Ok so since im selling the truck i started taking everything out and cleaning. I got my system out and the cd player. And now the truck wont start... I can jump it drive around and its fine but as soon as i shut it off the bat. is dead. Now all the radio wires are hanging loose and arent connected to anything because about a year ago when my truck was broken into my deck was stolen and they cut all the wires right after the wiring harness instead of unpluging it. so i cant clip it back into the stock radio cuz there is no clips. Is this causing my battery to drain? whats the deal need help got to sell this truck asap but cant put it up for sale till it starts everytime.

 

that isn't a battery problem...you need to look at the alternator......if you can start it and drive it and then shut it off, and it wont start back, the alt isn't charging the battery when it is running

 

 

i am pretty sure its not the alternator though because we hooked a meter up to the battery while it was running and it read 11 volts which is right where it should be while the truck is running. i guess i could pull it out and get it tested but i doubt that is it. any other suggestions? i can jump it to start it and then drive around but as soon as i shut it off i cant start it up again. FYI when i put blinkers etc. on the bat. voltage meter in the truck drops.

 

definately the alternator.........there is only 2 things in a charging system....an alternator and a battery......you battery is good so your alternator is bad...........how long after you jumped it did you meter it.....start it and let it run for about 30 minutes....i would bet that the truck dies because the battery gets drained......most times when you remove an alternator it will be good when it is tested because it will be cold.......my alt went south on my ranger, it was fine when it was cold, but after it heated up it was shot!

 

ok well i have replaced the alt. on this truck before and i got the warranty so ill just tell them its bad and get a new one. thanks for the info ill let u know what happens after work... Ohhhhhh 4 more hours!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edit: we tested the battery right after we jumped it... almost immediatly actually, i was just thinking with the radio thing that a wire touching was draining the battery but i assume it wouldnt happen that fast

 

Ok well i just talked to my step dad who was at home he went out and jumped the truck then removed the positive battery cable and the truck stayed running so it is NOT the alternator otherwise the truck would have died, i guess i'll try hooking the radio back up tonight and see if that does the trick if it does i guess ill sell it with my cd player in there i just need to get rid of this thing.

 

anybody else got any suggestions on what it could be?

 

it is either the battery or the alt.

 

i know but something is draining out the battery. i put a new one in yesterday and it started then i shut it off right away. tried to restart it and nothing... the new battery was dead something is shorting out and draining the bat and i no its got to be the grounds or something that hook up to the radio. it was fine till i took out the radio.

 

check your amp, any lights in the truck, anything pluged into the 12v plugs....anything like that can drain it when your trucks not running...

 

just because a ground is lose it will not drain your battery.......and an open power wire will not drain the battery unless it is in contact with a metal object. if the wire was incontact with a metal object, it would have started a fire in your truck by now with all the plastic under the dash.........you would also hear it sparking when the battery was charged.....you have something pluged into a constant hot or are leaving something on.....THERE JUST IS NO OTHER OPTION! either you have something on, or your alt or battery is bad

 

well i just hooked the radio back up and now everything is working fine. idk what is was but it wasnt the alt or bat.

 

Check the battery light on the dash, when you turn the key, does the light come on and then go back off? If not, change the bulb, this current is what turns on the alt. Thank you

 

Good job digging up this 2006 thread.......Noob

 

Cut the 'firstimer' a little slack.
I've searched for solutions to problems and eagerly responded to threads without checking the date, only to learn it was an ancient thread..