Ram 1500 battery dead

[tomb]

Guys,

My 2014 Dodge ram 1500 sport battery totally died today morning. First i gave a power boost and it lasted me for 3 weeks. Again it happened last night & i again power boosted and worked fine, but today morning it died again. Am sure is the battery.

Do you guys suggest any good place to buy battery in Calgary? Any specifications? What size rachet and socket do i need to replace the battery?

Sorry am not a handy guy and just learning. Appreciate your time guys.

L

My OPTIMA is still going strong and my truck is 2012 -bought used in 2015--maybe they put the OPTIMA in then-unless they came with them from factory-has the blanket-big ass battery-will replace with the same when needed.

 

[tomb]

I must be lucky. I have a 2011 I bought new and have the original battery still going strong, and it has been through 9 northeast winters.

Me too-2012 and cranks strong every time-OPTIMA

 

[davidd13]

Well, this is interesting, I had pretty much the same issue. I have a 2014 1500 Laramie 4WD and I was going to take a neighbor to lunch about a week ago and went to start the truck and nothing but click click, without prior warning. Volt tester read 10.5 volts. My brother brought a battery charger by the house, hooked it up for 10 minutes and got the truck to start. Went to an AutoZone about 3 miles up the road, had them check the alternator with their little tool and then the battery which tested bad battery. Got an H7-AGM for right at $200. When I started it up to go home I got a check engine light which coded P1DF3 which for RAM's is ECU not initialized on the electronic shift module of the transmission. I felt like this might be related to an electronic issue with the no start condition, and sure enough the code cleared after three start/stop cycles.

 

[dpd527]

Go to autozone they will test the charging system and battery and install it for free no bulls#it only if it needs to be replaced

 

[RamCares]

I have a 2017 1500 Sport. Twice I have driven the truck to work and at the end of the day the battery is dead, only twice. Jumped the truck off and drove 28 miles to the dealer, both times, and have the battery, alternator, starter, and the electrical system tested. All came back good. Dealer thinks I am leaving something on but the system shout off after a couple of minutes. No clue from me or the dealer. Only happen twice so far.

Hi @Deltapapa,

Please let us know if this happens again. We can certainly provide an additional layer of support while your truck is in service.

Darlene
Ram Cares

 

[jbowen52]

My 2014 Ram 1500 also had a battery die when it was only about 2 years old. I replaced it with a Walmart Everstart battery. It wasn't the exact size, but depth and width were the same but it was about 1/4" taller and fit perfectly. The padded cover even still closed over it. It is still working fine three years later. It had the same or more capacity than the OEM battery and was much cheaper.

 

[OnTheTrails]

Did anybody suggest a trickle charger with a desulfator? Having one of these around is handy, and can often rejuvenate an older battery. I started connecting my truck batteries up to one 2-3 times a year and got another 1.5 years out of my very old batteries. Finally am just replacing them.

 

[Kenneth Bator]

In the USA Auto Zone etc will do it for free.

In Canada, maybe the Mounties will do it.

Costco is your best bet. Just keep your bill. Good for 7 yrs.

 

[Thornback]

Guys,

My 2014 Dodge ram 1500 sport battery totally died today morning. First i gave a power boost and it lasted me for 3 weeks. Again it happened last night & i again power boosted and worked fine, but today morning it died again. Am sure is the battery.

Do you guys suggest any good place to buy battery in Calgary? Any specifications? What size rachet and socket do i need to replace the battery?

Sorry am not a handy guy and just learning. Appreciate your time guys.

L

Since you are "not handy" ask your friends for a reputable shop and go there. That shop will charge you a fair price and do a good job. Lacking that from friends just go to the Dodge dealer nearest you. Both places will also test your charging system which is necessary. Don't try to cheap-out because a great battery is very important where a cheap battery is trouble in the making. Good shops and dealers will carry top notch batteries.

 

[DA Smith]

We just purchased our 2018 RAM and they had to jump it so we could test drive it. We decided to buy it and requested a new battery. They said they charged the battery and it checked out okay. Went on a 1200 mile trip to a family reunion. Truck sat from Friday night until Sunday morning and I had to jump it with a jump starter. On the way home, we stopped off to visit another family member. Stayed a couple of hours and had to jump it again to leave. About an hour down the road, the guages started acting weird and jumping around. We were in the “middle of nowhere” but found an Oreillys about 10 miles away. Turned off all the equipment we could and drove to their location. Bought and installed a new 94R AGM battery in the parking lot and the rest of the trip home was uneventful.

View attachment 185262

Did you go back to where you bought the truck and talk to them about your fun trip and let them know that they are stupid?

 

[Gary Broad]

Costco has great batteries and a 7 year prorated warranty, very reasonably priced, around $110 for 800 cca. And you get $10 back when you return your old one. I’ve bought many over the years with no issues.

 

[Marshall]

I have the original battery in my 2014 loaded sport and it is still fine.
A boost will not charge a battery, and unless you drive it for quite a few miles it will not get charged up properly.
You should have got it load tested.
Up in this country, batteries usually give up about the same time as winter comes.
Wife's 2008 battery lasted till this spring, but she only has 70k on it.

