Ok, guys, here you go...

I have a charging problem with my truck (2002 Cummins HO 6spd.) The batteries are new and if the truck sits for more than a couple days without running or turning over she don't fire.

I started out this morning checking for grounding problems. Couldn't find any. I then did a key on load test. This didn't return any useful information except that I need a more intricate multimeter tool .

Then I ran my 3 on 3 off and got a couple codes. P0382 (intake air heater relay No. 2 control circuit) and P1689 (no communication between ECM and IP). Bare in mind the batteries are dead at this point.

I jumped the truck with the car (I love diesel batteries!) and it runs great. Then I go to rehook up the EDGE Comp and blamo lots of codes...

P0215 - IP control circuit
P0237 - MAP low voltage
P0380 - Intake air No.1
P0382 - Intake air No.2
P1689 - as above
P1698 - No CCD/J1850 Message from TCM/PCM - this one scares me. I've never seen that before. Does anyone have any ideas?

Using my trusty SMARTY Box as a scanner I can clear all of these codes except P0215 - but the batteries are still dead so I'm not really worried about that one.

So, the big question is what the $#@#@%^ is wrong with my truck? This happened last winter and after I replaced the stock batteries it was fine. If anyone has any ideas let me know.

Thanks.

Devon.

P0

 

Got a trick question for you here. These new batteries your runnin, do they have the dual terminals. On top and sides, Im bettin they do.

 

No sir. Just a + and a - on the top. 1150 CCA batteries for the cold.

 

I fought this same problem for three years, first with the stock batteries and then put new ones in and had the same problem. At the beginning of this year decided I wasn't fightin it no more. I had Auto Zone Gold Batteries in the truck that had been tested several times are were showing to be in great shape. Come to find out that these batteries are made by the same company that makes Optimas.

talked to the company rep after I went off on the Auto Zone folks. He offered two things that may be the culprit in this whole thing, that nobody else ever mentioned.

1. The dual terminal batteries are a known problem that is ignored because there is a market for them is what it boils down to. The side terminal are only glued in to the top post and over time this glue degrades and creates a bad connection that drains the batteries as a dead fault. Just like having a lose battery cable does.

2. The other problem he talked about was due to the age of my truck. Acording to him it only takes a few broken wires in your battery cables to have this same afect on the batteries. The cable may look fine on the outside but under the covering have some broken wires.

I replaced the cables and batteries at the same time so I don't know which one fixed the problem but the truck holds it's charge now even after it was shut down for a week of cold weather while we were on vacation a few weeks back..

 

New cables... Ummm. That's an idea. Thanks.

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Ok, so, batteries have been charged and everything works as it should. I don't know what it is but it is likely still there. Time will tell.

I have no codes but another problem - my blasted COMP box doesn't light up anymore after all this? Any ideas? I pulled it all, checked and rechecked everything - all good, just not working.

Ideas?

 

When I unhooked the batteries or they went dead I always had to unplug the harness from the back of the box and plug it back in. Don't know what it did but it always worked.

 

Really? I'll give that a shot. Thanks.

 

How did all this come out.

 

if it keeps happening . try disconnecting the heater grid relay overnight. the relays are known for having a slow draw when old. overnight or a few days sraining the batteries!

 

Update....any new outcome?