Battery drain
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Joined: Oct 2025
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Battery drain
So I recently got a 2004 f150 xlt(new body style) and am experiencing battery drain. When I jump it starts fine and with about an hour of driving it starts up frequently after, but the only problem being I’m installing stuff and trying to fix problems so I have been starting it without driving it frequently up until it died the first time. I can confirm the battery drain is not from anything I’ve done since the battery has been experiencing this prior to me messing with everything.
I also want to add nothing works when the battery dies( as expected), but the headlights stay on and the horn function of the key fob of a old viper alarm system still works, but not the original keyfob.
I have no idea if this is relevant but my overdrive doesn’t work ( it jerks when going over around 35 mph, kinda feels like the car is still revving In between shifting gears, but it works fine with over drive off), I haven’t tested to see if it stops jerking at higher speeds out of fear off messing anything up, and have been told it’s probably a solenoid but I want to check all my bases before hand before I go to a mechanic to tell me something simple is draining my battery.
I forgot to add that the dash says my battery is charged around three quarters and doesn’t go past like half way and almost fully charged and I’m not getting any warning lights on, all the dash lights do work tho.
I also want to add nothing works when the battery dies( as expected), but the headlights stay on and the horn function of the key fob of a old viper alarm system still works, but not the original keyfob.
I have no idea if this is relevant but my overdrive doesn’t work ( it jerks when going over around 35 mph, kinda feels like the car is still revving In between shifting gears, but it works fine with over drive off), I haven’t tested to see if it stops jerking at higher speeds out of fear off messing anything up, and have been told it’s probably a solenoid but I want to check all my bases before hand before I go to a mechanic to tell me something simple is draining my battery.
I forgot to add that the dash says my battery is charged around three quarters and doesn’t go past like half way and almost fully charged and I’m not getting any warning lights on, all the dash lights do work tho.
Last edited by ZackJLB; Oct 9, 2025 at 09:42 AM.
5 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 7,704
Likes: 2,188
So I recently got a 2004 f150 xlt(new body style) and am experiencing battery drain. When I jump it starts fine and with about an hour of driving it starts up frequently after, but the only problem being I’m installing stuff and trying to fix problems so I have been starting it without driving it frequently up until it died the first time. I can confirm the battery drain is not from anything I’ve done since the battery has been experiencing this prior to me messing with everything.
I also want to add nothing works when the battery dies( as expected), but the headlights stay on and the horn function of the key fob of a old viper alarm system still works, but not the original keyfob.
I have no idea if this is relevant but my overdrive doesn’t work ( it jerks when going over around 35 mph, kinda feels like the car is still revving In between shifting gears, but it works fine with over drive off), I haven’t tested to see if it stops jerking at higher speeds out of fear off messing anything up, and have been told it’s probably a solenoid but I want to check all my bases before hand before I go to a mechanic to tell me something simple is draining my battery.
I forgot to add that the dash says my battery is charged around three quarters and doesn’t go past like half way and almost fully charged and I’m not getting any warning lights on, all the dash lights do work tho.
I also want to add nothing works when the battery dies( as expected), but the headlights stay on and the horn function of the key fob of a old viper alarm system still works, but not the original keyfob.
I have no idea if this is relevant but my overdrive doesn’t work ( it jerks when going over around 35 mph, kinda feels like the car is still revving In between shifting gears, but it works fine with over drive off), I haven’t tested to see if it stops jerking at higher speeds out of fear off messing anything up, and have been told it’s probably a solenoid but I want to check all my bases before hand before I go to a mechanic to tell me something simple is draining my battery.
I forgot to add that the dash says my battery is charged around three quarters and doesn’t go past like half way and almost fully charged and I’m not getting any warning lights on, all the dash lights do work tho.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 4,614
Likes: 1,304
From: Horsepasture, Virginia
Zack, does your truck have the original radio? If so unhook it & see if the battery goes dead. I had a battery drain on my 05 F150 a couple years ago & read that the radios can have an internal problem draining the battery. I replaced mine with a JVC head unit & never had another proble,
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 1,090
From: utah
The dash gauge doesn't show how full the battery is, it shows the voltage, normal would be the middle of the range.
The problem in overdrive is likely misfiring because you need new spark plugs.
A healthy battery should last several weeks or even a couple months undriven with normal draw. If your battery and connections are on and not loose or crusty you need to look for parasitic draw.
The problem in overdrive is likely misfiring because you need new spark plugs.
A healthy battery should last several weeks or even a couple months undriven with normal draw. If your battery and connections are on and not loose or crusty you need to look for parasitic draw.