I think the battery in my 97 is going out. The truck sat for the past 3 months and of course the battery was drained. Put the battery on a trickle charger, and it got to 100% within an hour, then the charger continually cycles on and off ~1second. Put it back in the truck, turned over once or twice, but wouldn't keep a charge. Back on the charger, doing the same cycling. Reading 12.05V with no load on battery. Is it shot? Anyone know what the cycling is all about?

 

The batt sounds bad it's droping the voltage and the charger picks this up and cycles on and off.

 

Take the truck and batt to Auto Center and have it load tested, maybe just the battery but not sure; jump the truck if necessary and if it will remain running.
Have the Alternator checked to at the same time, not that it is bad now but just to make sure things are working correctly.

 

A good battery will take a lot longer than 1 hour to reach a full charge. Usually 14-18 hours on a 1-2 amp trickle charger.
If it reached full charge in only one hour , the battery is shot.
A brand new battery with the acid freshly added , and slow charged overnight, will read 12.7 volts.

 

correct

 

Not to bring up an old thread, but to provide feedback for those that posted... it was the battery. Shelled out the $ for a new battery and she started just fine. Sold the '97 to my little sis and she loves it. So yeah, happy ending. Thanks all!