2018 Limited 1500 battery issues.

[corneileous]

Hey guys, I think I’m having battery issues or something else that’s causing me to have to use my portable jump starter quite a bit so my apologies for the long post…

I bought my truck brand new Christmas of 2017. With my job, I don’t drive my truck much. As of now, I only have about 58,000 miles on it. Anywho, when my truck was 3 years old, I had to put a new battery in it.

I had been gone all week for about the 4th, 5th time in a row. Never had any issues with it but one day when I came back to the yard to go home, I tried to remote start my truck but nothing happened. I had never had any battery problems up until that day. Went to the truck to start it manually and it just clicked. Eventually I had one of my work buddies come give me a jump. Took like 15 minutes and it finally started.

Once I got it started, I drove straight to Oreileys to get the battery tested. Being that this was almost 4 years ago, I can’t really remember what they told me if the battery was toast or not but they said to bring the battery back so they could put it on the big machine in the back so when I did that, they said their machine wouldn’t even recognize the battery so I ended up just buying a new battery.

I picked up their Sure Start Extreme, I believe it was, it was one level cheaper than their most expensive Oreileys brand. Almost got an Optima Red Top but I’m thinking they weren’t yet available.

Well, jump to current day about a week ago, I had to go to my wife’s office one day to help her find her keys to her car. We had gotten a bunch of snow that day and being that even though Oklahoma is getting a little better at cleaning the roads when we do get a little snow and ice from time to time, the roads were still slushy as all get out and after making a few errands that day, I must’ve had quite a bit of slush/snow built up under my truck or something because when I pulled into her driveway, I couldn’t put the truck in park and all the sudden it was telling me on the EVIC to service the transmission, whatever the hell that was all about so being that she was in a panic, I just made sure the headlights were off and set the parking brake because being that I couldn’t shift into park, it wouldn’t let me shut the ignition off.

We only searched high and low for her keys for maybe 20 minutes and when we decided to go home and come back with a shovel to find her keys, my truck wouldn’t start. Ended up having to bust out my portable jump starter to get it running and while it cranked, it sounded like the battery just barely had enough to turn the motor over.

Got home and then, I could put it in park. Went to start it after getting home and it fired right up like there was no problem and has been fine all week. Well, I was off last Thursday so I decided to do some things to my truck so while I was at it, I decided to pull the battery cables off, clean the terminals and put my battery charger on the battery just to give it a charge. It’s a little smart charger that’s 8 amp and after about 2 and a half hours went by, it was fully charged.

Today I decided to reconnect my security module bypass cable so I could do some changes with Alfa OBD so only having the ignition on for maybe a half hour, I went to start the truck and of course, it wouldn’t start. Had to whip out the jump starter again and again, it cranked really slowly but did start up. Before I did that, I put my multimeter on the battery and it only showed 9 volts. Thought that was weird so I decided to go to my local Oreileys to have it tested.

They tested it right there in the parking lot and their tester said it was good. They also checked my charging system and said it was fine, charging at 14.7 volts so, as I come to a conclusion on this abnormally long post, anybody have any ideas?

I will also state that for about the last several months that I can remember, Ive noticed that when I drive, the needle on my battery gauge on the dash stays right in the middle between half and 3/4. Thanks.

 

[GTyankee]

When you use the controls on the left side of your steering wheel
It should tell you what the alternator is putting out

 

[corneileous]

When you use the controls on the left side of your steering wheel
It should tell you what the alternator is putting out

Guess I’m not sure what screen you’re talking about but I know the charging system is putting out good voltage.

 

[GTyankee]

left side of your steering wheel has control buttons with arrows on it

using those arrows, in one sequence, you can bring up how much amperage your vehicle is putting out, as you drive.

I would think that if you watch that output & it is above 13 volts or amps, which ever it displays, & your battery drains down, it would have to be the battery that is bad, no matter what the auto parts store reads , ??

 

[Ken226]

They tested it right there in the parking lot and their tester said it was good.

The tester they use is very unreliable. It tends to give alot more false positives than false negatives.



A 4 year old battery from Oreilly's, that suddenly isn't holding a charge, during the coldest month of the year in Oklahoma. What would be surprising is if it DID hold a charge.

I'm originally from Oklahoma, so i'm familiar with the weather. The combination of hot summers and cold winters, means that the parts stores sell alot of batteries in winter.

That is exactly as expected.


If you want to know for sure, use a load style tester

100 Amp, 6/12V Battery Load Tester

Amazing deals on this 100 Amp 6/12V Battery Load Tester at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Otherwise, you'll probably be safe just replacing it.

 

[corneileous]

left side of your steering wheel has control buttons with arrows on it

using those arrows, in one sequence, you can bring up how much amperage your vehicle is putting out, as you drive.

