monizuki

After spending the entire day getting the trailer packed up for a weekend at the lake, my tail lights quit working. Almost 2 minutes later the truck would not start; it was like the battery was dead. Tried to pop the clutch and get it going, and that didn't work either. So, opened the hood, and somehow the top popped off one of the cells for the battery, and was bone dry. One of the fuses (the one for lights) was making an intermittent buzzing sound, and quickly drained the battery the rest of the way. So my question is two fold.

First, it's a 2000, with 200k on it. We've had zero problems with it in the last year that we've had it. If the one cell is bone dry, would that screw with the polarity and cause the fuse to randomly buzz? When we hooked it up to a neighbor's truck, the buzzing ended. Wasn't sure if that was coincidence.

The battery does not hold a charge now; is that permanent since it's dry? Or is it possible to bring it back to life with some electrolyte water? And, how did the damned lid pop off? It was sitting just inside the engine bay, in front of the battery.

Lastly, the relay doesn't just pull out easily...how do I get it out? Yank harder? Or is there a trick to it?

Texas_Ace

Battery is dead, if still under warranty get it replaced otherwise time for a new one.

If everything works fine when hooked up to jumper cables and disconnected from your battery then you should be fine, I would cross that bridge when you get to it.

If you want the remove the relay, just wiggle it and pull harder, they tend to get stuck on pretty good after all those years. Better to leave it be unless you know it needs to be tested.