Thank you very much and it's my pleasure to serve. Do I have to remove the alternator to have it tested? After a night of sitting it was 12.3v so I have it on trickle charge. Should I charge it all night at 2amps?

 

Your alternator as far as I know is fine as long as when you test the battery while the truck is running that the DMM reads at least 14 volts or so. Preferred range is around 14.3 volts. Also use a battery load tester and you will find out right away if a battery can hold a charge or not. Think they sell cheap ones at auto parts stores for like 20 bucks?

 

Ive had problems with fords battery test... And there batterys on my 08... They always said my battery was fine...

I went to a blue top duralast marine battery.. And havent had problems since.

 

Correct^^

Except for the fact that you should not have to take the alternator out of the truck to have it tested. I know that in house an alternator can be tested on a truck for voltage and amperage. Altho it sounds more to me like you are getting some crappy batteries.

And yes. The yellow top fits perfectly under the hood. No clearance problem.

 

Anything special to do for optima batteries? They seem to have a lower CCA and since I am in Alaska I would like to be sure it will work at -50f. I have thought about the deep cycle one (blue top). Will the single standard alternator charge it properly?

I don't buy low end batteries as far as I know. When this happens, it always tests good but shows I need a charge.

I charged my battery overnight at 2amps charge. It was 13.3v this morning with charger connected. When I disconnected the charge started dropping right away. It dropped to like 12.8v really quick and slowly keeps dropping from there. When it gets to 12.3v it stays there and doesn't drop anymore. The battery is still under warranty but they said it tests fine so no replacement. I will try to go to a shop sometime this week to test the alternator.

Very frustrating. The battery just randomly needs a jump and then it will be fine for months. Time before last my wife was crying about it when I called her from Afghanistan. I just want to make sure she will not get stranded in the dead if winter without me.

Thanks guys!

 

You can get the alternator tested on or off the vehicle. I would suspect a bad alternator diodes. That give give the indication Indios cheats but a battery that friar when sitting.

On battery brands the best I have seen Re Motorcraft. Think about how long the OEM battery lasted in the truck new. Optimas are also very good.

 

I know it is more of a pain, but take the alternator off and take it into a parts house and have it tested! Maybe the same time you take the battery in. Some place like NAPA. They have sent me home with parts rather than sell me something I didn't need! It probably is the problem you are having. Do you run aftermarket accessories like a high powered amp? They take a lot of power to operate and you need to take that into consideration! And don't spend all that cash on an Optima battery until you know that the battery is the problem. If it truly lies somewhere else, you will have spent all that $$$ and not gotten a fix.

 

I would suggest it and yes.

 

Theres definitely something more than just a bad battery going on here so I wouldnt just go out and buy another one.

My truck is an '06 with 96k and has its original Motorcraft battery. If I read your posts correctly you've had atleast 3 batteries? No way would that many batteries just go bad, something is killing them.

 

Thanks everyone and this is my thought too. We only have the one vehicle so I will need to find some time to have her down and a friend to take me to have it tested. I may try in truck test first.

So I charged the battery forever and drove around all day on the highway from here to there and it's still at 12.3v when I get home. I will try to go to napa this week for a test.

I have no aftermarket equipment or sound systems. Just stock everything. Seems like there is a draw somewhere but I can't seem to find it. Suggestions on how to trace something as crazy as this. I would imagine a shop would charge a lot for this. I am running the original alternator but while running is is 14.3 or so at the battery terminals so I think it's still working.

Thanks guys for helping me.