Question about truck battery, that wont hold charge

[Just AnotherPerson]

I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me with the advice, it was actually very helpful. I normally would have just asked my dad, but didn't want to bother him. But I really appreciate all of the great advice that everyone offered. I am working on it today, I will give an update when I figure it out. Thank you again to everyone.

[Captdon]

Let us know how you did. Good luck.

[Lummy]

It was so nice that I refrained from starting any threads today.

Yes, it has been very nice that you have refrained from starting any threads.

[Captdon]

Any decent place can tell if there is a reason for your problem. Don't assume it's the battery even though it sounds like it. Try to take a man with you. Like it or not, a woman will be lied to more than a man.

[Dr. Who]

Any decent place can tell if there is a reason for your problem. Don't assume it's the battery even though it sounds like it. Try to take a man with you. Like it or not, a woman will be lied to more than a man.

Or for under $50 you can purchase both a hydrometer and digital multimeter and test your own battery:

https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/check-a-car-battery

[Luther]

I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me with the advice, it was actually very helpful. I normally would have just asked my dad, but didn't want to bother him. But I really appreciate all of the great advice that everyone offered. I am working on it today, I will give an update when I figure it out. Thank you again to everyone.

Batteries have a manufacturer date on them

[Just AnotherPerson]

Update:

I thought I would offer an update. It took several days to work it out. First I charged the battery for 24 hours. Tested the voltage, then came back a few hours later and tested the voltage again, it had dropped slightly. So I disconnected the battery from the truck, removing the hot. Tested the voltage again, and then tested a few hours later again. This was to make sure that it was not coming from a parasitic drain. It had still slightly dropped even though not hooked up to the truck. Today I went out to start it and it started right up, even with the slight drop. I am pretty sure now that I just need a new battery.

Thank you to everyone for the great advice. It really did help. @Common Sense you were 100% right. I just hadnt charged it enough. I would have never imagined that. I had no idea. It took several days to really trouble shoot it. But I feel pretty confident now, the battery is just old, LoL.

Thank you again.

[Tahuyaman]

Update:

I thought I would offer an update. It took several days to work it out. First I charged the battery for 24 hours. Tested the voltage, then came back a few hours later and tested the voltage again, it had dropped slightly. So I disconnected the battery from the truck, removing the hot. Tested the voltage again, and then tested a few hours later again. This was to make sure that it was not coming from a parasitic drain. It had still slightly dropped even though not hooked up to the truck. Today I went out to start it and it started right up, even with the slight drop. I am pretty sure now that I just need a new battery.

Thank you to everyone for the great advice. It really did help. @Common Sense you were 100% right. I just hadnt charged it enough. I would have never imagined that. I had no idea. It took several days to really trouble shoot it. But I feel pretty confident now, the battery is just old, LoL.

Thank you again.

It might start fine once, but if the battery is bad it might start after it sits a while. Get it checked. It's generally free or really inexpensive.

[Just AnotherPerson]

It might start fine once, but if the battery is bad it might start after it sits a while. Get it checked. It's generally free or really inexpensive.

Thank you for that. I am definitely going to be buying a new battery. I was glad to be able to trouble shoot it and find out that it really was just the battery and that it was just old. I think that because it was old, when my nephew didn't turn it off all the way the battery didn't quite recover from it. I think I ruled out parasitic drain and alternator, that is good news. I will test it again in the morning and see if it lost more voltage. In the next few days here I will probably get it tested and get a new one even though I have to really force myself to do it. Thank you again, you are definitely right.

[Captdon]

Good for you.