Just wanted some quick thoughts from you guys before I do anything.
I have a 1997 Ranger 2.3 that has a Costco Interstate with a 2018 date on it. Had several occasions where when trying to start it in the morning, the battery would be dead. But generally, it was working reliably, and it was being driven every day. I spent a little time going through the fusebox trying to see if it had a parasitic drain, and didn't find anything.
Something weird happened last night. My son took the truck to work. Started fine. Then, he worked his shift and drove it home (a short distance) at night. Again, no problems. After he got home, he decided to run out again for some fast food. Again, the truck started. While he was in the drive thru, the engine died and he was unable to start it again. I came to get him and found the truck showing dead battery symptoms: dome light was dim and not enough power to crank even a little. I used a small jump starter pack, got the truck going again, and drove it home (about 2 miles) without issue. At home, it started back up fine.
About the engine dying: he said it made a "tsk-tsk-tsk" noise before it died. I don't know if that's anything, it has a pretty loud exhaust rattle at idle sometimes. Also, it's a manual and he's not real experienced at driving stick. So him killing it in the drive thru due to poor technique seems likely, but that's not the story he told.
The battery cables are tight and I don't see any obvious external poor connections. I'm thinking I'll put in a new battery and see if that fixes it. The only things I can guess are bad battery, poor connections, or parasitic drain. But parasitic drain wouldn't cause it to be dead in the drive thru. And the connections seem good to me.
I have a 1997 Ranger 2.3 that has a Costco Interstate with a 2018 date on it. Had several occasions where when trying to start it in the morning, the battery would be dead. But generally, it was working reliably, and it was being driven every day. I spent a little time going through the fusebox trying to see if it had a parasitic drain, and didn't find anything.
Something weird happened last night. My son took the truck to work. Started fine. Then, he worked his shift and drove it home (a short distance) at night. Again, no problems. After he got home, he decided to run out again for some fast food. Again, the truck started. While he was in the drive thru, the engine died and he was unable to start it again. I came to get him and found the truck showing dead battery symptoms: dome light was dim and not enough power to crank even a little. I used a small jump starter pack, got the truck going again, and drove it home (about 2 miles) without issue. At home, it started back up fine.
About the engine dying: he said it made a "tsk-tsk-tsk" noise before it died. I don't know if that's anything, it has a pretty loud exhaust rattle at idle sometimes. Also, it's a manual and he's not real experienced at driving stick. So him killing it in the drive thru due to poor technique seems likely, but that's not the story he told.
The battery cables are tight and I don't see any obvious external poor connections. I'm thinking I'll put in a new battery and see if that fixes it. The only things I can guess are bad battery, poor connections, or parasitic drain. But parasitic drain wouldn't cause it to be dead in the drive thru. And the connections seem good to me.