Wouldn't Start - Flatbedded to Dealer -

[Art_in_CO]

This past Monday (Feb 17) my truck wouldn't remote start so I went into the garage, unlocked it via the button on the handle, and attempted to start it with the push-to-start button while pressing on the brake pedal. I immediately heard a pop from behind the dash then saw some dash lights going on & off. So I locked the truck while I was still inside, waited for a minute, and tried starting it again with the push-to-start button. Same pop behind the dash with some dash lights going on & off.

So I got out of the truck and locked it with the key fob. Some dash lights & the blind spot warning lights in both side view mirrors stayed lit. A couple minutes later I tried unlocking the truck with the key fob but nothing happened. I was locked out. Went inside for about 1/2 hour then tried again to unlock the truck. Again nothing happened.

So I called my dealer's service dept for advice. They gave me the Ram roadside assist phone number & told me I could get into the truck by using the manual key inside the key fob but it might set off the alarm. Instead, I waited for the flatbed to arrive. When it finally arrived (they were super busy that day) I let the driver do the unlocking manually (the alarm didn't go off). Then he pulled down the flap at the bottom left of the dash and pulled the cord that manually puts the tranny or transfer case into neutral so he could pull it out of my garage.

The next morning the dealer called me and said the cause was: "Main battery severely discharged. Removed battery & tested battery on main charger, found battery severely discharged..... found battery discharged due to vehicle not being driven frequently." So they charged the battery, reinstalled it, and the truck started and ran ok then.

I checked the Ram app on my phone and showed the service manager that it had been driven recently as follows:

Feb 15 drove 5.3 miles with engine running for 21 minutes
Feb 13 drove 30.4 miles with engine running for 56 minutes
Feb 11 drove 20.3 miles with engine running for 33 minutes

So I asked the Service mgr how can that be when I've driven it that much over the past 6 days? He said "that's what the computer is telling us."

Question: should my truck have an almost dead battery after sitting for only 2 days even with all that driving over the previous 6 days??

It's a 1500 Hemi purchased new in April 2024 and only has about 5,350 miles on it, but I put it on a battery tender when I leave it at home while I'm travelling. I was gone 7-1/2 weeks straight this past October & November and it started and ran fine with no problems after I took it off the battery tender from when I got back until this past Monday Feb. 17.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[06 Dodge]

This past Monday (Feb 17) my truck wouldn't remote start so I went into the garage, unlocked it via the button on the handle, and attempted to start it with the push-to-start button while pressing on the brake pedal. I immediately heard a pop from behind the dash then saw some dash lights going on & off. So I locked the truck while I was still inside, waited for a minute, and tried starting it again with the push-to-start button. Same pop behind the dash with some dash lights going on & off.

So I got out of the truck and locked it with the key fob. Some dash lights & the blind spot warning lights in both side view mirrors stayed lit. A couple minutes later I tried unlocking the truck with the key fob but nothing happened. I was locked out. Went inside for about 1/2 hour then tried again to unlock the truck. Again nothing happened.

So I called my dealer's service dept for advice. They gave me the Ram roadside assist phone number & told me I could get into the truck by using the manual key inside the key fob but it might set off the alarm. Instead, I waited for the flatbed to arrive. When it finally arrived (they were super busy that day) I let the driver do the unlocking manually (the alarm didn't go off). Then he pulled down the flap at the bottom left of the dash and pulled the cord that manually puts the tranny or transfer case into neutral so he could pull it out of my garage.

The next morning the dealer called me and said the cause was: "Main battery severely discharged. Removed battery & tested battery on main charger, found battery severely discharged..... found battery discharged due to vehicle not being driven frequently." So they charged the battery, reinstalled it, and the truck started and ran ok then.

I check the Ram app on my phone and showed the service manager that it had been driven recently as follows:

Feb 15 drove 5.3 miles with engine running for 21 minutes
Feb 13 drove 30.4 miles with engine running for 56 minutes
Feb 11 drove 20.3 miles with engine running for 33 minutes

So I asked the Service mgr how can that be when I've driven it that much over the past 6 days? He said "that's what the computer is telling us."

Question: should my truck have an almost dead battery after sitting for only 2 days even with all that driving over the previous 6 days??

