Battery Not Charging Completely

[Eric300c]

Hello all,

 

I have been experiencing a problem with my charging system for some time now.

 

it all started a couple of months ago when I returned from a week long trip. I left the Denali parked at the airport under covered parking in AZ. Anyway, I started the truck and the first thing I noticed was that the air on the drivers side was blowing hot and the air on the passenger side was blowing cold. Both sides of the climate control were set to the same temperature and the A/C was on. I thought this was strange, but it was late at night and we were planning to head to Disney Land first thing in the morning with the kids. The next morning the truck starts right up and now both sides are blowing cold again! Great news I think. We pack up the kids and head to the gas station to top off the tank before leaving town. The truck turned over quickly and started immediately when I left the house. I stopped at the gas station, topped it off and boom, nothing just tick tick tick. I got a jump start and went on about my business.

Went all the way to California with no issues. Although it would crank rather slowly at times. After our stay we got back on the road back to az, after about 2 hours of driving I stopped for food maybe 10 min, came back out tick tick tick. Jumped it again and did not shut it off again until I got home.

 

After getting home I replaced the battery, this seemed to help for a while, but eventually it too began to crank slowly and then eventually it would need a jump start. Added a second battery and again it worked for a while but same result. The batteries are just band aids and I haven't been able to find the actual issue.

 

Today I had to jump it to go to my sons soccer game, being that it had to be jumped to start, I figured it would charge above 14 for a while to get the batteries back up. I watched the voltage gauge and it was above 14 for about a mile and a half and then promptly dropped down to about 12, which it normally does only when it seems to think the batteries are fully charged. I drove to the game, and when I left tick tick tick, this was a 40 minute drive and should have been more then enough time to recharge the batteries.

 

Although I have not ruled out the batteries, I believe they are just the victim here. The alternator appears to work at least all systems are go when the truck is running and initially it does charge above 14 volts. I know these trucks have a system that controls all of this. Is there any methodology for trouble shooting this system? Should I have the alternator tested?

 

As a side note:

 

When ever I get the tick tick tick and even sometimes when it starts but just barely, the climate control seems to reset. The temps go to 74 on both sides and the A/C defaults to the on position.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks,

Eric

[mychevyvan]

Hello all,

 

I have been experiencing a problem with my charging system for some time now.

 

it all started a couple of months ago when I returned from a week long trip. I left the Denali parked at the airport under covered parking in AZ. Anyway, I started the truck and the first thing I noticed was that the air on the drivers side was blowing hot and the air on the passenger side was blowing cold. Both sides of the climate control were set to the same temperature and the A/C was on. I thought this was strange, but it was late at night and we were planning to head to Disney Land first thing in the morning with the kids. The next morning the truck starts right up and now both sides are blowing cold again! Great news I think. We pack up the kids and head to the gas station to top off the tank before leaving town. The truck turned over quickly and started immediately when I left the house. I stopped at the gas station, topped it off and boom, nothing just tick tick tick. I got a jump start and went on about my business.

Went all the way to California with no issues. Although it would crank rather slowly at times. After our stay we got back on the road back to az, after about 2 hours of driving I stopped for food maybe 10 min, came back out tick tick tick. Jumped it again and did not shut it off again until I got home.

 

After getting home I replaced the battery, this seemed to help for a while, but eventually it too began to crank slowly and then eventually it would need a jump start. Added a second battery and again it worked for a while but same result. The batteries are just band aids and I haven't been able to find the actual issue.

 

Today I had to jump it to go to my sons soccer game, being that it had to be jumped to start, I figured it would charge above 14 for a while to get the batteries back up. I watched the voltage gauge and it was above 14 for about a mile and a half and then promptly dropped down to about 12, which it normally does only when it seems to think the batteries are fully charged. I drove to the game, and when I left tick tick tick, this was a 40 minute drive and should have been more then enough time to recharge the batteries.

 

Although I have not ruled out the batteries, I believe they are just the victim here. The alternator appears to work at least all systems are go when the truck is running and initially it does charge above 14 volts. I know these trucks have a system that controls all of this. Is there any methodology for trouble shooting this system? Should I have the alternator tested?

 

As a side note:

 

When ever I get the tick tick tick and even sometimes when it starts but just barely, the climate control seems to reset. The temps go to 74 on both sides and the A/C defaults to the on position.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks,

Eric

 

Have you cleaned both cable ends completely? That's probably the first thing you did but we gotta ask. I have had corrosion cause me many hours of frustration. Sometimes it developes in the middle of a cable with no visual indications. A continuity test on the cables should prove them reliable. That is as far as I can help...I only have experience not an electrical degree. Hope it turns out to be that simple. I'm sure someone else can guide you further!

 

Good luck!