I replaced my headlight assembly yesterday, and this morning when I go to start my truck, the battery is dead!

My Little BMW just didn't have a big enough battery to jump the F150 either.

I noticed that there is a small cable running from the Battery's Negative(-) terminal, and is held on to a screw against the frame of the truck with a nut. I had to remove the battery yesterday to work on the headlamp, but I threw it back in and the truck started right up! This couldn't create a ground-out situation and drained the battery could it?

This thing has started perfect for me every time!

I will get a new battery this evening, just wanted to ask you guys if I was just over thinking it or what.


P.S- Here in Dallas it only got down to ~30 last night, so it wasn't extreamly cold or anything...I've just never seen a battery completely up and die like that for no reason.

 

the battery has to be grounded for your truck to work. did you leave the dome light on ar anything like that?

 

Nope!

I tried to jump it with the BMW, but it just didn't have enough to turn it over a few times. I'ma grab a new battery tonight from Walmart. I had this SAME problem with my BMW last summer. The car started and I drove it home with ZERO issue, then when I tried to start it the next time I was getting in the car, no battery.

It's never given me any guff, but the battery isn't new on the truck. I'll grab a new battery and jump my truck with it,and let the battery charge to see exactly whats going on with it, but i suspect its just a failed battery.

 

make sure that you keep the recept for that battery if you get it from walmart. they will replace it if the cold cranking amps are low (basically a dead battery) so if you have broblems with it you can get a new one.

I would get a interstate battery if you can get it.

 

Sounds odd to me too. I didn't remove my battery when I replaced my turn signals, I just removed the hold-down piece and leaned the battery back so I could reach in to work. Not sure why your battery is dead/dying.

 

I did it just to get it out of the way for myself. I need to check the water levels of the battery, but I'd have a much greater piece of mind if I just plopped down $60 for a new battery and then didn't have to worry about it craping out on me this summer

 

I had a battery that was working fine but it was acting like a bad battery. I went to a battery center and they said my battery was fine but my positive terminal clamp had some corrosion and it would cause an arc. When there is an arc, its just like having the terminal off the battery. They cleaned the battery posts and terminal ends and I didn't have any problems after that.

 

Was it the stock Motorcraft battery? If so its not unusual for it to die without warning. The BMW should have had a 90 amp alternator and that is enough to charge and jump the truck if the battery is even half good. Walmart batteries FTL. Get an Interstate battery.

 

Beat you to it

 

I only skimmed the post and I missed that..OFW