I find it ironic right after I pay off the truck I get this light pop up on the dash. A big battery symbol pops up and stays lit for several minutes, the battery was replaced within the last four years or so and it cranks over quickly. It popped up and stayed on for several minutes then went away after I turned off the truck, then came back after a few minutes and went out again as I was driving. I wish the dash had a gage for charging because I worry it could be an alternator problem. Any ideas or thoughts ?

 

Welcome, when my 08 displayed the battery it was the alternator. For me, a 4 year old battery is one year past replacement. You dont tell us how many miles or the year of your truck.

Go to Autozone and have the charging system checked would be my suggestion.

 

Thanks, I'll do just that. The truck has over 150,000 miles I believe, I have not really looked at the mileage lately. I'll check it when the truck comes back home since my wife has it. I'm in East Texas and it's been warm lately but was close to 30 yesterday. When the battery was changed was maybe four years ago when I had a new gas tank installed. I bought the truck used and there was a hole in the tank sealed with a cork and silicone, I'll not go back to that used car dealership again.

 

I wanted to say thank you I did as you suggested and while the battery was at 95 percent it did have a bad cell.

 

What do you do to your batteries that they need replacing every 3 years? I got 7 years (with no signs of failing) on my old 2008 with the two batteries it ever had.

I replaced my 2017’s battery at 6 years as auto s/s stopped functioning but it cranked fine.

 

To be honest, this is the first time in all my years of car ownership I have ever had to replace a battery within a four year period. I replaced the battery months before the Snowmageddon in 2021 and it was cranking good and until the battery icon came up on the dash I had no clue it was bad.

 

Nothing, battery's are cheap and to have a fresh battery every 3 years is a non issue for me. The last one that went bad on me was just over 3 years old. Its the peace of mind knowing that I have a good battery (fingers crossed) and so does my wifes car. The last time it happened I was getting gas and no one would jump me, had to have the wife leave work.

 

the quality of batteries has gone to hell the last few years

 

I haven’t had issues. People say that, but I’m not sure I believe it. You should be able to reliyibly get more than 3 years.