A battery gamble - what would you do

[Sparty]

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

Sponsored

 

[Rhinebeck01]

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

Your stock 2021 JL battery(s) have pretty much aged out. ( Whether you use the ESS button or not)

You should be proactive and change out the battery(s) on it now. (IF you have a etorque, you have only one battery). Why would you gamble.... that gamble could cost you lots of time and money,,,,

Why wait til you start having issues.... having issues is a given with battery(s) on a JL ...

Anyway, as they say at start of UFC Events... "IT'S TIME".

Main Battery info:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/main-battery-replacement-talk-jl-jt.100534/

Suggest you bypass the Aux battery if your JL has one. Search on forum in regard to Aux battery bypass which is easy easy to do in less then 5 min.. Do the bypass and you do not need to either replace or remove the Aux. battery.

 

[Odyssey USA]

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

I went up In Jan ‘20 before Covid. Given the relative remoteness of the UP & the battery age I would probably lean towards replacing it…and I wasn’t even off-road then. 4.5 years is a good run these days.

 

[Terrymo]

The cost of the new battery is a given In the near future. So how much are you actually saving per year by assuming you can squeeze one more year out of it. You gotta ask yourself is that small difference in cost per year worth the hassle if it were to crap out in BFE? That’s your call. I replace my batteries and tires preemptively and move on.

 

[Sparty]

The cost of the new battery is a given In the near future. So how much are you actually saving per year by assuming you can squeeze one more year out of it. You gotta ask yourself is that small difference in cost per year worth the hassle if it were to crap out in BFE? That’s your call. I replace my batteries and tires preemptively and move on.

That's the way I'm leaning - I was looking for someone to talk me out of it

 

[Sparty]

Your stock 2021 JL battery(s) have pretty much aged out. ( Whether you use the ESS button or not)

You should be proactive and change out the battery(s) on it now. (IF you have a etorque, you have only one battery). Why would you gamble.... that gamble could cost you lots of time and money,,,,

Why wait til you start having issues.... having issues is a given with battery(s) on a JL ...

Anyway, as they say at start of UFC Events... "IT'S TIME".

Main Battery info:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/main-battery-replacement-talk-jl-jt.100534/

Suggest you bypass the Aux battery if your JL has one. Search on forum in regard to Aux battery bypass which is easy easy to do in less then 5 min.. Do the bypass and you do not need to either replace or remove the Aux. battery.

Thanks Rhinebeck01

From my recollection of reading these threads a couple of years ago, I think my '21 is updated since the 2018 design in regard to how the negative cable attaches to the main battery. I also have a winch wired up to the battery. Am I still going to be able to do the delete (It's something that I've been wanting to do)

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Thanks Rhinebeck01

From my recollection of reading these threads a couple of years ago, I think my '21 is updated since the 2018 design in regard to how the negative cable attaches to the main battery. I also have a winch wired up to the battery. Am I still going to be able to do the delete (It's something that I've been wanting to do)

@Sparty

Regardless of the year of the JL, the cable you disconnect at the Main's negative terminal is the smaller diameter cable of the two. Look close and you will see one cable is slightly smaller in diameter... and you would pull fuse F42.

In regard to the winch... Is it set up where it is always disconnected until you need it? If not that could be an issue in regard to Aux bypass (Aux ground related).

 

[Flip]

@Sparty

I would most definitely change out the battery. I would also have a battery jumper on board just in case. You know the old saying? Better safe than sorry.

Have a great trip, stay warm.

 

[Sparty]

@Sparty

Regardless of the year of the JL, the cable you disconnect at the Main's negative terminal is the smaller diameter cable of the two. Look close and you will see one cable is slightly smaller in diameter... and you would pull fuse F42.

In regard to the winch... Is it set up where it is always disconnected until you need it? If not that could be an issue in regard to Aux bypass (Aux ground related).

Permanent connection to the main battery

@Sparty

I would most definitely change out the battery. I would also have a battery jumper on board just in case. You know the old saying? Better safe than sorry.

Have a great trip, stay warm.

I agree - I appreciate it. Murphy's law, and my tendency to be prepared have convinced me

 

[Heimkehr]

We're going to head up North Michigan late December.

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...

It's time.

By way of example, the OEM H6 in my 2021 JLU gave no warning when it departed this Mortal Coil. You're correct: there may not be any sign that they're about to fail.

 

[Bulletbill]

It's time.

By way of example, the OEM H6 in my 2021 JLU gave no warning when it departed this Mortal Coil. You're correct: there may not be any sign that they're about to fail.

Had the same experience with my 21 battery, one day it was good, next day not so much. That was over a year and a half ago.

 

[2nd 392]

Had the same experience with my 21 battery, one day it was good, next day not so much. That was over a year and a half ago.

Ditto, 21’s ~ 1 1/2 years ago, the same instant fail with the GC’s original, but it lasted 8 years. They don’t build them like they used too ?

 

[Sparty]

I'm guessing that there's a preferred battery other than Mopar? I have no interest in paying their prices

 

[2nd 392]

I'm guessing that there's a preferred battery other than Mopar? I have no interest in paying their prices

Many “preferred” batteries. There are threads , opinions like a - holes, everyone has one. From common and inexpensive to the high dollar ones. I got the relatively inexpensive Wal Mart H-7, one 10 minutes away, another 30 minutes, they are everywhere with long hours when you might need a battery and reportedly good about the warranty. I wouldn’t know, the WM battery in my 4R was ~ 10 years old when the 4R was sold. So that’s what I replaced my 3 year old dying original Mopar with.

 

[Woodsman]

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.

Sponsored