# 97 F150 Battery won't hold charge **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 29, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-f150-battery-wont-hold-charge/9979 "2008-01-29T03:58:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jclicks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@jclicks](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jclicks)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-f150-battery-wont-hold-charge/9979/1 "2008-01-29T03:58:09Z")
97 f150 the problem is the battery test’s good and the alternator test’s good but after I start the engine 5 to 10 minutes later I loose all light’s and the engine dies and need to jump start it again.whats going on ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-f150-battery-wont-hold-charge/9979/2 "2008-01-29T04:14:17Z")
Just get a new battery. I had one a few weeks ago-car didn’t get used much but started fine after sitting for weeks. Brought it the garage and had the trickle charger on it for three days. Showed a good charge. Went to start it and wouldn’t hardly turn the starter over but showed a good charge. Voltage was down to about 10V instead of 13V. Took it back since only 2 years old and they said it looked good but boarderline. Gave me a new one anyway and no problems. Personally I don’t trust those parts counter testers. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 5:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-f150-battery-wont-hold-charge/9979/3 "2008-01-29T05:14:53Z")
It tests good because it’s not a real test. Try a new battery. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2008, 11:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-f150-battery-wont-hold-charge/9979/4 "2008-01-29T11:15:05Z")
There are a number of possible problems. How was the battery and alternator tested? A bad battery can usually slip past a test easier than a bad alternator. How old is the battery. If it is more than three years old, I would just replace it. How often does this happen? Has someone cleaned all the battery cables (both ends)?