Dead battery??

[Montana Sky]

Any ideas on what is draining my battery overnight?? I charged the battery last night, and this morning it was empty again. I have checked all the 12v lights, they are off. I checked the climate control switch on the freezer, off. I checked the antenna booster, off. I checked the fans in the vents, off. What am I missing? I know the flash light would not drain the battery overnight. Any thoughts.....


2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

[Broome101]

More than likely you have weak battery, but the Gas detector also pulls off the 12 volt side as well, and the converter as well.

Broome101
2005 F350 PSD,SRW,CC,LB, King Ranch, 4x4
2005 3685FL
http://www.picturetrail.com/broome101

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Have you checked the water recently?


Glenn
Montana Owners Home Page
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Glenn and Lorraine
M O C - 4 2 0


We are using a 2005 White GMC Sierra SLE 2500HD Extended Cab, Short Bed, 4X4
with the Duramax/Allison Combo and Firestone Ride-Rite air bags
to drag around our 2004 Montana 2955RL 32'
using a PullRite 16K SuperGlide Automatic Sliding Hitch

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us!"
You know you are retired when you wake up in the morning with
nothing to do and go to bed at night with it only half done.
BUT, Keep in mind, doing nothing can be a very
tiresome job because you can't stop to rest


Click on the Flags for the Forecast

[gungho]

Sounds like its time for the old couple of 12v breakers at a time trick until you locate the source. But sounds like a bad battery that quick or its not getting charged properly.

Jon & Marty
F250 6L psd
3400rl

[Cat320]

Doesn't the 2004 model have the master battery switch? Makes it easy to be sure the 12v stuff is off.

If you are charging using shore power (through the converter), is the converter working?

If charging by a separate battery charger, is it working?

[Ozz]

When you said you charged the battery, is this because it failed before that, and did you use a separate charger?
Does your converter work properly?
Get an amp meter from Sears, it's small, has 12 volt capabilities, get a specific gravity battery water checker at an auto parts store; Has different colored balls that float when filled with battery acid fluid, check each cell, After you charge the battery, but it sounds like either really corroded connections, so it's not taking the charge, or a bad battery, rather than a ghost drain, especially if you charged it with a separate charger. With the amp meter, you can check each wire coming from the 12 volt panel.
Good luck.
Ozz

'07 3400RL 2nd RTU
2 Golf Cart batteries 3,000 watt inverter, automatic transfer switch
Honda 2000 Generator, Maytag's with 220 Dryer
Stationary domed Sat. dish, LCD 12 Volt Amp gauge, LCD Tank Monitor
3 added 120 volt outlets, On Board Air; 12 Volt Viair 450C compressor
2006 Ford PSD 4x4 Off Road Lariat, Hadley Air Horns, Truck inverter with 110 volts: laptop, Color Backup Camera, Awning lock

[sreigle]

Dave, just a longshot... The ground from the battery on ours goes to the metal bottom of the front storage locker. It is attached to that floor with a single sheetmetal screw. Ours got a bit corroded and it's bite on the metal was intermittent. It acts just like a dead battery. A little jostling and it seemed to work again. For awhile. I wonder if maybe when you connect the charger it's getting jostled just enough to make contact again. Like I said, a longshot. The other likelihood is bad battery, as others said. Or low water.

You also could disconnect the battery and see if it still is down the next morning. Then you'd know it's the battery. It it's truly not holding the charge, then it's time to spring for a new battery.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

[adelmoll]

While we were in Alberta, our batterys went dead. We thought it was the battery but it turned out to be the fuses to the converter. Two 30 amp but you had to pull out the panel and go behind to find the converter. Hope that is all that is wrong with yours Dave. Easy fix.

Helen

To follow our journey please click: Bill and Helen's Journey
2005 Montana 3475 pulled by our 2005 Ford 350 Power Stroke Diesel

[boat391]

had the same problem in our last 5'er and found out there was a fuse that burned out on the chsrging system so we really didn't charge the batt. just thought we did new fuse full charge all was well. but if your always hooked to shore power and you don't keep an eye on your batt. water level you will cook a batt. pretty fast. did that too

tim ford

[Montana Sky]

Thanks for all the ideas, I have had my coach hooked up to 50amp service since April. I check the water level each month and top off w/ distilled water if needed. I pulled the battery tonight and have it on the charger now, will see if it is full again in the morning. If empty, I have a bad battery. If it holds the charge all night, something is wrong in the coach. I am hoping it is a bad battery. Will keep you updated.

Thanks again!!


2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

[sreigle]

Dave, if that battery gives you trouble on the road, remember if the umbilical is plugged into the truck and the engine is running you should have 12v power to run the slides and jacks. It might be worth testing out on yours since I understand on some GM models you need to add a fuse or breaker or something as the factory puts in a dummy.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

[Montana Sky]

Steve,
I found out the hard way about that %$^#&*#*^#$^%$##&* dummy fuse GM adds at the factory. It has been replaced!! Thanks for the reminder about the umbilical cord, I just used the battery charger last night to give enough juice to open and close the slides.


2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL