

( i am thinking that the vehicle was a early 1950s Ford )
They may have been 6 volt positive ground

My 2016 has a slightly different setup
Not too jumbled! Not the battery but the charging system. Back in the 6v days you used to have to polarize the generator/alternator to get proper output. I still got a few oldies that require it.
 
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Danweis1

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So to finish up this thread;
I received and installed the new fusible link assembly. 3 nuts is all you have to loosen/tighten. Once installed everything went back to normal. Charging is good. Power drain is about what others said. It does take a while for everything to go to ‘sleep’. I monitored the battery voltage for a day and everything looks normal.
Thanks to everyone who commented.
Cheers
 

RamDiver

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So to finish up this thread;
I received and installed the new fusible link assembly. 3 nuts is all you have to loosen/tighten. Once installed everything went back to normal. Charging is good. Power drain is about what others said. It does take a while for everything to go to ‘sleep’. I monitored the battery voltage for a day and everything looks normal.
Thanks to everyone who commented.
Cheers

Thanks for the follow-up report.

This info will help others and it's another feature that makes Ram Forum so valuable. :cool:

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