![]() (As a testament to its long-term value, purchasing the Digital 1200 along with your Optima batteries earns you an additional year of warranty coverage.) The “maintainer mode” helps to keep a 12V battery healthy during storage, so we chose the more compact 400 unit, which fits easily under the hood. Two different models of Optima chargers are available, the Digital 1200 and Digital 400. When connecting the charger to the terminals, the order of connection is not as important as when replacing a battery (as noted below). Since turning the key had no effect, and we needed to move the truck for some additional service, we first hooked up an Optima charger to see if it might rescue them. That was the case with our 1996 Dodge Resto Ram project. They provide increased clamping force to secure the battery in place and are made to fit the unique shape of the Optima battery case.Ĭonsidering how they’re electrically linked, when one battery needs replacing, it’s best to replace them both. Inside the spacer/case are plastic adaptors that are designed to replace the factory bolt-down base clamps. ![]() If needed, they can be attached underneath to raise up the battery to the original factory height. The cases in front of the batteries are spacers that allow for a variety of fitments. That means it not only provides plenty of CCA for firing up an older diesel engine, but also offers effective cycling capability as well, so that it can repeatedly be brought back from deep power drains to full charge for electronic accessories. Optima’s YellowTop model is recommended for diesel applications, since it’s a dual-purpose battery. If you pour four gallons of water in one bucket, water will rise equally until each holds two gallons. You might note how sometimes the lights dim or wipers slow as the grid heaters on a Dodge Cummins cycle on and off in colder weather.Īs a rough comparison to visualize how a dual-battery setup functions, think of your pickup’s batteries as a pair of buckets joined at their bases by a hose. The glow plugs or grid heaters (used on the 12V Cummins shown here) have serious electrical demands of their own. Hence, the dual-battery setup.Ī pair of batteries does more than just deliver the CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) needed by the starter. While the higher compression ratio of a diesel increases torque and fuel efficiency, electrical demands are much higher to turn over the engine. As a result, it requires much heavier and stronger parts to hold up under the increased stress (which of course makes a diesel an ideal candidate for performance tuning, since it’s already a “built” engine). How come? One word: compression.Īs most DW readers already know, a diesel doesn’t use spark plugs to fire up the fuel/air mixture, but instead employs the heat of compression to initiate ignition. Open the hood of any diesel pickup and you’ll see not one, but two batteries. Next installment: rebuilding the automatic transmission for heavy-duty towing. After all, in our eyes it’s a thoroughbred worth saving. These following tips apply almost universally to older pickups, so keep them in mind when you want keep your trusty diesel steed from ending up in the glue factory. Perhaps there is “better living through chemistry.” We’ll show you how. But fixing corrosion can be much easier with modern chemicals, especially if you catch it in time. “Rust never sleeps,” as the old saying goes. Even if your truck isn’t driven daily, you can still crank with confidence knowing that your batteries are in top shape. We will show how this small but relentless battery drain can be remedied by a few simple maintenance tips and by making regular use of a trusty charger. Many of the aftermarket accessories we love also increase the demands placed on the electrical system. For the third part of this series, we focus on two problem areas common to all aging diesel pickups: the dual-battery system, and those rust-prone trouble spots. Our second installment addressed specific improvements to the turbo and exhaust manifold, among other enhancements to its functionality, appearance and fuel capacity. ![]() In the first installment of our 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 dually restoration, we established the overall scope of the project. An oldie but goodie, this truck’s a keeper. ![]()
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