Dual Battery Life

[KC15842]

My 2018 batteries finally quit. The end was odd, I tried a charger and jumping but all I got was a solid click. The dash lights would quit and the gauge needles would slowly ratchet back to the off position. But, could never get more than a click with it jumped. Cleaned the clamps, crazy amount of cables, nothing. I new the batteries were original but couldn't figure the jump wouldn't get it to turn over. I even removed the starter and had it tested, which I guess was a bit of a relief.
Finally broke down and installed to new batteries and all is well. Original batteries lasted more than 7 years, lets see how the second round of batteries perform.

 

[turkeybird56]

My 2018 batteries finally quit. The end was odd, I tried a charger and jumping but all I got was a solid click. The dash lights would quit and the gauge needles would slowly ratchet back to the off position. But, could never get more than a click with it jumped. Cleaned the clamps, crazy amount of cables, nothing. I new the batteries were original but couldn't figure the jump wouldn't get it to turn over. I even removed the starter and had it tested, which I guess was a bit of a relief.
Finally broke down and installed to new batteries and all is well. Original batteries lasted more than 7 years, lets see how the second round of batteries perform.

U get 5 years be happy

 

[CanuckRam1313]

My 2018 batteries finally quit. The end was odd, I tried a charger and jumping but all I got was a solid click. The dash lights would quit and the gauge needles would slowly ratchet back to the off position. But, could never get more than a click with it jumped. Cleaned the clamps, crazy amount of cables, nothing. I new the batteries were original but couldn't figure the jump wouldn't get it to turn over. I even removed the starter and had it tested, which I guess was a bit of a relief.
Finally broke down and installed to new batteries and all is well. Original batteries lasted more than 7 years, lets see how the second round of batteries perform.

Just tossing this out...
You tested the starter and batteries, was the alternator tested, too?

 

[Dean2]

If you loose a cell on a batterry you can't jump start it. If the battery discharges to less than 7 or 8 volts, you can't jump start that either.

 

[KC15842]

You know that's a good question. I never considered the alternator. 1) the batteries were original and 2) I heard a loud click. After the installation of the new batteries the dash voltmeter was >14V.

 

[KC15842]

Just tossing this out...
You tested the starter and batteries, was the alternator tested, too?

You know that's a good question. I never considered the alternator. 1) the batteries were original and 2) I heard a loud click. After the installation of the new batteries the dash voltmeter was >14V.

 

[KC15842]

If you loose a cell on a batterry you can't jump start it. If the battery discharges to less than 7 or 8 volts, you can't jump start that either.

Interesting, both batteries were ~ 12.2V

 

[Dean2]

Interesting, both batteries were ~ 12.2V

If new batteries fixed the problem, alternator is not the issue. They very rarely cause problems on the heavy duty pickups.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

If new batteries fixed the problem, alternator is not the issue. They very rarely cause problems on the heavy duty pickups.

I don't disagree.

It's just a basic charging system diagnostic function I was taught back then and still to this day, always check all items related to it, just to be sure

 

[tjfdesmo]

Interesting, both batteries were ~ 12.2V

Put a load tester on them and one/both will likely drop instantly to nearly zero.

 

[mtnrider]

7 Years! Count yourself lucky, average is ~3 years in these trucks. Good on you for replacing the batteries, most people jump right to the alternator and starter and waste time and money, 99.9% of the time a no crank issue with these trucks is the battery. Always load test them, measuring the voltage is not a good test for them.

.

 

[62Blazer]

As mentioned already, if the batteries drop a cell and are bad enough you can't jump start the vehicle. I've personally had this happen a few times over the years.
Regarding the alternator, that will not prevent the engine from starting. If you put new or fully charged batteries in the truck it should start regardless if the alternator is working or not, same thing with jump starting. What will happen if the alternator is not working is that the batteries won't get charged back up while the engine is running and will eventually be drained.

 

[Gr8bawana]

With 7 year old batteries that would seem the most logical place to start. Not assuming you had a bad starter and taking it out.
Start with the simplest thing first.

 

[OLEJOE]

I had 1 of mine go out after 2 years. Didn’t know until I was swapping them out but the one on the driver side was cracked and the tray was full of acid. No idea why it happened. Failed to start while trying to leave a remote campground. Was able to get it jumped off and drove straight to a Walmart with an auto center and left it running until I found out if they had 2 batteries that I needed. Swapped them out in the parking lot with 2 new AGMs. 4 year free replacement.

 

[inuyasha-rules]

It takes a lot of juice to jump a diesel. I've done it a few times with my old car that was built up for pro audio (alternator and wiring massively upgraded) and some 4 gauge jumpers. Using standard 8 or 10 gauge jumpers will get too much voltage drop, and even when running some cars can't dump enough amps to spin a diesel.

 

[HighDesertRam]

I got 4 years out of the factory batteries on the 2022 2500 diesel I purchased new.

 

[392heminut]

7 Years! Count yourself lucky, average is ~3 years in these trucks. Good on you for replacing the batteries, most people jump right to the alternator and starter and waste time and money, 99.9% of the time a no crank issue with these trucks is the battery. Always load test them, measuring the voltage is not a good test for them.

.

Yup, my local battery guy told me 3 years is about it for the factory batteries after I had to replace both of them in my 2022 Ram 3500. Same thing with my wife's 2020 Challenger, had to replace the battery when it was 4 years old and he told me we were lucky it went that long.

 

[chaosh1]

Oddly enough, the batteries installed are the Mopar 2019 date and still rockin well. Been waiting for them to die, as i want to install the Odyssey Extreme. but i do, charge them up once every 3 months and do well to not discharge them much

 

[Wasntmyplan]

I'm here in the AZ valley with my 2022 2500 Cummings. I'm the original owner. 1st battery went at 15 months so it was replace for free. The second battery went right at 3 years. They just don't make them like they used to.

 

[RamDiver]

If you meet or come close to this guideline, be happy.
If you exceed the suggested time, be very happy and buy lottery tickets.

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