Problem with a Dakota PU

[patrick66]

I was going to post this on fortrucksonly, but that gets so little trafffic and I don't have time to wait...SO...There are plenty of guys over here that have late-model stuff, too, so here goes...

My wife has a nice '04 Dakota QC 4x2, 3.7L V-6, auto, with 190K miles. Runs great, gets 20+ on the highway, great truck! Until yesterday. Went to turn the key and absolutely nothing happened. No lights, no radio, no A/C fan, no "clickclickclick". Did the usual - cleaned the terminals and posts, checked connections - and then got a "clickclick". Checked the battery voltage, it read 12.62VDC at the battery. As did three other vehicles I have. So, good battery and connections. Once I applied jumper cables and jumped off my other truck, the Dakota fired right up, no problem starting, running, or driving. Voltage showed 14.21VDC with the truck running. So, now I've pretty much eliminated the battery or the cable ends (at the battery) as the culprits. The alternator is showing good. I've reduced the possibility down to either a bad ignition switch or a bad cable(s). Any other ideas? I've told you where I've looked so far, for troubleshooting...what say you???

 

[PP1RT]

Put your tester on the battery and watch the reading while someone turns the key to try to start it. See how much the voltage drops.

Just because it shows 12+ volts sitting there doesnt mean it is good. If the voltage drops too much when you hit the key the battery is bad.

Or just pull the battery and have the auto parts store test it.

 

[oldbee]

Agree, I've had the exact same happen.

 

[patrick66]

Agree, I've had the exact same happen.

I was tossing that around last night. This morning, After seeing the date on the side of the battery (7/12), it's probably toast from old age. New battery this afternoon.

 

[patrick66]

Agree, I've had the exact same happen.

I was tossing that around last night. After seeing the date on the side of the battery (7/12), it's probably toast from old age. New battery this afternoon.

 

[oldbee]

Most of these new batteries don't seem to last like they used to. Also it seems nowadays they just up&down instead of cranking slow and letting you know ahead of time.

 

[Cranky]

I have a couple of batteries that are over 5 years old.....still wouldn't hurt to test it.

 

[khryslerkid]

These newer batteries are like light bulbs. One minute they work, next minute, without any warning, they dont.

 

[Cranky]

These newer batteries are like light bulbs. One minute they work, next minute, without any warning, they dont.

In my experience, they've been like that for 40+ years!! It's nuts. Some have lasted for over 7 years (recent times even) and some didn't make it 12 months....

 

[patrick66]

It turned out to be the battery. A "C"-note later and my wife is on the road. The old one just turned six. Great if you're a kid, middle-aged for many dogs, and ancient for batteries.