Need help/advise on possible dead battery.
 

Background: my son has a 2003 Ford F-150 pickup. Brand new battery installed last month. He left the dome light on last night and now his truck won't start. I tried to jump start it with my 2007 Chrysler 300. Wouldn't even try to turn over. It is extremely cold right now at 11 degrees. The kicker is his headlights work and radio also. Could it be something besides the battery?

Ford used to use an external solenoid, not sure if they still do, but if it has one I'd try jumping the terminals on it.

wait till spring.

Pretty useful troubleshooting guide --

http://www.samarins.com/diagnose/index.html

:shrug: Cant help,my truck has 3 batteries.

Shut off all electrical, hook another running vehicle to it and let it sit there and charge for half an hour. Then when you go to start it rev up the vehicle you're jumping it with.

I had this happen this fall with my truck and at first I thought I had a different electrical problem. Just be patient.

He should hear the "ford click" if the battery has enough juice, otherwise he wont hear a sound.

At these temps batteries are way inefficient and jumping will be hard. Just leave the Jumpers on, go inside make coffee and relax...give it time.

Thanks for the advice. We're going out now to hook them up again and let my car run for awhile before attempting to start his. Thanks again.

When the battery goes dead on newer cars, all of the light and other stuff will work but, the engine won't turn over because of a safety feature to keep from burning up the starter. As suggested below, put the jumper cabels on and let it run for awhile (30 minutes or so). If the battery was installed by your son, you might check to make sure the terminals are clean.

His battery probably picked up enough of a charge from the jump to power the lights and radio.

Give it a nice burial.

2007 Chrysler 300? Don't mess your battery up, OG. If I'm not mistaken, your wheel and fender have to be removed to replace it. Brilliant engineering.

Final update; It wouldn't start after 20 min, 30, and 45; but at the one hour mark it started and I just came back from driving all over town to build it back up. At least it's 4-wheel drive with all this 8+@$%!*! snow on the ground. Thanks again for the help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by old_geezer (Post 6400338) It is extremely cold right now at 11 degrees.

ROFLROFL


Now that's funny. :rolleyes:

Hey now - I'm not the one who chose to live in the Antarctic. :D