2005 Journey Chassis Battery Issues

Potomac Man · 08-22-2023, 10:21 AM

Started last year with chassis battery bleeding off to the point I couldn't start unit. This seems to be happening again this year. Batteries seem to be taking a charge from charger, but bleed off in a few days if unit is not started. Would appreciate thoughts and past experiences.

**creativepart** · 08-22-2023, 10:44 AM

Sounds like you have a exhausted chassis batteries and simply need to replace them.

What you describe is text book worn out battery.

Ray,IN · 08-23-2023, 04:22 AM

First you must make sure the battery is good, that is accomplished by a load-test at a battery store. They usually do that for free, assuming if it is bad you'll buy an new one there. If the battery case is bulged any on the sides, don't bother with load-test, just replace it.

If the battery passes load-test, next is to find why it is losing charge so quickly. For that you must have a 12V amp-draw meter. You don't need to rush out an buy one; Autozone stores have a tool loan program that is free if you return the tool in working condition.
To use the ammeter to track down the large draw, follow the pos battery cable, testing at every junction or terminal point until you find that draw.
Yes it is slow and frustrating, but the only way to locate the draw source.
That said I'm betting the battery will not pass load-testing.

mmulroy · 08-23-2023, 06:26 AM

I agree with Ray. A load test to check the batteries, parasitic draw test to check for any short that is killing the batteries. If you come up short. Disconnect the batteries from the RV, charge them with an 2 amp trickle charger for the weekend and see if the batteries stay strong. You may find that the 2 Amp charger is a good solution.

Morich · 08-23-2023, 07:55 AM

More info on how and when the batteris are getting charged or going dead may help. Are you thinking you have some form of charging to the RV while stored and that will keep the coach AND chassis charged? That can vary with different RV and can catch us if we have one that doesn't charge the chassis from the coach side!
Some RV have a small gizmo to use some charge from the coach and onboard converter to keep the chassis also charged but many do not have that gizmo.

We can easily fall into the trap of thinking the batteries are connected, so we store the RV and the chassis battey has small drains to make it go dead as that connection is lost once we shut the engine down!
Those drains are not so big that they should kill the chassis battery in three days but it certainly can in three weeks or three months. Each time the batteries have been run way low, the amount of time it takes to kill them next time is shorter, so it can be a combo of different small points!

Batteries are so simple but they are also the biggest complaint we hear on the forum as they are so confusing!

DelawareJim · 08-27-2023, 06:51 PM

Had the same problem on my 2005 39k. Even when you turn off the chassis switch there are still energized circuits for slides, step and control panel. My solution was to disconnect the chassis batteries in storage (actually all you need to do is disconnect the negative terminals) and check them every month or so. Good batteries will stay above 12.5 for at least 4 weeks off a full charge. So much easier than looking for the phantom drain.