'04.5 2500
I just had to replace my batteries again... 4 years on a set of interstates seems short. I just always wonder if they would last longer if I separated them except only when starting the truck. Is this a common thing to do? I searched a little and found a couple different solenoid type isolators, just generic. I'm just looking for tips and advice about pitfalls here.
Cheers
Bert

 

4 Years is not uncommon in my experience. A lot depends on how the truck is used, daily driver, occasional use, in storage all have an impact on battery life. The factory batteries in my 2017 only lasted 3 years. The NAPA batteries I have now are going on that long and when the truck sat for 12 days while on vacation, the voltage was down to 10.4 volts when I came back. Mine is a daily driver.

 

I got 12 years on the factory original batteries and only changed them because of their age.
Stll on the second set of batteries....


If you can get batteries with removable tops, it pays to maintain "maintenance free" batteries by topping up the water periodically....

Edit: the climate here in Vancouver BC is similar to Seattle. It rarely dips much below freezing....

 

I bought my 2005 in October of 2012 and in December of 2012 someone ran a stop sign and smoked my drivers front fender. It damaged the factory battery and it was replaced. A year later in 2014 the pass side factory battery finally gave up and I replaced it. In 2021 during the winter both batteries were turning slow on start up so I bought a new set. Still doing just fine 2 years later!

47

 

Theoretically on a dual battery system it is never good to only replace one battery. Always replace them in pairs. The old battery has tendency to pull down the new battery and shorten it's life.

 

It would be a good thing to rotate your battery's position with the other one. There is a rate of use and it may not be equal with each other.

 

where did you get them from ?

 

If you isolate them "except when starting" the isolated battery won't get charged by the alternator and will die even sooner.

 

Costco, they're Interstate batteries.

 

Thanks. Good to know.

 

Look into Desulfation. You may be able to restore your Lead Acid batteries, particularly if they've been parked and not regularly driven or charged by the alternator.

 

You really can’t separate the parallel connection of the two batteries without doing some rewiring.

The passenger battery is connected to the grid heater relay and the alternator. The driver side battery has the main cable to the starter, and the TIPM and the ECM.

The alternator is regulated by the ECM, according to what voltage it seee (from the driver side). So if the parallel cable gets compromised the driver’s side battery gets discharged, the ECM reacts by commanding the alternator to 100%, and it severely overcharges the passenger battery.