Why is my truck battery dead after setting for 15 minutes?
What is your question?
I had to jump start my truck to leave work so I took the battery to be tested and removed it from the truck. It tested good. After reinstalling it everything was fine for a week and a half. Then the truck started chugging at start up. So I cleaned the terminals and post. The next morning the truck was so dead the power door locks don’t work. It took 20-25 minutes to get it to jump. What’s going on? I can have it running for hours no problem but when I shut it off I have 30 minutes maybe to restart or the battery is dead.
What makes this problem better or worse?
Nothing
How long has your 2016 Ford F-150 had this problem?
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Hi, my name is Devin. I am an auto repair expert with the Car Genius team here at RepairPal. I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with your F-150.
It sounds like your truck might have a parasitic draw or an issue with the charging system. A parasitic draw occurs when an electrical component continues to consume power after the truck is turned off, which can drain the battery quickly. Common culprits include interior lights, alarm systems, malfunctioning modules, or aftermarket accessories.
Since you mentioned that you had to jump-start the truck before and that the battery tested good, it's essential to check the alternator as well. The alternator should be charging the battery while the engine runs. If it's not working correctly, the battery may not have enough power to start the truck after being turned off.
To troubleshoot, you can perform a parasitic draw test to identify if something is drawing power when the vehicle is off. If you find excessive draw, you'll need to locate the source and address it. Additionally, having the charging system checked by a professional can help determine if the alternator is functioning as it should.
If you need more advice, have any other questions about your vehicle, or would like to get connected to a RepairPal Certified shop near you, we have you covered. Give us a call at 877-913-1554, and we will happily help you out!