If I had just bought a 2018 from a dealership, They would have been paying for the battery, not me, unless it was one of those cheap as is where is deals.
Keep the bill, but most places look at the date code on the battery and they go by that, so a good idea to have them show you the date code, id the battery is 2 yrs old stock, your 7 years will be 5 yrs.
mind you store with will make a difference on this

 

[ACJCF2]

L, not sure what auto parts chain stores you have north of the boarder however, many should be able to test your battery, alternator, and starter. I worked for O'Reilly Auto Parts here in the states we tested all the time. I believe some FCA vehicles has the voltage regulator incorporated into the ECM. IF the VR is bad that is a dealer or mechanic fix. Just about all batteries carry a three year 100% return policy and anything beyond is prorated. Don't waste your time with W-M "Never start" batteries, cheap. AGM is premium, then 3 yr. lead acid, and less.

Hope this helps.

Jim

 

[ACJCF2]

Also, three years service is average on batteries, anything above that is a plus.

 

[Sheriff Justice]

I always replace the battery around 4 years (if keeping vehicle long term, consider it routine Maint). Prefer to replace with a battery I want (AGM or premium brand) vs something of a shelf / dealer I have to get now because the battery is dead and the car will not start.

 

[KeepRight]

Guys,

My 2014 Dodge ram 1500 sport battery totally died today morning. First i gave a power boost and it lasted me for 3 weeks. Again it happened last night & i again power boosted and worked fine, but today morning it died again. Am sure is the battery.

Do you guys suggest any good place to buy battery in Calgary? Any specifications? What size rachet and socket do i need to replace the battery?

Sorry am not a handy guy and just learning. Appreciate your time guys.

L

Most batteries today are made by 1 of like 3 companies... No mattter the name. You can't ever go wrong - Interstate, Diehard (Sears), NAPA, Everlast, AC Delco (OEM)...

I'm not sure about brands in Canada... Always find a brand that'll support you when traveling. Meaning, if you are on a road trip, more recognized brands / store is best. Next, ensure they sell the same or higher Cold Cranking Amps (CCA). That's how much power is there to start the truck. Ensure the battery is the same size, with top or side mounted connection. Larger is good, but it must fit with hold downs in your truck. Buy the best you can afford!

For the US we can goto most auto parts stores, they'll test your battery and alternator for free. Walmart can do this, even if they don't stock your batt.

Batteries will die quickly in extreme heat, like me in Texas. Now the cold or quick cold temp change will drain a battery. Your battery died now probably cause you've hit the first cold snap in your area. Batteries that are just holding on, will give up - - either at the first hard cold snap - - or the first extreme heat increase.

Your can change the battery yourself, just takes a few tools. Many in this post have given you great advice. Just remember, disconnect the Positive (+) terminal first - - then the Ground (-). For installation, connect the Ground (-) first, then the positive. This ensures you have a ground so the angry pixies (electricity) have a place to go if you touch the Positive to any metal.

BTW, when making connections, don't let any tools touch metal... It will spark on you.

I hope this helps!

 

[George Strickroth]

Did anybody suggest a trickle charger with a desulfator? Having one of these around is handy, and can often rejuvenate an older battery. I started connecting my truck batteries up to one 2-3 times a year and got another 1.5 years out of my very old batteries. Finally am just replacing them.

My vehicles sit more than they are driven.
I keep a trickle charger/desulfator on the batteries all the time.
I was curious as to whether there would be an issue with the new RAM performing a lot of functions when the vehicle is turned off, but so far no problems.

RodeoGeorge

 

[KeepRight]

My vehicles sit more than they are driven.
I keep a trickle charger/desulfator on the batteries all the time.
I was curious as to whether there would be an issue with the new RAM performing a lot of functions when the vehicle is turned off, but so far no problems.

RodeoGeorge

Trickle charge is wonderful protection!

Most trucks, it takes at least 5 miles+ to charge the battery back up from the drain on starting the truck. The trickle charge will keep your battery charged. Especially for people who don't drive often or that far.

 

[Wild one]

Most batteries today are made by 1 of like 3 companies... No mattter the name. You can't ever go wrong - Interstate, Diehard (Sears), NAPA, Everlast, AC Delco (OEM)...

g

Your can change the battery yourself, just takes a few tools. Many in this post have given you great advice. Just remember, disconnect the Positive (+) terminal first - - then the Ground (-). For installation, connect the Ground (-) first, then the positive. This ensures you have a ground so the angry pixies (electricity) have a place to go if you touch the Positive to any metal.

BTW, when making connections, don't let any tools touch metal... It will spark on you.

I hope this helps!

I was always taught to disconnect the negative (-) first then the positive (+) ,same way you hook up booster cables,always clamp the (+) on first, then the (-).

 

[crash68]

Your can change the battery yourself, just takes a few tools. Many in this post have given you great advice. Just remember, disconnect the Positive (+) terminal first - - then the Ground (-). For installation, connect the Ground (-) first, then the positive. This ensures you have a ground so the angry pixies (electricity) have a place to go if you touch the Positive to any metal.

As you pointed out, others have given great advice but you didn't.

@omnisap DO NOT disconnect the positive first. If you do happen to short the positive to something metal, bad things can and probably will happen. Unfortunately your wrench will pass the entire current capacity of the battery unlike a fuse that will burn open.
ALWAYS disconnect the ground first and reconnect after the positive is connected.