I have discovered a 2 amp current draw that slowly discharges the batteries and I have been unable so far to locate the culprit. I have one by one disconnected every fuse in the fuse box under the hood and I still have the current leak. The dumb question "Is there another fuse box?" I know on earlier Rams, there was an interior fuse box in the side panel of the dash on the driver's side, but on my early 2004 3500, there is just empty space. It is disturbing to think there is a consumer on the truck that is not fuse protected.

 

Nope, there are no in cab fuse boxes anymore. There is just the TIPM under the hood.

Most of these trucks have this draw and if your batteries are old, weak or cheapies, they will discharge. There is fuse in the underhood box that the owners manual does say to pull up (there is a special plastic cage around it so you can just pop it up) for extended storage periods. Cold temps make it worse too.

With out getting into what accessories you have etc, how long it is parked at a time etc, the best thing I have found is a $20 battery tender made by Schumaker I picked up at Walmart. I even use it on my new '15.

 

I have two relatively new (10 mos. old), OEM replacement batteries. The old ones lasted almost 9 yrs. A 2 Amp draw is not normal. It will discharge both batteries in two days. The correct way to troubleshoot a short or a misbehaving consumer is to isolate via disconnection. I did this by lifting everyone of the fuses in the fuse box and the current draw was still there. Every load should be fused..........somewhere. Perhaps, there is a remote fuse that I have yet to locate. At the moment, I'm concentrating on aftermarket accessories. I'm certain I'll find it, but it is frustrating at the moment.

 

So have you isolated the ECM yet? Maybe a ground is not very good somewhere as well. Have all your accessories been isolated including the tuner where plugs to the OBDII port or ECM connections?

Two days is not normal for sure, but when my factory batteries were testing normal they were the cause.

Test the new batteries as well, especially if they are OEM.

 

Is there aftermarket or auxiliary equipment with direct battery connection?

2 amps sounds like an accessory light left on.

 

Follow-up. I found the fault. It was a failed limit switch on the electric step on the passenger side. The circuit was fused under the dash, that's why I could not disconnect the circuit under the hood. The failed switch left the gear motor engaged, hence the 2 amp draw.

 

Replaced OEM batteries last year with interstare, I know but got them for 75 each, Corp discount.
At Christmas the truck would not crank, first time ever, took to interstate and they said they were fine. I mentioned they may want to disconnect to get a good reading, then they were just not charged properly, went on to tell me that our trucks only charge 2 amps...... 20 minutes later I installed my 2 New batteries, no problems since.

They my 11 and 14 year old said dad you know those interstate batteries are junk....I know it was a good deal.