It's a 1500 Hemi purchased new in April 2024 and only has about 5,350 miles on it, but I put it on a battery tender while I'm travelling.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Ya need to ask the idiot if they load tested the battery, I drive my truck less often and in fact have let it set for just over 2 weeks while on vacation never had a battery problem, my self not up on all the modern stuff an cant see how it was not charged up with that much running time over 3 days unless ya got a bad regulator...

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

Sounds like your battery was defective, it should've not discharged in such a short amount of time unless you have a parasitic draw which I doubt, if you're not going to drive it for a extended amount of time I would purchase a Noco Genius 5 charger & maintainer 5A,(trickle charger) these trucks with all of the electronics are drawing low amps even when all the modules are sleeping.

 

[RamDiver]

This past Monday (Feb 17) my truck wouldn't remote start so I went into the garage, unlocked it via the button on the handle, and attempted to start it with the push-to-start button while pressing on the brake pedal. I immediately heard a pop from behind the dash then saw some dash lights going on & off. So I locked the truck while I was still inside, waited for a minute, and tried starting it again with the push-to-start button. Same pop behind the dash with some dash lights going on & off.

So I got out of the truck and locked it with the key fob. Some dash lights & the blind spot warning lights in both side view mirrors stayed lit. A couple minutes later I tried unlocking the truck with the key fob but nothing happened. I was locked out. Went inside for about 1/2 hour then tried again to unlock the truck. Again nothing happened.

So I called my dealer's service dept for advice. They gave me the Ram roadside assist phone number & told me I could get into the truck by using the manual key inside the key fob but it might set off the alarm. Instead, I waited for the flatbed to arrive. When it finally arrived (they were super busy that day) I let the driver do the unlocking manually (the alarm didn't go off). Then he pulled down the flap at the bottom left of the dash and pulled the cord that manually puts the tranny or transfer case into neutral so he could pull it out of my garage.

The next morning the dealer called me and said the cause was: "Main battery severely discharged. Removed battery & tested battery on main charger, found battery severely discharged..... found battery discharged due to vehicle not being driven frequently." So they charged the battery, reinstalled it, and the truck started and ran ok then.

I check the Ram app on my phone and showed the service manager that it had been driven recently as follows:

Feb 15 drove 5.3 miles with engine running for 21 minutes
Feb 13 drove 30.4 miles with engine running for 56 minutes
Feb 11 drove 20.3 miles with engine running for 33 minutes

So I asked the Service mgr how can that be when I've driven it that much over the past 6 days? He said "that's what the computer is telling us."

Question: should my truck have an almost dead battery after sitting for only 2 days even with all that driving over the previous 6 days??

It's a 1500 Hemi purchased new in April 2024 and only has about 5,350 miles on it, but I put it on a battery tender while I'm travelling.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Ya need to ask the idiot if they load tested the battery, I drive my truck less often and in fact have let it set for just over 2 weeks while on vacation never had a battery problem, my self not up on all the modern stuff an cant see how it was not charged up with that much running time over 3 days unless ya got a bad regulator...

Or, it might be easier just to splurge and spend $18 at HarbourFreight for a toaster-style battery load tester and prove the battery yourself.

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

Don't let anyone try to convince you that a digital battery load tester is more reliable because that would not be true. Digital load testers are prone to false positives for a flakey cell.

.

 

[DanAR]

I’ve been gone 2 weeks on vacation. So I guess by your service managers explanation I should expect a no-start situation when I go to my Doctor’s appointment Monday.

 

[Art_in_CO]

I have one of those little jump boxes in the truck now....... I wonder how these trucks start after they spend a few weeks being transported from the factory to whatever dealer they go to.

 

[bm02tj]

I leave mine every spring from end of march till beginning of may starts no trouble

 

[mtofell]

I've been chasing a battery draw issue on my 2014 for a few years now. Honestly, it's possibly/likely been happening since new but until a few years ago it never sat for more than a couple days, if that. I now live in two places and truck often sits for weeks or even months at a time. I put it on a tender when I'm gone for more than a few weeks but I know I've had other vehicles fire right up after more than a month.

