Vettitum422
08-29-2011, 02:41 PM
I'm new here, very new. I have however owned my 2003 300A since new and have put roughly 81,000 miles on it to date with literally no problems. It is completely in stock trim other than Nitto's replacing the stock tires, with the Nitto's being one of the best things I ever did. I also outfitted it immediately with a hitch to pull my motorcycle from place to place throughout the US of A. Two years ago, I noticed that the voltage meter started fluctuating on a trip back from the Dragon's Tail while pulling my Motorcycle trailer with bike aboard, and after getting home and not pulling the trailer. I had the battery and Alternator checked and all looked good, I cleaned posts and other wiring points and went on and it seemed to help, but still from time to time the Voltage was all over the place. Within the past two months though things got real weird, my car started coasting when backing off the gas pedal, the tach became erratic, and some dimming and brightening of all lighting. Then 4 days ago, the transmission let go in overdrive and what appeared to be third while Overdrive was engaged. Once the OD was disengaged, the car would run fine 1 through 3 with no coasting while decelerating, once OD was engaged, no Overdrive and what seemed to be no third at all, with deceleration coasting through all gears. Now for the short story; today I pulled my battery and had it tested and it looked good, it is the original battery though so I replaced it with a new one and everything corrected itself once I installed it, Overdrive and third returned, no coasting, the voltage meter stopped fluctuating, and I'm pissed because I was in battery denial for two years. I also thought that pulling the bike trailer had roached the tranny, I am very careful to modulate between OD while pulling the bike trailer, but have accepted the fact there will come a day. I even bought a spare alternator that I have carried with me for the past two years, and I tell ya, I think, hell I know now, that the old original battery gave up the ghost even though it seemed to test out well, and I refused to recognize the possibility and not spend a $100 on a new one until it got catastrophic. I just wanted to share this, I spent the past 4 days agonizing over my Marauder, I not only love that car but respect it's capabilities and it has treated me well. I scoured this site for answers and found many, and I chose to start with the very basic thing; the battery, and for now, it has seemed to be the lucky answer. Thanks guys!