A battery gamble - what would you do

[Camaroboi13]

You call that a gamble!?!? My one year old H7 from Walmart skips a beat… every 20th or so startup it just clicks once like it’s dead. I push the button again and it fires right up. Been doing that for the last 6 weeks. Try that for gambling

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[Murphy Slaw]

Murphy's law,

Somebody mention me?

I vote WalMart too, because they are easy to find, open late and weekends, and nationwide.

Northern Michigan is cold right now, I’d bet.

It’s 11 degrees on the Ohio river right now.

 

[Roky]

We're going to head up North Michigan late December. It'll be 20s during the day and near zero at night. I'd like to take the Wrangler



I bought my JL (3.6) in June 2021. I always turn off the stop/start. Batteries are original.

So....do I swap them out before I leave, or take a chance? There are no indications of the batteries going bad...but I'm not sure if the cold weather will push them over the edge. I don't want to be SOL in BFE UP of MI

I'll do the work myself....I'm just not thrilled about spending the money if I don't necessarily need to

Definitely get your battery squared away, money well spent….. this is what I did, and bought….. not saying you should do it the way I did, I’m just here to give feedback on something that is working really well for me, be 4 years in January with new setup, still going strong…..

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/posts/1782952/

 

[Sparty]

Sparty, I'm an Electrical & Mechanical Specialist by profession. What you need is to test the amperage potential of your battery (not the voltage potential). A voltage test us useless. An amp test will tell you if your battery is about to die or if there's lots of life left in it. Old batteries are like a ticking time bombs. There's no way of knowing when they'll go. An amperage tester (aka load tester) is the best way to know whether your battery is good or bad.

If you lived in my area, I'd offer to do it for nothing more than a handshake. Do yourself a favor and buy an amp tester and learn how to use it. It will pay for itself and you'll never be left stranded. Otherwise, I'd replace that battery and not risk it. Good luck.

Appreciate the info - AND the offer

Somebody mention me?

I vote WalMart too, because they are easy to find, open late and weekends, and nationwide.

Northern Michigan is cold right now, I’d bet.

It’s 11 degrees on the Ohio river right now.

Thanks....and Hilarious name

Definitely get your battery squared away, money well spent….. this is what I did, and bought….. not saying you should do it the way I did, I’m just here to give feedback on something that is working really well for me, be 4 years in January with new setup, still going strong…..

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/posts/1782952/

Appreciate it

 

[Riverjeep]

We're going to head up North Michigan late December. It'll be 20s during the day and near zero at night. I'd like to take the Wrangler



I bought my JL (3.6) in June 2021. I always turn off the stop/start. Batteries are original.

So....do I swap them out before I leave, or take a chance? There are no indications of the batteries going bad...but I'm not sure if the cold weather will push them over the edge. I don't want to be SOL in BFE UP of MI

I'll do the work myself....I'm just not thrilled about spending the money if I don't necessarily need to

Definitely replace especially if you are doing the work yourself. Honestly I am shocked that they have lasted this long, unless they are different for the 21's I only got 3 years out of my 2018 JL battery before it died.

 

[Carguy34]

Sparty, I'm an Electrical & Mechanical Specialist by profession. What you need is to test the amperage potential of your battery (not the voltage potential). A voltage test us useless. An amp test will tell you if your battery is about to die or if there's lots of life left in it. Old batteries are like a ticking time bombs. There's no way of knowing when they'll go. An amperage tester (aka load tester) is the best way to know whether your battery is good or bad.

If you lived in my area, I'd offer to do it for nothing more than a handshake. Do yourself a favor and buy an amp tester and learn how to use it. It will pay for itself and you'll never be left stranded. Otherwise, I'd replace that battery and not risk it. Good luck.

This is the answer.

If there’s no history of problems, and no data, what is the decision to change parts based on? Time? It may be time for a new engine too. Certainly tires and brakes. Key fob batteries as well. Probably should just trade it in, because, ya know, it’s time.

I just replaced a 10 year old battery in my Ram last year. It tested as “weak” (about 1/2-2/3 rated CA) after starting intermittently slowly for a while. It’s stored in a heated garage most of the time and then I have a parking garage at work. Easy life overall. We can’t possibly predict your use history without more info. Do the test and you’ll be good to go.

If I was concerned about it for this type of trip and couldn’t get data, I would pack a portable jump box. Good luck and have fun on the trip!

 

[Nokones]

Either way, you may be buying a new battery in the very very near future, depending how the battery was maintained during the non-use periods. You're going to pay for it today or pay for it tomorrow, what is the difference.

