Phantom load in tow vehicle

[Chuck]

I disconnected it from where it connects to the pdc; no change in the draw from the battery.

[Et Cetera]

One other thing to try
See if you can turn the alternator pulley with your hand, or use a socket and see if it turns easily. A worn belt will look OK at a casual glance, but won't drive the alternator under load.
You should not be able to turn the alt pulley with the belt on without quite a bit of force.
EtCetera

[Chuck]

alternator is working fine. Its putting out 14+ volts.

Running the vehicle on a daily basis is what keeps it from going completely dead.

[Road Ruler]

Disconnect the - battery cable tonight and measure the voltage. In the morning before reconnecting it check the voltage again. If the battery is good there should be very little drop. Worth a try.

[garry]

1st on most meters to read amps the pos (red) lead is plugged into the A (amps) socket and not the ohms, DC voltage socket. The neg(black) is in the ground socket.

Have you checked the truck bed light?

[Road Ruler]

Chuck..... Did you solve your drain problem???

[Maniscalco's]

Quite often a sudden or new drain like this is due to a failed/ failing alternator. Yes it might be putting out 14 or more volts, but the rectifier/ diode pack might be bad allowing voltage to flow through the alternator while off asting as a drain and ultimately killing the battery.
A simple check is to remove the negative lead to the battery. Insert a test light between ground and the cable. If the light lights, there is a load somewhere. Check the alt circuit by unplugging all the connectors. If the light goes out, there is your drain. If not, check all the other circuits bu pulling fuses. When you come to one where the light goes out, you have found the drain. Nothing like clock, radio memory, ECMs, etc should pose a drain sufficient enough to light the light!

My money is on the alternator!

Good luck!

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Terry mentioned already....

Even though the alternator isn't warm, I would try disconnecting the positive wire.

Seen many diode packs fail..

Bob

Originally Posted by Chuck

I disconnected it from where it connects to the pdc; no change in the draw from the battery.

I think Chuck has been there done that.

Bob

[Chuck]

No, I haven't found it yet.

and yeah, I tested all the circuits...at least, all that I could find. (and the alternator).
I'll have to have my mechanic load test the battery.

Went out on Sunday morning to go somewhere, and the wife told me that she hadn't used it since Thursday...I gave it a try, and it was low, (on the "rrr...rrr...rrrr" test ), but there was just enough juice to turn it over. very surprised. But, its been unseasonably warm here lately.

[Diesel1]

A 4.5 milliamp draw will not discharge a good battery in 2 or 3 days. Replace the battery, and do yourself a favor and buy a battery from your OEM (Dodge). In the long run you will save much trouble by taking the Sam's battery to a recycler. Adios, John

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Chuck

No, I haven't found it yet.

and yeah, I tested all the circuits...at least, all that I could find. (and the alternator).
I'll have to have my mechanic load test the battery.

Went out on Sunday morning to go somewhere, and the wife told me that she hadn't used it since Thursday...I gave it a try, and it was low, (on the "rrr...rrr...rrrr" test ), but there was just enough juice to turn it over. very surprised. But, its been unseasonably warm here lately.

Chuck,

This little gadget, has been a help quite a few times....

Bob

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by Diesel1

A 4.5 milliamp draw will not discharge a good battery in 2 or 3 days. Replace the battery, and do yourself a favor and buy a battery from your OEM (Dodge). In the long run you will save much trouble by taking the Sam's battery to a recycler. Adios, John

yeah. the original one lasted 10 years. Thats one thing they did right.