Answers to how long a vehicle can sit are all over the map and people defending it (dealers responsible for a repair, people that sell you a battery, etc.) often say a week or two which, IMO, is ridiculous.

OP, I'm thinking/hoping for you it's just a defective battery and at this point I'd probably just replace it and see what happens. Chasing down electrical "gremlins" in these trucks can be a challenge.

 

[Dan Topp]

This past Monday (Feb 17) my truck wouldn't remote start so I went into the garage, unlocked it via the button on the handle, and attempted to start it with the push-to-start button while pressing on the brake pedal. I immediately heard a pop from behind the dash then saw some dash lights going on & off. So I locked the truck while I was still inside, waited for a minute, and tried starting it again with the push-to-start button. Same pop behind the dash with some dash lights going on & off.

So I got out of the truck and locked it with the key fob. Some dash lights & the blind spot warning lights in both side view mirrors stayed lit. A couple minutes later I tried unlocking the truck with the key fob but nothing happened. I was locked out. Went inside for about 1/2 hour then tried again to unlock the truck. Again nothing happened.

So I called my dealer's service dept for advice. They gave me the Ram roadside assist phone number & told me I could get into the truck by using the manual key inside the key fob but it might set off the alarm. Instead, I waited for the flatbed to arrive. When it finally arrived (they were super busy that day) I let the driver do the unlocking manually (the alarm didn't go off). Then he pulled down the flap at the bottom left of the dash and pulled the cord that manually puts the tranny or transfer case into neutral so he could pull it out of my garage.

The next morning the dealer called me and said the cause was: "Main battery severely discharged. Removed battery & tested battery on main charger, found battery severely discharged..... found battery discharged due to vehicle not being driven frequently." So they charged the battery, reinstalled it, and the truck started and ran ok then.

I checked the Ram app on my phone and showed the service manager that it had been driven recently as follows:

Feb 15 drove 5.3 miles with engine running for 21 minutes
Feb 13 drove 30.4 miles with engine running for 56 minutes
Feb 11 drove 20.3 miles with engine running for 33 minutes

So I asked the Service mgr how can that be when I've driven it that much over the past 6 days? He said "that's what the computer is telling us."

Question: should my truck have an almost dead battery after sitting for only 2 days even with all that driving over the previous 6 days??

It's a 1500 Hemi purchased new in April 2024 and only has about 5,350 miles on it, but I put it on a battery tender when I leave it at home while I'm travelling. I was gone 7-1/2 weeks straight this past October & November and it started and ran fine with no problems after I took it off the battery tender from when I got back until this past Monday Feb. 17.

Thanks in advance for any help.

I have two vehicles that haven’t been started for months and the 24 drains the battery twice as fast as the 19. 12.3 is when the maintainer/2a is used. The backup battery I keep in a battery box holds 12.7 for months without charging,and it’s the old one from the 19 truck.

 

[Badger 13]

Since my 2013 doesn't get driven daily, I keep a battery tender on it, and never had an issue. It is surprising that with your battery tender on it, it didn't start ? Like others have said, sounds more like a defective battery. I wish you luck with it.

 

[Art_in_CO]

Since my 2013 doesn't get driven daily, I keep a battery tender on it, and never had an issue. It is surprising that with your battery tender on it, it didn't start ? Like others have said, sounds more like a defective battery. I wish you luck with it.

I only put it on a battery tender if I'm going away for awhile. Last week when it wouldn't start I had been driving it a few times a week so no way I should have needed to.

 

[blackbetty14]

It shouldn't drain that fast, I would start worrying if you going 5+ days between starts. If you didn't leave something on then likely the battery went caput or you have a drain of some kind. The fact that you heard a pop in the dash makes me think resettable breaker/fuse of some kind. If you have a meter of some kind you could pull a battery cable and run the meter between the connection to see if you can get an idea of the draw on the battery while its sitting. All vehicles pull power constantly to keep systems running and that pulls from the battery and these trucks like alot of new vehicles have lots of computers that need to be on all the time. Since April 2024 this is your first issue its likely the battery. Another thing to consider is that your 24 like mine has the etorque which has the 1kw battery behind the rear seat. This charges the 12v battery under the hood when the truck is running. Verify that when your running the battery is reading more than 12.8v in the EVIC.