I would think that if you watch that output & it is above 13 volts or amps, which ever it displays, & your battery drains down, it would have to be the battery that is bad, no matter what the auto parts store reads , ??

Oh, is this on one of the pages that displays the tire pressures, oil life meter, and all that stuff? Guess Ive just never seen on that where it shows the actual charge voltage.

 

[RamDiver]

If your multimeter measures the battery to be 9 volts, it's toast.

The load tester that Ken identified costs $20 at HarbourFreight and is the only true load tester.
The digital testers used at most stores are prone to false positive results.

Search this site, you will find many many similar threads.

.

 

[corneileous]

The tester they use is very unreliable. It tends to give alot more false positives than false negatives.

Really?...hmmm. Not arguing at all but I kinda figured it would be the opposite so that they'd have more a reason to sell you a battery.

I'm not sure what tester they used as I really didn't pay that much attention to the one the dude used but I kinda figured it would be the same one they sell which would be this one. Not sure if thats a good one or not but its not cheap.

A 4 year old battery from Oreilly's, that suddenly isn't holding a charge, during the coldest month of the year in Oklahoma. What would be surprising is if it DID hold a charge.

I'm originally from Oklahoma, so i'm familiar with the weather. The combination of hot summers and cold winters, means that the parts stores sell alot of batteries in winter.

That is exactly as expected.


If you want to know for sure, use a load style tester

100 Amp, 6/12V Battery Load Tester

Amazing deals on this 100 Amp 6/12V Battery Load Tester at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Otherwise, you'll probably be safe just replacing it.

Hmm... I kinda figured that most of it was due to them just not making batteries the way they used to. Ive even heard Optimas really aren't even as great as they used to be anymore. I say that because right before I left Colorado to come down here when I bought the truck I had before this one which was a 2008 Ram 1500, it was 4 years old when I bought it and it had 31,000 miles on it, and it still had the factory battery in it. 2 years later, I decided to replace the battery out of spite because it was 6 years old and I figured Id be better off replacing it under my terms rather than whenever it decided to crap the bed on its terms that might leave me in a bad situation.

So are you just not a fan of Oreileys Sure Start batteries? I bought this one not really even thinking it was a good brand or not. I guess what I should've done was just drive down to Sams and bought a Duracell battery. My wife bought one for her then Honda Civic and she drove it for 5 years up until we traded it last summer for her new Pilot. Never had one issue with it but then again, she didn't have a 600 watt amplifier running two JL Audio 10 inch subs.

Is there a battery you would recommend? I'm kinda thinking maybe I should look into an AGM battery. I looked up some info on them and it sad they are good for if you frequently make short trips, experience long periods of inactivity, have a vehicle with a high power demand or live in extreme temperatures as they hold their charge better, can withstand deep discharges, and are generally more durable than standard batteries- which kinda sounds like me....lol.

 

[corneileous]

If your multimeter measures the battery to be 9 volts, it's toast.

The load tester that Ken identified costs $20 at HarbourFreight and is the only true tester.
The digital testers used at most stores are prone to false positive results.

Search this site, you will find many many similar threads.

.

Yeah, I did find that a little strange, especially when last Thursday I disconnected the battery and put my charger on it for two and a half hours.

So what's your thoughts on a good battery and if I should go AGM or not? I'm sorry but even for Oklahoma's "harsh climate", not even four years is just not long enough, especially for what they're charging for batteries, now. That battery I have now was almost or just under $200.

 

[GTyankee]

looks like almost all Car/Truck H7 batteries have a 36 month warranty

Based on current information, the "best" H7 battery warranty is typically considered to be a 3-year free replacement warranty offered by most major retailers like AutoZone (Duralast Gold), Walmart (EverStart Maxx), and Interstate Batteries, all providing a full replacement if your H7 battery fails within that time frame; this is usually considered a good balance of coverage and price point.

I remember someone on here mentioned that Walmart has a good Auto Battery reputation

Robot or human?

EverStart Platinum AGM Automotive Battery, Group Size H7 / LN4 / 94R 12 Volt, 850 CCA 140 RC​

4.5 stars out of 2206 reviews
(4.5)|
2,206 ratings

Check if this fits your vehicle
Add vehicle

---

About this item​

• Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) technology
• Cold cranking amps: 850
• Reserve capacity: 140
• Voltage: 12
• Free battery testing and installation at your local Walmart Auto Care Center. If you need to get rid of your old battery, there is free battery recycling at your local Walmart Price shown does not include the Core Battery charge (varies by state). Automotive battery purchases placed on dotcom will have core fee refunded with a gift card once battery cores are returned to stores. Selection and ratings can vary by store.

