turns over real slow, Batterys are 30 months old, its been hard to start a few times after a good run. it will turn real slow like its needs a jump then it would just start after a few key cycles like nothing is wrong, could I have somthing drawing down my batterys just every once in a while ?, voltage showes its charging when its running 14 volts ready to go get new Batts. this morning it just wont turn over fast enough to go off I have it on the charger now will see what happens

 

I would start with the basics. Check those battery terminals and the ends of the cables that run into the connectors. Is there an autoparts store around you that can test those batts before you replace them? Also, how old is the starter?

 

Check that the starter relay contacts are clean and operating correctly, but it's probably the battery terminals not making a good enough connection. If the batteries are already shot - buy some good ones this time.

 

weird stuff when I disconnected the passenger side Battery, I got a nice arc like somthing is drawing down the 1Battery with the key off, evrything was clean and tight what controls the grid heater? pcm? its almost like the grid heater is stuck on or a least thats how much amp draw it seems like its pulling when you turn the key I got it started right up when I put it back together after just a short charge, it must of reset somthing when I pulled both grounds because I had no arc reconnecting the battery

 

Here is what bad starter contacts look like.



Get replacements at Larry B's

http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/default.htm

If you haven't replaced them they are due.

 

I've read about a seatbelt thingamajigger that stays active for twenty minutes or so after the truck is shut off. I think it was in the 24v drivetrain forum. Some other things stay active for a while too. Do have a mulimeter with the Amp function that you can put between your pos batt terminal and the pos cable clamp?

 

I dont think its the starter contacts Its not that old a starter 2 years old, it just cranks slow bad contacts wont let the seloniod even engage I am leaning toward one bad battery

 

I had one batt short a cell on me once. It kept draining the other batt. I replaced both of them since they are parrallel.

 

Up on the firewall is a set of dual solenoids that control your grid heaters and such. Carefully check them to see if one or more is hot when the truck is setting. If so, you will need to double check the feed from the starter solenoid to be sure it is not feeding juice from bad contacts. If there is no juice bleeding by the starter solenoid, then the problem is in one of the firewall solenoids. If one side of the dual solenoid unit is bad, you can bypass the bad one and install a generic switching solenoid to solve the problem.

 

I believe you got a bad cell in one of your batteries. Doesn't take much for them to go bad and already at 30 months old. Would check them first at auto part store or a load tester.

 

I second the load test on the batteries. If you don't have a load tester most auto parts stores will check them for you for free. 30 months doesn't sound like a lot, but these trucks are hard on the batteries, vibration and the current draw for grid heaters and cranking the engine.

 

Thanks you guys, Load test showed 1 bad battery, replaced both