Help- Any ideas ??
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,332
Likes: 1,091
From: utah
What happens if you charge the battery and then disconnect the battery while it sits overnight? Seems to me you have a couple possible issues.
Even if the battery drains down because of a parasitic drain you should still be able to jump start the vehicle.
So my hunch would be that the battery cable is corroded inside the sheath and can't carry a good load for charging or starting. Does the terminal get hot when you can get it to run? This would confirm this theory.
Otherwise you need to try to figure out if there's a big draw on the battery from something like a bad radio, and finally if you have crappy jumper cables that could contribute to not being able to jump it.
Even if the battery drains down because of a parasitic drain you should still be able to jump start the vehicle.
So my hunch would be that the battery cable is corroded inside the sheath and can't carry a good load for charging or starting. Does the terminal get hot when you can get it to run? This would confirm this theory.
Otherwise you need to try to figure out if there's a big draw on the battery from something like a bad radio, and finally if you have crappy jumper cables that could contribute to not being able to jump it.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thank you for the 2 out of 3 ideas (jumper cables r good quality). We'll definitely check out the terminal cable. Seemed odd you'd mention the bad radio (?) bcuz we noticed the radio would pop on [even though it was definitely turned off prior] when we were able to jump it at the beginning when this problem first started. Sincerely..
2004 F150 5.4 Lariat
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 956
Likes: 156
From: Summerville, SC
All good ideas given earlier.
Assuming you have a multeter, you can first check the voltage between the each battery cable, then between each battery terminal: should be the same. Can also check the resistance between the negative battery terminal and both the engine and the body: both should be 1 - 5 ohms. Finally, you can do a parasitic draw test.
Good luck, and let us know if you solve it or need more help.
Assuming you have a multeter, you can first check the voltage between the each battery cable, then between each battery terminal: should be the same. Can also check the resistance between the negative battery terminal and both the engine and the body: both should be 1 - 5 ohms. Finally, you can do a parasitic draw test.
Good luck, and let us know if you solve it or need more help.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 4,304
Likes: 1,394
From: Near Salt Lake City
A battery is only as good as it's worst cell
Draining the battery completely is very bad for batteries (except deep cycle ones)
After about 5 complete drains, a battery will be no good, or have cells that are no good
You pull the battery out and have it tested at a parts store (if you have no VAT 40 et al.)
Good luck
007
Draining the battery completely is very bad for batteries (except deep cycle ones)
After about 5 complete drains, a battery will be no good, or have cells that are no good
You pull the battery out and have it tested at a parts store (if you have no VAT 40 et al.)
Good luck
007