View more

---

At a glance​

Price when purchased online

Brand EverStart
Condition New
Dimensions 12.44 x 6.94 x 7.50 Inches
Vehicle type Motor Vehicle
Volts 12 V
Vehicle make Various Vehicle Makes
View all specifications

---

Sponsored
$179.84 online

 

[RamDiver]

Yeah, I did find that a little strange, especially when last Thursday I disconnected the battery and put my charger on it for two and a half hours.

So what's your thoughts on a good battery and if I should go AGM or not? I'm sorry but even for Oklahoma's "harsh climate", not even four years is just not long enough, especially for what they're charging for batteries, now. That battery I have now was almost or just under $200.

If you're summer temperatures peak over 100°F for any extended periods, your expected battery life will be 3-4 years maximum. GT's recommendation of buying the best deal that includes a 3-year replacement warranty is likely your best option.

Normally, I would suggest an H8 AGM battery but, not in your area.



.

 

[corneileous]

looks like almost all Car/Truck H7 batteries have a 36 month warranty

Based on current information, the "best" H7 battery warranty is typically considered to be a 3-year free replacement warranty offered by most major retailers like AutoZone (Duralast Gold), Walmart (EverStart Maxx), and Interstate Batteries, all providing a full replacement if your H7 battery fails within that time frame; this is usually considered a good balance of coverage and price point.

I remember someone on here mentioned that Walmart has a good Auto Battery reputation

Robot or human?

EverStart Platinum AGM Automotive Battery, Group Size H7 / LN4 / 94R 12 Volt, 850 CCA 140 RC​

4.5 stars out of 2206 reviews
(4.5)|
2,206 ratings

Check if this fits your vehicle
Add vehicle

---

About this item​

• Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) technology
• Cold cranking amps: 850
• Reserve capacity: 140
• Voltage: 12
• Free battery testing and installation at your local Walmart Auto Care Center. If you need to get rid of your old battery, there is free battery recycling at your local Walmart Price shown does not include the Core Battery charge (varies by state). Automotive battery purchases placed on dotcom will have core fee refunded with a gift card once battery cores are returned to stores. Selection and ratings can vary by store.

View more

---

At a glance​

Price when purchased online

Brand EverStart
Condition New
Dimensions 12.44 x 6.94 x 7.50 Inches
Vehicle type Motor Vehicle
Volts 12 V
Vehicle make Various Vehicle Makes
View all specifications

---

Sponsored
$179.84 online

I guess I have some decision making to do...lol. This, or the Duracell AGM from Sams.

But I'm curious- before I install the battery, should I put it on my charger first before I put it in my truck or does it matter?

 

[GTyankee]

If you have a smart charger, it can't hurt

Someone on here said that the AGM battery, needs a smart charger for AGM batteries

I have not charged a car battery in a very long time
i have only charged a motorcycle battery with my 2 amp charger
I just bought a NOCO Smart Charger for motorcycle batteries

Now that i have a new Interstate AGM battery in my Ram, i think that i will buy a NOCO smart charger for AGM batteries

I buy my full sized batteries from a Battery Specialties store, it has been open forever
they tell me that the Charge on a brand new battery has a Charge from the manufacturer & does not need more charging.

I don't fully believe them

 

[RamDiver]

Really?...hmmm. Not arguing at all but I kinda figured it would be the opposite so that they'd have more a reason to sell you a battery.

I'm not sure what tester they used as I really didn't pay that much attention to the one the dude used but I kinda figured it would be the same one they sell which would be this one. Not sure if thats a good one or not but its not cheap.

Most stores use a digital battery load tester, which is prone to false positives. There are a few threads that discuss the difference between a digital and toaster-style load tester.

Is there a battery you would recommend? I'm kinda thinking maybe I should look into an AGM battery. I looked up some info on them and it sad they are good for if you frequently make short trips, experience long periods of inactivity, have a vehicle with a high power demand or live in extreme temperatures as they hold their charge better, can withstand deep discharges, and are generally more durable than standard batteries- which kinda sounds like me....lol.

If you can find a good AGM battery with a 3-year replacement warranty, great. You could go all in and upgrade to an H8. Many threads are discussing the benefit of an H8 upgrade.

Costco had a 5-year replacement warranty on AGM batteries but as far as I can determine, that's no longer available.

There's one critical item missing in your AGM description above, for use on frequent short trips. An AGM battery will not tolerate repetitive multiple short trips without the use of a smart charger/battery tender like the NOCO linked below. It will die a premature death unless adequately charged between short trips, almost guaranteed.

A battery charger must be designed to work with AGM batteries or with long-term use, it will cause damage to AGMs.

NOCO - 2A Direct-Mount Battery Charger and Maintainer - GENIUS2D

The GENIUS2D is a 2-amp direct-mount battery charger and battery maintainer for all types of 12-volt lead-acid batteries.

no.co

.

