Aux Batt replacement, bad info

[OldBob]

I have seen many YouTube videos and posts about the “easy” way to change the aux batt. I have done it from the top and from the bottom. DO NOT REMOVE the fender flare, that is not needed and takes more time. Here is what I found to be the easiest.

With the JL on the ground, turn the wheels hard driver and shut down. Disconnect the main battery pos and neg. Disconnect the aux batt neg cable from the main batt neg cable. Now everything is isolated.

Remove the one rear most fender liner bolt. Remove the two side by side Christmas Trees at the bottom rear of the liner.

Get under the Jeep just behind the tire and gently pull the liner over a little bit and you can now see the 3 - 10mm bolts that hold the bottom of the aux batt tray in place. Remove them and the batt box. You ar now looking at the bottom of the battery. Turn it on it’s side and remove the cables with a 10mm wrench. Last, remove the battery studs to re-use on new battery.

If you are doing the aux batt delete discussed in another thread, i suggest you insulate the cable ends. Before replacing the aux batt box, put a note in a ziplock bag along with the F42 fuse and the batt studs in the box so if in the future someone is working on the Jeep and trying to figure out what has been done or wants to return it to original configuration, they can.

Reverse procedure to reinstall and I suggest 2 new Christmas Trees, your Jeep deserves it.

So this is quick, easy, less costly, less invasive than pulling fender flares.

Sponsored

 

[Rhinebeck01]

The title of this thread is a bit laughable... but.. but, indeed the way you describe is a way to go, in regard to replacing the Aux battery. This way and a few other ways have been mentioned many times on this forum over the last 4 years...

The guy/gal that is going to do the Aux battery change needs to take a few things into consideration each time they do the Aux change out on a JL or JT.

I have done 13 Aux battery changes over the last few years. None on my JL but for other JL owner's, I have done this deed.

The only way I absolutely won't do the deed is from the top / dismantling the PDC.

I'm a pretty good size older guy (6'. 275#, 73yo) and I have found the easiest way to do the deed is via the fender flare pull. Yes, I have done the fender flare peel way that dealership Techs do and also the peeky boo way you describe.

I have found that fender flare peel way ends up with plastic rivets that don't set well with my OCD.

With the peeky booo way.. the try to squeeeze in there way, you describe...... well easier for a small guy or gal to do.... and a way to do if you don't have/expect issues with the battery box.... like stripped bolts, can't get bolt loose, battery disconnect issues, etc.. and more.

In closing .... YUP, a bunch of ways to do this deed.. To each his own...
"Bad info" way to me though, is info saying dismantling the PDC to get to the Aux. is a way. The other ways.... pick the way that is easiest for you and a way that lets you deal with/ makes it easy to deal with, any lets call it obstacle in your path.

.

 

[OldBob]

You sound very experienced and I agree it is a “to each his own” type of thing. That is part of what struck me with the YouTube videos titled “…easiest way …”. They pass on info that is not correct for all, and in some cases maybe not for anyone. They would be better to say an “alternative way” .

p.s I am 61 and a big guy. Some things that were easy at 30 are no longer easy ?

 

[Stuckinthesand]

I used this way to remove my aux completely this morning. Not bad but definitely a little tight. I should’ve removed the darn battery when I put my rubi fenders on but didn’t even think about it at that time.

 

[mrtm1970]

I have seen many YouTube videos and posts about the “easy” way to change the aux batt. I have done it from the top and from the bottom. DO NOT REMOVE the fender flare, that is not needed and takes more time. Here is what I found to be the easiest.

With the JL on the ground, turn the wheels hard driver and shut down. Disconnect the main battery pos and neg. Disconnect the aux batt neg cable from the main batt neg cable. Now everything is isolated.

Remove the one rear most fender liner bolt. Remove the two side by side Christmas Trees at the bottom rear of the liner.

Get under the Jeep just behind the tire and gently pull the liner over a little bit and you can now see the 3 - 10mm bolts that hold the bottom of the aux batt tray in place. Remove them and the batt box. You ar now looking at the bottom of the battery. Turn it on it’s side and remove the cables with a 10mm wrench. Last, remove the battery studs to re-use on new battery.

If you are doing the aux batt delete discussed in another thread, i suggest you insulate the cable ends. Before replacing the aux batt box, put a note in a ziplock bag along with the F42 fuse and the batt studs in the box so if in the future someone is working on the Jeep and trying to figure out what has been done or wants to return it to original configuration, they can.

Reverse procedure to reinstall and I suggest 2 new Christmas Trees, your Jeep deserves it.

So this is quick, easy, less costly, less invasive than pulling fender flares.

The dreaded battery replacement bug hit me…1 1/2 hrs away from home. Luckily it started after initial freak out.

Anyway, bought both batteries yesterday and saw this post. I went down to take an assessment look and I don’t have those bolts to take out but just the Christmas tree pins. I was able to even push my plastic fender liner to the side with out even turning the wheel to drivers side (which I will do for even more access). I was surprised to see how much access I already have without even undoing anything. Is this possibly being a 2019? I will defined be doing it this way with seeing how much access I have to the bottom of the Aux Battery bracket.

 

[OldBob]

Mine is a 2018 Sport with 2022 Rubicon flares and wheel well linings yet at this time still have the sport wheels/tires so lots of room to work. I turned the Shell just because I wanted the max room to work.

Sponsored