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Dodge Dakota – Dead Battery
Anyone else out there towing a Dakota? If I go more than one day
without unhooking, the battery gets run down. The key position for
towing does not illuminate any dash lights, but obviously there is
power on at all times while towing. I’ll install a cut-off at the
battery, no problem, but just wondering what is still being powered
and sucking out the juice. -
18 Replies
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I do not know about the Dakota specifically, but my Ram 1500 also required the key in to keep the steering wheel unlocked. I never had battery issues when towing, but when I installed the Brakemaster I added a battery cut off switch because the Brakemaster worked by applying pressure to the brake pedal. I wasn’t sure if the bus lighting connection would supply power to the brake lights, or if the power would come from the Ram’s battery so I just added the battery cut off.
Prior to that I turned off the radio, the heater and AC fan, and anything else that might draw power. I am not sure I needed to because I never had a battery issue.
Do you have a brake system? If so is it possible that is activating the Dakota’s brake lights and pulling battery power? With the key in the unlock position does the radio and heater fan shut off? Is it possible anything remains on such as interior lights?
signed……..the other admin
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Tom I too have battery draw down with my ram. I have a blue ox Patriot to apply the brake petal which is
powered through the cig lighter. If I go 3 days straight ( Maine-Florida) hooked up my batterys are very
low. So now after 2 days I start the truck and let it charge up. Maybe its a Dodge thing? Rick -
Thanks, my brake system is M & G, so no electrical connections.
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If you were to disconnect your battery with the key in the towing position (ignition off, but steering wheel unlocked) I’ll bet you are going to see a spark indicating a load. The simple way to fix it is the battery disconnect, but my curiosity would compel me to use my multitester in amp mode and just methodically pull fuses, one by one until I found which circuit(s) were still drawing power. Seems like phantom loads that should not be there.
I can understand Rick’s battery depletion because he is putting a load on it. If he did not use his brake unit I’ll bet like my Ram there would be no loss of battery power.
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Towed a 2000 Dakota with a plastic coach and then the Prevostover 70,000 miles. When parking overnight I always turned the key to off and put the key in my pocket. Never had a dead battery.
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I take the key out also. Think about it, all someone has to is disconnect the truck from the coach and drive off!!!
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Don’t use your micro-chipped key for unlocking the steering. Go get $20 non chipped duplicate made and use that for towing. If you do that, they might be able to start it, but the anti theft system will shut it down with out the micro-chipped key in the ignition.
Also, lock it up now that you have a spare key……………
This is why I like the battery disconnect. Disconnect the bat, unlock the steering, lock up the TOAD. Hood latch is now underlock and key as well.
If you have to power something, get the battery power taps from Wirthco.
I use these to power an alarm system for under the camper shell of the toad. The remainder of the toad is disconnected.
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I have friends who tow a dodge dakota and they had to run a 12 volt line to charge the Dakota when they were towing or the battery would go dead each time. The key opens up the batter and there is a drain. You might be able to pull a few fuses to prevent it.
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My Ram 1500 has only had problems when the key is inadvertently left on “accessory”.
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I solved the problem with a cut-off switch on the battery. The only downside is you have to reset the clock each time, but come to think of it, who cares what time it is as long as it’s not 5 pm.
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It IS 5 o’clock somewhere, Tom!
On mine I would also lose my satellite station memory (Jon, a satellite is a big bus-like object, lifted into space by a rocket ship. It is used to beam fancy radio-like signals back to earth).
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TIME TO TRADE
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I haven’t recovered from the last one yet!
If you need a used car or truck folks, just contact Roger and Parkway Auto Sales is at your service. He delivered my last truck with base plates installed and a fuel credit card.
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My 2009 H2 battery also goes dead. If I add the Roadmaster battery disconnect/charger how would I power my aux brake that operates from the lighter outlet?
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I tow an H2 and have since 2005. I have traveled as long as three days without running it or unhooking it and the battery has never gone dead. I travel with the key out because the steering wheel does not lock. What might be different is I use a Brakemaster which is air operated and so I am sure I am not relying on the H2 battery to power the brake lights when the brakes are applied via the Brakemaster I installed a switch in the brake light circuit.
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