Hey guys new to here but could use some help or any advise would be awesome.
I have 2006 Dodge ram 2500 5.9 litre cummins. The Problem is overheating battery on drivers side.smoking and steaming and starting to melt. I have had this before on the passenger side before. back then I replaced battery it did it again right away then I unplugged it for about 8 months. I then had it in getting some work done explained it to the tech and they suggested replacing the lead wire that connects them so we did that and also replaced the trailer plug which had a crack in the shell. Any ways it was fine for awhile until today. I also have intermittent stock stereo power problems might be connected some times it will turn on other times it won't and the crazy turn signals which I have a recall on going to try and get that done tomorrow.I also had a battery replaced recently( 2 weeks ago) on the passenger side it was getting very week.Not sure if altenator is ok but volt test says 14.5 volts on it.battery voltage unplugged both are holding at 12.8 or so charging 13. something. I do have power from driverside battery cable 5 volts for some reason must be coming from computer? but everything is completely un plugged. Right now I'm recleaning everything checking grounds for tightness. also had a problem starting last week ended up being actuator on the injection pump . and batteries were stone dead at that time hense the new battery. at the time we replaced the battery we also tested for any battery sucking aleins and all was good.
Hope you can help
Tyler

 

Sounds like a short to me. All fuses and relays are good? I would take the fuse box under the hood out and check all the connections underneath. I have heard they can burn up due to shorting out.

 

I have read about that as well will check out .. Think I may have found issue with passenger side ground cable . with battery disconnected and neg meter cable on neg cable and positive on battery I get 1/2 a volt. on drivers side I get 7 volts going to pull grounds off clean em up and see what happens. Its weird though about that 5 volts from that positive cable with both batteries totally unplugged. could be some kind of lithium watch battery in there

 

I believe you are seeing the 5 volts coming from capacitors. I would leave the batteries unhooked for at least and hour with the key in the on position, then check it again.