After being parked for about a month, tried to.

ANONYMOUS

MEMBER
2003 FORD F-250

After being parked for about a month, tried to turn on truck and it just clicked. Used a charger to charge battery and proceeded to go get gas and drove into town. About 10 minutes the truck stalled when came to stop at traffic light. It turned back on but was running roughly and sputtering. It turned of a couple more times but I managed to get home even though it was running rough. Battery is fairly new and the alternator was replaced about a year ago. Any ideas on what the problem could be? Check engine light is on, but can't afford to take to mechanic right now.

1 Reply

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

ANYTHING CAN GO BAD---BRAND NEW TO BAD IN SECONDS!

I'M GONNA REALLY BORE YOU FOR A WHILE!

I'M GOING WITH THE BATTERY THING---3 POSSIBILITIES

IT'S BAD AND CAN BE TESTED IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE AT A POPULAR AUTO PARTS STORE... THE ALTERNATOR CAN BE TESTED IN OR OUT TOO....UNUSUALLY FOR FREE......SEE MY 1ST PIC

A QUICK TEST YOU CAN DO (NOT AS THOROUGH AS THE AUTO STORE BUT WILL LET YOU KNOW IF THE ALTERNATOR IS PUTTING OUT VOLTAGE TO THE BATTERY) THEN GET IT TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzz7P3qNHcE

I HAVE 2 MORE THINGS TO THROW IN---BOTH ARE LINKS

THE 1ST IS THE "COMPUTER" BEING AN ISSUE---SEE THIS BELOW

INSTALL FULLY CHARGED BATTERY OR NEW BATTERY...DON'T MATTER.............NOT ANOTHER JUMP START

INSURE CHARGING SYSTEM WORKS....A POPULAR AUTO PARTS STORE WILL DO IT FOR FREE MOST OF THE TIME

YOUR "RUN" DOWN BATTERY MADE THE COMPUTER GO HAYWIRE

JUMPING YOUR RIG, FIRED YOU UP, GAVE YOU "JUICE", CHARGED YOUR BATTERY, OR ENABLED YOUR STARTER TO WORK

COMPUTER IS STILL HAYWIRE, FROM THE VOLTAGE DROP INITIALLY--NOW MAY STILL BE RUNNING ON "HAYWIRE DATA"

UN-JEWG-ING MR. BATTERY AND............A.........10 MINUTE WAIT, SHOULD RESET MR. COMPUTER

THEN INSTALL YOUR FULLY CHARGED BATTERY (RECHARGED, DIFFERENT, OR NEW......NOT A "LOW BATTERY")

OFF TO THE PARTS STORE---FOR BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM TESTING!

IF YOU DON'T GET THIS STUFF CHECKED..............

IF THE BATTERY OR CHARGING SYSTEM SHOULD DROP VOLTAGE AGAIN

GUESS WHAT?

SAME THING WILL HAPPEN!

OK---LAST BORING LINK!THIS DEALS WITH CORROSION----SITTING UP AND DAMPNESS MAY MAKE IT WORSE---JUMP STARTING MAY SORTA BYPASS THE PROBLEM, BUT IT'S STILL THERE WHEN THE "JUMP" AIN'T AVAILABLE---SEE THIS LINK

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1996-chevrolet-tahoe-wont-start-sounds-dead-battery-jumpbox-get-same-reults

SHOULD YOU NEED TO PURCHASE A BATTERY---DON'T DO IT YET!---I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU SAVE YOU $40 ON A NEW ONE----LET ME KNOW WHAT ENGINE YOU HAVE AND IF YOU WANT THAT $$$ SAVING INFO

RETURN WITH WONDERFUL NEWS!!!

KEEP ME POSTED

..........................AND YOU OWE ME LUNCH!

THE MEDIC

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