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Alternator/Battery issue

miteshy

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Hello everyone.
I am here in BC canada. Have 2018 sahara unlimited jeep wrangler 3.6L.
It didn't start yesterday got the battery checked had never changed the battery since i bought it. Its about 7.5 years.
Called a mechanic he could see very minute leak at the negative terminal also the sticker on the battery was popped up little bit. Guy said to change battery for sure also said issue alternator since its not charging the battery. Guy said since i have only run 65K kms in last 7.5 years and jeep doesn't run as often that could be one reason.
So instead of replacing the alternator guy said one other option for which he gave me a 5 year warranty, he reprogram the jeep system connected a device under the steering wheel to realign the magnets in the alternator he said its a cheaper option and I won't have to change the alternator for next 4-5 years. Charged me 200$ cad for that system reprogram.
I would like to know if I got scammed and will this ruin the jeep or its systems or is this a legit fix. ? Please advise. Thank you.
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JPAloha

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Oh for sure it was a scam. You can’t rebuild an alternator without removing it from the vehicle.
The JL’s have a smart alternator that change their output voltage based on the draw of the system and need to charge the batteries.

Most likely, you battery has lived its life and needs replacing, consider disconnecting the auxiliary battery while you’re at it or replace it at the same time. You can do some basic checks without tools. Put the Jeep in the Run position but do not start it, using the buttons on the left side of the steering wheel, scroll down to vehicle information (number 2 if I remember correctly) and then across until you see battery voltage. A healthy battery should have 12.x Volts with the engine off. Then start the Jeep and check that voltage again. The alternator should be putting out up to 14.x Volts and will reduce as needed.

if the battery is leaking it should be replaced immediately. I am wondering if an AGM battery would “leak” but you also say the casing is distorted so another sign that you just need a new battery.
 

zouch

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so, you joined today to ask this question *after* the fact?

on the chance this is a legitimate question, i'll say if you got 7+ years out of a factory battery, that's freakin' amazing by most standards here and your alternator is likely working perfectly! most people don't get much more than about half that life out of a factory battery.
didn't you see you mention; did you actually replace your battery? if yes, what did you replace it with?

i've never heard of "a device under the steering wheel to realign the magnets in the alternator"; that sounds extremely scammy.


Hello everyone.
I am here in BC canada. Have 2018 sahara unlimited jeep wrangler 3.6L.
It didn't start yesterday got the battery checked had never changed the battery since i bought it. Its about 7.5 years.
Called a mechanic he could see very minute leak at the negative terminal also the sticker on the battery was popped up little bit. Guy said to change battery for sure also said issue alternator since its not charging the battery. Guy said since i have only run 65K kms in last 7.5 years and jeep doesn't run as often that could be one reason.
So instead of replacing the alternator guy said one other option for which he gave me a 5 year warranty, he reprogram the jeep system connected a device under the steering wheel to realign the magnets in the alternator he said its a cheaper option and I won't have to change the alternator for next 4-5 years. Charged me 200$ cad for that system reprogram.
I would like to know if I got scammed and will this ruin the jeep or its systems or is this a legit fix. ? Please advise. Thank you.
 
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OP

miteshy

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So yea i am positing after paying the extra 200$ on top of the 100$/charged for service charge. But Ihave never dealt with car issues myself and just wanted to make sure if the alternator is an issue I would wanna replace it. Before battery change the car was showing 9.6V on the battery. After replacing the battery and ran the car around its at a constant 14.4 - 14.3.
The battery is MOTOMASTER ELIMINATOR AGM Group Size 94R (H7/L4) Battery, 800 CCA. So the guy definitely changed the battery but i am hoping that all he scammed me for attaching his tablet for reprogramming the alternator which I don't care but i hope there was nothing else to it. I have asked around another trusted mechanic of a friend. The mechanic said they are able remotely reprogram to create the voltage in the alternator to send to the battery, sorry for technical lingo if i am using incorrectly. But thats the gist of it.
 

zouch

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sounds like a lot of misinformation.

did any of these mechanics mention that your J**p has 2 batteries?? odds are if the main one was tired, the Auxiliary Batt was completely toast long ago.
did anyone talk about the Intelligent Battery System in the JL(U)s designed to try to help improve efficiency? after an initial reset and learning period of several starts and stops of a certain number of hours, normal indicated voltage will vary in regular use, from anywhere in the high 11s to over 14 when coasting down.

if you're seeing 14+V continuously when driving around, you probably still have a dead Aux Batt that your system is trying to charge up. unless you disable your Aux Batt (as described in many places around this site) that dead Aux Batt will likely quickly pull down your new Batt, and you'll be looking for 2 Batts again.


So yea i am positing after paying the extra 200$ on top of the 100$/charged for service charge. But Ihave never dealt with car issues myself and just wanted to make sure if the alternator is an issue I would wanna replace it. Before battery change the car was showing 9.6V on the battery. After replacing the battery and ran the car around its at a constant 14.4 - 14.3.
The battery is MOTOMASTER ELIMINATOR AGM Group Size 94R (H7/L4) Battery, 800 CCA. So the guy definitely changed the battery but i am hoping that all he scammed me for attaching his tablet for reprogramming the alternator which I don't care but i hope there was nothing else to it. I have asked around another trusted mechanic of a friend. The mechanic said they are able remotely reprogram to create the voltage in the alternator to send to the battery, sorry for technical lingo if i am using incorrectly. But thats the gist of it.
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