I'm having a random issue with my 2012 Ram 1500 discharging the battery. The problem only started a few months ago after I drove from Albuquerque to Virginia Beach. After the first couple times I thought it was the battery and replaced it. The problem has persisted so I took the aftermarket stereo out and went back to the factory unit thinking it may have been the problem. Everything else is factory stock on it. I replaced the alternator because It has 145k miles on it so it was probably due anyway, but the battery still goes dead. It will go completely dead in less than 24 hours. Anyone experienced this before or heard of a remedy?

Thanks in advance.

 

I had a similar issue in my '98 Ram..it ended up being something with the seatbelt sensor/wiring grounding itself or something weird like that.

Don't remember the details as it was probably close to 15 years ago at this point, but I remember the headache for a couple weeks and that being the culprit.

 

I thought you were a 12v guru? Anywhere pull the dome light fuse, disconnect one of the battery cables, put a traditional bulb test light in series from the battery terminal to the battery cable. If it lights, there's a draw. Start pulling fuses until the light goes out. Once you find which circuit is causing the draw, you can troubleshoot from there.

 

Yeah, thanks for the compliment. I did mention that the problem is random, right? I never know when it is going to happen. Sometimes the truck can sit for weeks and start right up. Other times, usually when I need to use it, it will go dead overnight. That makes it difficult to troubleshoot accurately. That is also why I am asking for help in case someone else has encountered the same issue before.

 

Thanks! I will look at that.

 

Might not be relevant, but look for grounds/shorts where you’ve changed parts recently. Try to remember when the problem started and what you might have changed just prior.

This Summer I replaced a battery in my 98 convertible with a 900 CCA Group 27 (tested out at 1054 CCA, cool!) which is probably a little larger than stock. Just large enough that when I slipped it in, the plastic battery edge cut one of my turn signal wires to the front left lamp grounding it intermittently. I went up a ton of blind alleys looking for that cut wire thinking everything from steering column to bad flashers.

Took me a couple of weeks of here & there hours to find the clip, but once found, fix was just a few minutes.

Anyway maybe a careful visual inspection will save you a few hours with a test lamp.

Chris

 

Hope it helps in any way. I couldn't believe how random it was on mine. It also happened after putting an aftermarket head unit in, and continued after switching back to the factory unit. Not sure if the wiring/grounds were related between the indicator light on the dash, the sensor, the stereo, whatever..but thats what it was.

 

The only things that I know have been changed are the water pump, trans shift module, battery, alternator, and fuel pump. In that order. The problem began about the same time as the shift module went bad. I don't remember which happened first though. Truck ran perfect when I drove from Albuquerque to Norfolk, Virginia and then started failing. At least it got me here, right!

 

My wifes car did something similar, occaisional dead batt after a couple days sitting other times no issues.

internet searches led me to a somewhat common issue of a satelite radio something trying to connect or find a source, she didnt use the satelite portion, so i disconnected it but she got another car within a month or two so never really sure that was it.

 

I'm trying to help my uncle with a drain on his 2015 1500WT Silverado. I'm on the update tip,, but he found a considerable draw on the MBS circuit. That's the motorized seat belt,, passenger side.. I was thinking that if something was left on the seat,, it could trip the pressure sensor for the sissy nannies (air bag, mbs, etc). He's going the racecar master disconnect route.
It's a stripper truck with rubber mats and roll up windows, but Onstar is still there with power slave locks and the "media center". Even if you think you turned everything off, the computer will still show its hiney.

 

It's been a while since this thread was active, but I have a final resolution. The entire problem was caused by the fuel pump relay.

Chrylser, in their infinite wisdom, incorporated the fuel pump relay into the circuit board of the TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module). That is the name they gave the under-hood fuse and relay panel. So what happens is the fuel pump relay begins to age and will stick in the "ON" position causing the battery to drain intermittently. Then as the decay progresses, the contacts inside the relay begin to burn, simulating bad fuel pump symptoms. The TIPM through a Chrysler dealership is spectacularly expensive at almost $1000! They can be found in remanufactured condition for prices ranging from $200~ $800. If you are completely bored and have the skill, time, and patience, you can even solder a new relay onto the circuit board. Then the countdown begins towards the same ultimate failure. The simpler and much less expensive fix is to install a BOSCH type relay and harness into the TIPM so that when the new relay begins to fail, it is a simple issue of replacing the outboard relay and you're back in business. At a price as low as $3 for a fused relay from most any mail-order website. They're about $18~$20 for 6 of them. A simple google search for "TIPM fuel pump relay repair" will give you more information about this wide spread Chrysler issue than you ever wanted to know. Unless you have a Chrysler vehicle that is exhibiting intermittent battery drain and no-start issues!

 

Wow, cjsdad! That's crazy! It also sounds very similar to what is happening to my 2015 GMC Sierra 1500. I replaced the battery after two years. Now the second battery is exhibiting the same undocumented feature. When it happens, my entertainment center and all engine tell-tales loses their sound. Screen works ok, alert lights all work - just no sound. I have to get out, go around to the passenger side, pull the fuse for the radio. Count to five, and reinstall the fuse. So far I've found no love from GM nor any of the GM forums. Guess I need to look deeper.

EDIT: re-reading the thread, my issue may be linked to flemings' issue. Hmm....