2004 Dodge Ram battery draw

20

Asked by scooteracing May 09, 2019 at 09:48 AM about the 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 SLT Quad Cab 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

So we have a Dodge Ram that was acting normally. Now when you go out to
start it, the battery is dead. I charge up the battery a few times, each time the
truck started no problem.

Decided to check for an electrical draw. Took off the negative battery wire
and put a test light between the negative cable and the negative post. The
light came one.  When I went into the truck I heard a faint buzzing and
noticed a red light on the dash. Light is to warn you the transfer case is
engaged or something like that.  When I reconnect the battery, buzzing and
the light goes off.

So I can't figure why the light and buzzing doesn't happen when the battery
is connected, but does happen when I put a test light between the negative
cable and the negative post. So I'm assuming the problem is related to the
transfer case switch, but doesn't happen unless I do the test light test.   

Thanks for any help

1 Answer

20

Now I'm thinking that the tiny little wire on the test light is just causing the buzzing sound and transfer case light. So little electricity flow might just cause that? As hooking the battery up with proper connections gets rid of that . I forgot to mention that the headlights had been left on last week, which is what killed the battery the first time. Now thinking battery is just no good, as it was older, and was drained dead. So maybe testing the battery will in order.

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