 

[DirectJH]

I experienced the same problem with my truck and it’s a 2023 3500 Cummings. They claim nothing is wrong. They ran their huge diagnostic with it and try to tell me that my 500 mill amp rearview mirror caused it to die overnight 500 mil amps would only draw 50 amps in three days if it can’t start with a 50 amp shortage in three days there’s something wrong. What gets even more odd as I had a 2022 2500 that they have a tow company send out the guy to jumpstart it in the middle of the night and he said that it had no output on that one. So the next morning flatbed truck came, took it to the dealership they claimed it was a loose connection from where the winch was hooked up. The problem with that it is also the same post that the tow truck operator jumped it at the night before and since they look around to see what’s going on, there’s no way it was loose. Bram has a problem, but they won’t admit it.

 

[RamDiver]

Load testing the battery with a toaster-style load tester will provide a definitive status of the battery condition, there's not too much more to know about the battery.

If the battery tests OK, move on to the gremlin search, if not, replace the battery, monitor and enjoy your truck.

As much as I can appreciate installing an ammeter on the battery cable, I am far too lazy and have too many other areas to spend my time.

I've played this game before with mystery currents, it's not too difficult, just tedious and time-consuming. I would prove the battery status before embarking on the electrical gremlin adventure.

I'm not having any difficulties yet with my '21 Warlock, bought new in January '22 but, I like to be prepared and equipped. I recently bought a DC clamp meter from Amazon and plan to start analyzing the battery current draw during shutdown and sleep mode so I'm prepared.

Amazon.com

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[Dan Topp]

I have never needed load testing.Knowing the age of the battery and alternator along with a VOM has gotten me to age 64 with no bad battery stories to tell.

 

[Wild one]

Load testing the battery with a toaster-style load tester will provide a definitive status of the battery condition, there's not too much more to know about the battery.

If the battery tests OK, move on to the gremlin search, if not, replace the battery, monitor and enjoy your truck.

As much as I can appreciate installing an ammeter on the battery cable, I am far too lazy and have too many other areas to spend my time.

I've played this game before with mystery currents, it's not too difficult, just tedious and time-consuming. I would prove the battery status before embarking on the electrical gremlin adventure.

I'm not having any difficulties yet with my '21 Warlock, bought new in January '22 but, I like to be prepared and equipped. I recently bought a DC clamp meter from Amazon and plan to start analyzing the battery current draw during shutdown and sleep mode so I'm prepared.

Amazon.com

.

You don't want an amp meter on the battery,you want a volt meter.With an amp meter it has to be wired in line,between the positive battery post and the postive battery cable,and has to be able to be big enough handle the amp load when starting the truck,and if it dies,you're buggered,while a volt meter just needs to hook up to the positive and negative posts and doesn't have any load running through it.

 

[RamDiver]

You don't want an amp meter on the battery,you want a volt meter.With an amp meter it has to be wired in line,between the positive battery post and the postive battery cable,and has to be able to be big enough handle the amp load when starting the truck,and if it dies,you're buggered,while a volt meter just needs to hook up to the positive and negative posts and doesn't have any load running through it.

Actually, I couldn't be bothered to install an ammeter in line with the battery, way too much effort.

And, that is why I bought a DC current-measurement-capable clamp meter. I'll post pics soon'ish.

.

 

[Wild one]

Actually, I couldn't be bothered to install an ammeter in line with the battery, way too much effort.

And, that is why I bought a DC current-measurement-capable clamp meter. I'll post pics soon'ish.

.

Years ago alot of vehicles did use an actual amp meter,and if the amp meter in the dash died,the vehicle wouldn't start.

 

[RamDiver]

Years ago alot of vehicles did use an actual amp meter,and if the amp meter in the dash died,the vehicle wouldn't start.

I can understand that.

I know it's impossible to remember everyone's background but I started learning electronics at about 8 years old and was fixing appliances, power supplies, TVs and radios in my early teens.

.

 

[Wild one]

I can understand that.

I know it's impossible to remember everyone's background but I started learning electronics at about 8 years old and was fixing appliances, power supplies, TVs and radios in my early teens.

.

Early Chryslers were famous for the dash mounted amp gauge to die,and leave you stranded,lol.