On a recent 1000+ mile trip my truck wouldn't start which I discovered was the result of loose battery cables.

My battery was over 5 years old so I decided to replace it with a deep cycle Optima from Costco. Shortly after replacing the battery my truck wouldn't start which once again was a result of loose batterry cables. The cables are now firmly bolted down but I am now noticing that my battery gauge occasionaly changes, dropping a bit above or below 14. This always happens when I am stopped and idling. I have never noticed this while the truck is moving and the truck never had this battery gauge problem.

So I am thinking that maybe the battery needs to be fully charged (I was gonna use a float charger overnight) or is there something else going on? Or is this just normal?

I would greatly appreciate any help, suggestions or tips about this issue. I just want to be sure that nothing serious is developing or causing this.

 

Do you have the A/C or any other loads on at Idle? I would check all your cables and make sure they are all clean and tight from the battery to starter. Your battery would be fully charged after 15 minutes of driving so I doubt its a battery problem. Why were your battery cables loose after putting the new battery in?

 

As far as load during idle I have noticed it both with and without running a/c. I also did leave my truck sitting for a few weeks too.

I think the cables just weren't on as tight as they should be and rough road driving loosened them.

Also after driving it today the gauge barely moved during driving. So should the battery gauge ever move during driving? Is slight movement normal? If so then maybe there's nothing wrong. Either way I definitely will check the cables up to the starter and battery.

 

Yes, mine moves. Sometimes it's a little over 14 sometimes a little under.

 

lol well then maybe I'm worrying about nothing. I think ever since that low battery problem I started really paying attention to the battery gauge.

 

be worried when your battery gauge is at 12 or under with the car running. That means your alt just took a **** on you.