Battery Issues

[450HP]

Good day everyone!

Hope I got this post in the right forum, didn't see one marked more for electrical.

We have a 2009 Silverado 2500HD with the 6.6L Duramax. We've been having issues over the years with batteries (dual battery system) in this truck.

New batteries are great for about three years (5YR battery) then about that third year mark, start having issues with batteries being dead if the truck is not driven for a while. Driving habits haven't changed from the first three years but here we are. Give the truck a jump and it could be fine for a week or two with the same driving habits. As the batteries get older, the time between needing jumps gets shorter if the truck is not driven daily.

I've checked for parasitic draws and haven't found anything drastic. Less that 50ma...

I have been running NAPA AGM batteries and my oldest son doesn't like NAPA batteries and thinks I should switch to Interstate batteries.

I've had this issue at the three year mark, put in two new batteries and I'm good for another three years.

Could it be that these trucks are just that hard on batteries and they should be replaces every three years regardless?

 

[2004LB7]

You might want to use a battery tender when you're not using the truck.

Three years is somewhat typical. Yes many get more, myself included. I just get whatever fits from the cheapest selection at AutoZone. Haven't cared to see who makes the battery. But I'm probably averaging 5 years.

Heat is the biggest killer of batteries, but cold doesn't play well with them either. And letting them get low will accelerate the sulfating of the plates further killing them.

So, as I suggested earlier, if it's parked for extended time, use a battery tender

 

[08lmm72mm]

Always get 8-9 years out of AC delco for me

 

[DAVe3283]

I get 4-5 years out of a set of batteries, regardless of brand, chemistry, or price. I now just buy the cheapest batteries I can get (usually AutoZone) and replace them at 4 years. Not worth getting an extra year out of them if I get stranded somewhere.

 

[1FastBrick]

I used to see more failures out of Interstate then other battery we sold when I worked in a shop and for whatever reason they cost us about $10 more than most batteries. We Finally dumped them and sold Delco's. As of late the last set of Delco's leaked acid in my truck after only a few months. The replacements have been fine so far. I think there quality might be dwindling as well. I think the Shop I worked at switched to Deka's.

Next time I will have to visit batteries I will consider something else.

I use a charger/tender on my stuff now that it sits more. Otherwise they tend to want to die after a week or 2 especially with an alarm.

 

[Ron Nielson]

I've checked for parasitic draws and haven't found anything drastic. Less that 50ma...

If you were close to 50ma, that would be worth looking into. I'd be a lot happier at 25ma or less

 

[450HP]

If you were close to 50ma, that would be worth looking into. I'd be a lot happier at 25ma or less

The factory CD stereo was the culprit, on occasion, it would go nuts trying to eject a CD that wasn't there.

I didn't dwell too much on it as it would do this when the batteries were newer as well. No issue for three years prior.

I pulled the fuse just to test anyway, we'll see how it goes.

 

[Dean E]

I had a similar issue. These were the Wamart Everstart batteries. Normally I have pretty good luck with them. This time after about 3 years I was seeing the same thing. Charging voltage was fine and no parasitic draw that I could find. At that point I disconnected both batteries once I got home and let the truck sit for a week. I checked battery voltage after sitting and found my right side battery was down to 9 volts where the left side was in the high 12 vdc range. I had a cell starting to go south. Since the batteries still had some warranty on them I took both to Walmart and explained that diesel truck run dual batteries and need to be replaced together. They gave me credit for both and I got two new batts. The truck has been solid since. Dean

 

[gassux]

i get 3 years out of batteries, doesn't matter what the brand is. I just buy the cheapest i can get

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

Anything made by Eastpenn is good. Most duramax trucks in a hot environment loose the passenger side battery after 3 years. They limp along until the drivers side gives out.

 

[450HP]

I had a similar issue. These were the Wamart Everstart batteries. Normally I have pretty good luck with them. This time after about 3 years I was seeing the same thing. Charging voltage was fine and no parasitic draw that I could find. At that point I disconnected both batteries once I got home and let the truck sit for a week. I checked battery voltage after sitting and found my right side battery was down to 9 volts where the left side was in the high 12 vdc range. I had a cell starting to go south. Since the batteries still had some warranty on them I took both to Walmart and explained that diesel truck run dual batteries and need to be replaced together. They gave me credit for both and I got two new batts. The truck has been solid since. Dean

That's just it, I found one of my NAPA batteries in the same situation, they charge it then "test" it and say it is good and give it back to me. I ask for it to be prorated and they tell me... "But the battery tests good".

 

[shakenfake]

NAPA is a huge PITA to deal with. I honestly despise shopping there. They do have some good deals every now and then but I try and avoid it as much as possible.

 

[Ron Nielson]

That's just it, I found one of my NAPA batteries in the same situation, they charge it then "test" it and say it is good and give it back to me. I ask for it to be prorated and they tell me... "But the battery tests good".

They used the correct procedure to test a battery. They aren't testing to see if someone charged it up, they are testing to see if it will produce the stated electrical capacity at the proper battery voltage. You may have another problem with the battery, maybe something is drawing it down overnight or all the time.

 

[malibu795]

They used the correct procedure to test a battery. They aren't testing to see if someone charged it up, they are testing to see if it will produce the stated electrical capacity at the proper battery voltage. You may have another problem with the battery, maybe something is drawing it down overnight or all the time.

I've got a couple dead batteries I can charge, and have it "pass" a test shortly have pulling the charger off. But in 24-36hr they will be low 11V just sitting there not connected to anything

The "test procedures" scews the results

 

[2004LB7]

The proper procedure would be to charge them up. Then let them sit for 24 hr and then load test them with the old style load cell testers

The modern testers are impedance or internal resistance testers. A shorted cell in the battery can still have low (good) internal resistance but otherwise be bad. When straight off the charger the voltage can look good but as Adam said, they will settle around 11 volts instead of the proper 12.8 volts

If you want to do the test yourself. Pick up a load tester from harbor freight. Simple and effective