1der - I've done the no battery thing with my 97' but have not tried it with the 04'. So I'm not sure what we are calling a modern diesel, since mine are 19 and
12 years old.
SixCardCharlie - I do get the click, click, click when trying to start.
I get all dash lights and everything acts as it should with lights, when I get ready to start. I need to check to see if I get a battery light on the dash. When it dies I get zero dash lights. But turn the key on off and every acts as it should.
I know that if the starter is bad or binding it can give you the tick, tick, tick as if you have bad batteries because it's taking to much power to turn over… this happened once on my 7.3L other things I think it might be is glow plug relay not turning off, alternator, of the fuel injection management system not sutting of when this happens and drains the battery. Not sure but hope to know more later today.