When It Rains..... It Pours !

[MikeBjerum]

Battery went bad in the truck today,  called aaa, they could not jump it(diesel)    naturally, the only had one on the truck, so had too have one of my guys run me too the local shop.... $187 each!   

Did they even try?  The batteries (three) went south on my Kenworth a couple months ago.  Following my reset (I usually get 40 to 46 hours off Saturday afternoon till I head out Monday) they wouldn't even make the engine grunt.  I always got it started with either my charger set on boost, or with a jump from the car or pick up.  Those little batteries would spin it right over.

[TAB]

Did they even try?  The batteries (three) went south on my Kenworth a couple months ago.  Following my reset (I usually get 40 to 46 hours off Saturday afternoon till I head out Monday) they wouldn't even make the engine grunt.  I always got it started with either my charger set on boost, or with a jump from the car or pick up.  Those little batteries would spin it right over.

tried jumping it for about 20 mins, his little gas truck just did not have it.   one battery would not hold over 6 volts when we were at the part store.  the dates on them were from july 2012, so it was time.   had a slow start this morning, and has been starting slower then normal for the past couple weeks.  just not had the time to change them out.  I have my best friend and her 4 kids staying with me on their epic road trip from ohio to so cal.  she moved out of sac about 8 years ago. I have only seen her once in that time and only get to talk to her once a year if I am lucky(she is one of those never picks up her phone or calls you back)  she is my sister, no relation.   got to teach all but the youngest( 3 ) too water ski last week.  it has been great. 


I really need to clone myself. 7 projects running, now 23 employees and I still have the wood sitting covered in my barn waiting to build my house... I need to find the days in my hours. 

magoo I really hope you are east of the cascades... we need the state  Jefferson too happen.

it would fix nor cal and OR... let the liberal pos take Portland and the coast.

[tombogan03884]

How and why did they settle on the name "Jefferson" ?  All he did was buy it.
Why not something with deeper local connections like , say, Astoria ?

[Big Frank]

tried jumping it for about 20 mins, his little gas truck just did not have it.   one battery would not hold over 6 volts when we were at the part store.  the dates on them were from july 2012, so it was time.   had a slow start this morning, and has been starting slower then normal for the past couple weeks.  just not had the time to change them out.  I have my best friend and her 4 kids staying with me on their epic road trip from ohio to so cal.  she moved out of sac about 8 years ago. I have only seen her once in that time and only get to talk to her once a year if I am lucky(she is one of those never picks up her phone or calls you back)  she is my sister, no relation.   got to teach all but the youngest( 3 ) too water ski last week.  it has been great. 


I really need to clone myself. 7 projects running, now 23 employees and I still have the wood sitting covered in my barn waiting to build my house... I need to find the days in my hours. 

magoo I really hope you are east of the cascades... we need the state  Jefferson too happen.

it would fix nor cal and OR... let the liberal pos take Portland and the coast.

That sucks. The original battery in my full size (gas) pickup lasted 10-11 years. One winter day it just didn't have enough juice. The replacement battery has been in there 6-7 years and hopefully will last a few more years.

[Magoo541]

magoo I really hope you are east of the cascades... we need the state  Jefferson too happen.

it would fix nor cal and OR... let the liberal pos take Portland and the coast.

Nope, over the hill from you in Albany.  IF the state of Jefferson were a possibility, or if it starts looking that way,  we have some property on the Deschutes 

[Sponsor]

[TAB]

Yesterday I added another line too my cell service... this morning all 19 of them are not working... since use them for both time clocks and work, its been a real big head ache.    Been waiting out side of the att. Corpate store this morning waiting for it too open.  Too say I am a little hot is an understatement.   Today was the last straw, I am going with a different carrier.  Which sucks becuase up here if you want decent data you have too go with them.   I am taking my 1100 a month some place else.

[MikeBjerum]

TAB, Pay attention to how the truck starts over the coming year as the temperatures are high now and it gets colder.  The fact that they could not jump it still sticks in my mind.  That just isn't right.  My years as a mechanic and looking beyond the simple leads me to suspect the starter is in the early stages of failure.  Many batteries are either wrongly labeled bad, or killed early and need replacement, by a starter motor that is bad and drawing too much.

With the average life expectancy of a vehicle battery being between three and five years, any battery failure within the next two years is a red flag you have other electrical issues.  And, I would start with the starter and cables leading to it.

[TAB]

HInspecting all the cables and both alternators is already happening this weekend.  When we  disconnected the bad battery, it started right up on one.   I am hoping its just a case of one battery going bad.  I have had very good luck with interstate comm'l. Batteries over the years.   

I always plug my block and oil pan heater at night.   I have them both on a remote timer.  I push one button about 10 mins before I leave in the morning, makes starting super easy even bellow zero.   I have been looking at getting one of the diesel fired burner recirculating systems for the coolent system, just can't justify the 2k in my climate.

[TAB]

Went into the corporate store,  they offered too pay next month free,  I tool them up on it.  Which will give me time too shop for new comm'l cell serive provider.

[MikeBjerum]

HInspecting all the cables and both alternators is already happening this weekend.  When we  disconnected the bad battery, it started right up on one.   I am hoping its just a case of one battery going bad.  I have had very good luck with interstate comm'l. Batteries over the years.   

I always plug my block and oil pan heater at night.   I have them both on a remote timer.  I push one button about 10 mins before I leave in the morning, makes starting super easy even bellow zero.   I have been looking at getting one of the diesel fired burner recirculating systems for the coolent system, just can't justify the 2k in my climate.

During the tests on cables and alternators, have them check amp draw on the starter as well - both from a cold start condition and with a hot engine (the starter is a big heat sink and will hold high temps from a running engine - heat is the enemy of both batteries and starters).