If the battery was not properly maintained, I would replace the battery at your convenience rather than when it is not convenient. Do it now. Batteries do not like extreme climates such as cold or hot, especially if it was not properly maintained.

Also, if I were you, I would purchase a quality battery and not some cheap POS battery. Cheap is never cheap in both time and money. I would stay with the OEM battery.

AGM batteries are very durable batteries. If they are quality batteries and maintained properly, and the battery state of charge is kept properly, and not discharged too many times below the threshold and/or constantly maintained with a smart AGM Charger, between moderate periods of non-use, you should at least see on the average of 5-6 years of longevity.

I normally see 10 years on my AGM batteries.

 

[SoK66]

You could always pick up a NOCO and take it along. But, were it me I'd spring for a new main battery and do the bypass / delete on the AUX.

 

[Nokones]

Take it to a shop and have them do a load test. Also use a Hygrometer to check the acid in the main battery (Aux is a bitch to get to). If all is good, go for it. Or buy spares to take with you, but if you need to replace the Aux battery, that may be problematic in the Snow and Cold. OR, you can take the negative lead of the Aux battery off, tape it up and wire tie it out of the way (its the smaller lead on the neg terminal) then remove Fuse F42. This will disable the Power Control relay and basically take the Aux battery out of the circuit, it will disable the ESS (might have to push the button once when you first start it-this is important). Then just run off the main. Buy a new main battery and be done....After testing of course.

Why would anyone need to check the humidity in a battery cell even if that was possible? What would be a good specific humidity level be for a battery cell? I don't think you're going to see a reading anything like a 1.250 to 1.300 with a Hygrometer.

 

[Wbino]

I just came back from a 9 hour each way trip to my uncle's house in NC, was worried about my 2021 battery but rode down there and while down there had it tested at a AutoZone.
They said it still test good, I'm back home but will replace the 2021 original battery in the coming weeks as a precaution. I'm going to get the battery at the dealer since I've had such good luck with this one.
AutoZone also said they are not supposed to touch hybrid vehicles, as I mentioned that I have the 48v Etorque second battery.

 

[aeonixx1001]

Why would anyone need to check the humidity in a battery cell even if that was possible? What would be a good specific humidity level be for a battery cell? I don't think you're going to see a reading anything like a 1.250 to 1.300 with a Hygrometer.

My bad I mispelled the word G is close to D and I didnt notice. It is a Hydrometer, My bad. Thank you for pointing that out in an obnoxious way. LOL

 

[Nokones]

I just came back from a 9 hour each way trip to my uncle's house in NC, was worried about my 2021 battery but rode down there and while down there had it tested at a AutoZone.
They said it still test good, I'm back home but will replace the 2021 original battery in the coming weeks as a precaution. I'm going to get the battery at the dealer since I've had such good luck with this one.
AutoZone also said they are not supposed to touch hybrid vehicles, as I mentioned that I have the 48v Etorque second battery.

The eTorque is not a Hybrid vehicle. When the vehicle is in motion the internal combustion engine runs 100% of the time and propels the vehicle.

A hybrid vehicle under certain parameters will run on an electric motor to propel the vehicle and shut down the internal combustion engine while it is doing so.

The eTorque vehicle does not do one or the other separately like a hybrid vehicle does.

The Porsche Carrera GTS is an eTurbo vehicle and still has the flat six internal combustion engine that propels the vehicle and has a separate battery for just powering the turbo, starter, and generator as a single vehicle component and is not a hybrid vehicle.

The "e" vehicle components are new technologies that vehicle manufactures are using to develop more power to the power train system and to meet the new tailpipe emission requirents.

 

[GMX]

My 2024 is not quite 2 years old, still under warranty and giving me a battery warning already...
Voltage reads 11.5 before startup with the Aux Switch Unavailable Battery Charging message....
Taking it into the dealership to have the battery replaced tomorrow...charged up my NOCO for the ride down, just in case...

So.....

I gots to know...do ya feel lucky???

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=2f6a...2ODM1OEIzOUM5QUJBJm1tc2NuPXN0dm8mRk9STT1WSVJF

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@aeonixx1001

JL has an AGM Main & Aux battery...

You cannot as you suggested use a "Hydrometer to check the acid" on an AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) battery because they are sealed.

AGM's hold their electrolyte in glass mats preventing access for such testing...

 

[KCSgtMaj]

This is a no nonsense reply, change your batteries.

You’re welcome

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