 

[corneileous]

If you have a smart charger, it can't hurt

Someone on here said that the AGM battery, needs a smart charger for AGM batteries

I have not charged a car battery in a very long time
i have only charged a motorcycle battery with my 2 amp charger
I just bought a NOCO Smart Charger for motorcycle batteries

Now that i have a new Interstate AGM battery in my Ram, i think that i will buy a NOCO smart charger for AGM batteries

I buy my full sized batteries from a Battery Specialties store, it has been open forever
they tell me that the Charge on a brand new battery has a Charge from the manufacturer & does not need more charging.

I don't fully believe them

So how long have you been using that AGM in your Ram? I’m not so sure I wanna use one now being that I’ve been doing some reading that says I shouldn’t use one unless my vehicle came with one.

 

[corneileous]

But guys, do I even need to replace my battery? I just remote started my pickup a little bit ago and in this 21° degree weather- it got down to 18, 19 last night and my truck fired right up.

After my incident yesterday, the only time I drove the truck after I jumped it was to my local Oreillys about 3, 4 miles away to have the battery tested and then drove home. Never drove it after that the rest of the day and this was at like, 3 o’clock in the afternoon?

 

[RamDiver]

So how long have you been using that AGM in your Ram? I’m not so sure I wanna use one now being that I’ve been doing some reading that says I shouldn’t use one unless my vehicle came with one.

Keep reading or read somewhere else.

AGMs are likely the best fit for many vehicles, regardless of what the manufacturers might include.

They used drum brakes for how long after disk brakes were mainstream?

But guys, do I even need to replace my battery? I just remote started my pickup a little bit ago and in this 21° degree weather- it got down to 18, 19 last night and my truck fired right up.

After my incident yesterday, the only time I drove the truck after I jumped it was to my local Oreillys about 3, 4 miles away to have the battery tested and then drove home. Never drove it after that the rest of the day and this was at like, 3 o’clock in the afternoon?

Load-test your battery with a toaster-style load tester.

This isn't rocket science.

Our trucks are rolling microcomputers, one flakey cell in a battery of any vintage and you're going to suffer endless grief.

Many batteries will never recover after dropping to 9 volts, certainly not an older battery.

.

 

[Ken226]

But guys, do I even need to replace my battery?

Need is a matter of your own perspective and circumstance.

If you go out tomorrow and your truck won't start, will it me a major inconvenience or just a minor one?

If you have a family emergency and need to get somewhere fast, will you be able to grab the keys to a 2nd vehicle? Or will you have to spend time jump starting the truck?

The cost/benefit analysis for your own personal financial situation is best made by you, yourself, since you have the most relevant information.



My battery is an AGM from O'reilly's too and from the speed it rotates my engine while starting, is getting pretty weak. Purchased in Feb 2020, so given my location is a pretty good testament to the accuracy of the map above.

 

[HEMIMANN]

It's a race to the bottom with automotive batteries. Johnson Controls closed their Milwaukee plant years ago, built a plant in Mexico, battery quality went downhill.

Then they sold to an international conglomerate called Clarios. Batteries from all over the world of questionable quality. Costco Interstate does the same. Walmart Everstart is Clarios from Mexico.

Even Odyssey has gone downhill. I haven't read an explanation why beyond recycled lead they aren't getting purified enough. Same at East Penn (Duracell, Deka, etc.) in Pennsylvania.

 

[corneileous]

Keep reading or read somewhere else.

AGMs are likely the best fit for many vehicles, regardless of what the manufacturers might include.

Even regardless of what some manufacturers might include? I’m assuming you’re talking about battery manufacturers or are you talking about car manufacturers?


With all due respect, I can kinda understand that logic when it comes to a consumer, but even if a battery manufacturer that sells an AGM battery? I would sure like to hope they know their product and how they can be used safely…lol.

They used drum brakes for how long after disk brakes were mainstream?

True, but that’s hardly the same thing. In my humble little opinion, the only reason why that was is because some car manufacturers on certain brands were just slower to update to the newer technology but there’s a lot more to it when it comes to car batteries, I would think. Maybe I’m wrong.

I’m not really trying to argue with you but put yourself in my shoes. I’ve got people like you telling me it’s OK and then I’ve read where other people say it’s not OK, that it could be a bad idea so again, put yourself in my shoes.

Load-test your battery with a toaster-style load tester.

This isn't rocket science.

Our trucks are rolling microcomputers, one flakey cell in a battery of any vintage and you're going to suffer endless grief.

Many batteries will never recover after dropping to 9 volts, certainly not an aged battery.

I’ll probably get one of those testers someday because I’d like to have one but you know, being that my current battery only had a three year warranty and being that this is happening to it not even two months past it’s three year warranty, I’m probably just gonna buy a new battery anyways.