Battery Concerns...

[phantomfixer]

I just recently purchased a 2021 JL Sahara with approx. 22K miles.I’m planning a road trip,but after reading about so many Aux battery issues, I’m very concerned about being stranded with a dead aux battery away from home.What should be my level of concern in planning this trip?I’d appreciate any and all comments

Sponsored

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

Charge each battery, then have each battery independently load tested.
I've driven multiple Jeeps with this setup all over the country on long trips and no issues. the chances are actually remote, but the internet amplifies them because in the rare case it does happen, you hear the screaming for miles.
Ask the 4xe people - even the main battery can die at a moments notice.
That's why I keep on top of mine, keep them fully charged if I'm not driving my Jeeps much, and keep watch on things.
Huge discussion in other forums where people have popped in and said it was their main battery that went first and the aux battery lasted a few more months.
2021 you are on the edge if you don't drive your Jeep enough. If it sits for any length of time with the voltage low, it loses capacity. So if it sits for several days, or your drives are only short - keep it on a battery tender. Short drives or infrequent drives kill these batteries fast.
When the batteries went in my wife's Jeep - I could still easily jump it. Both batteries tested bad according to the dealer. She didn't drive it much, it sat for several days, sometimes being driven once a week, sometimes less, and that ruined the batteries faster. I have since started keeping a tender on her Jeeps.
I jumped hers with a jump pack a couple of times, and used my own Jeep once, never a problem if you are patient when jumping. Only if the battery actually dies by shorting will it be an issue.
The internet is a place where people report problems, like looking at a hospital to determine how healthy the human race is. The vast majority of these go fine, and can be jump started if a problem does arise.
In another forum, where we are tracking things, it's almost a 50-50 split as to which battery goes first.
And with the 4xe, there is no aux battery, yet the main battery goes bad just as often as with a gasser or diesel Jeep.
"It's the batteries, stupid" to coin a phrase. Even other car owners complain about short battery life - parasitic drains while the vehicle sits, short or infrequent driving = battery life shortened.

 

[SparkleTooth]

Change your aux and main batteries for any trip over 50 miles from home or every 3 weeks which ever comes first.

 

[phantomfixer]

Charge each battery, then have each battery independently load tested.
I've driven multiple Jeeps with this setup all over the country on long trips and no issues. the chances are actually remote, but the internet amplifies them because in the rare case it does happen, you hear the screaming for miles.
Ask the 4xe people - even the main battery can die at a moments notice.
That's why I keep on top of mine, keep them fully charged if I'm not driving my Jeeps much, and keep watch on things.
Huge discussion in other forums where people have popped in and said it was their main battery that went first and the aux battery lasted a few more months.
2021 you are on the edge if you don't drive your Jeep enough. If it sits for any length of time with the voltage low, it loses capacity. So if it sits for several days, or your drives are only short - keep it on a battery tender. Short drives or infrequent drives kill these batteries fast.
When the batteries went in my wife's Jeep - I could still easily jump it. Both batteries tested bad according to the dealer. She didn't drive it much, it sat for several days, sometimes being driven once a week, sometimes less, and that ruined the batteries faster. I have since started keeping a tender on her Jeeps.
I jumped hers with a jump pack a couple of times, and used my own Jeep once, never a problem if you are patient when jumping. Only if the battery actually dies by shorting will it be an issue.
The internet is a place where people report problems, like looking at a hospital to determine how healthy the human race is. The vast majority of these go fine, and can be jump started if a problem does arise.
In another forum, where we are tracking things, it's almost a 50-50 split as to which battery goes first.
And with the 4xe, there is no aux battery, yet the main battery goes bad just as often as with a gasser or diesel Jeep.
"It's the batteries, stupid" to coin a phrase. Even other car owners complain about short battery life - parasitic drains while the vehicle sits, short or infrequent driving = battery life shortened.

Thanks so much for your advice.It is my daily drive and I always carry a jump box.I was concerned that if I had a dead battery even a jump wouldn’t help

 

[AndySpill]

I like Bill's @Yawnie'sPapa advice. The only thing I might add to it is if you're going to independently load test your batteries anyway, you might as well charge them independently as well....and

to separate the batteries identify two black cables that connect to the main battery's negative post. One of those cables has as its other end the body ground on the passenger's side under the hood. Leave that cable connected.

The other cable, which should be disconnected temporarily to either test or charge batteries independently has as its other end the negative post of the Aux battery.

Wrap the loose end of that cable in a towel to avoid any shorts while working with the main batter as follows:

Placing either a charger or load tester on the main battery's terminals after this step now only affects the main battery. Move the negative side of the load tester or charger to the exposed end of the dangling cable, even while leaving the positive side of the load tester or charger on the positive terminal of the main battery, affects the Aux battery only.

Don't forget to reconnect that cable when done.

 

[phantomfixer]

I like Bill's @Yawnie'sPapa advice. The only thing I might add to it is if you're going to independently load test your batteries anyway, you might as well charge them independently as well....and

to separate the batteries identify two black cables that connect to the main battery's negative post. One of those cables has as its other end the body ground on the passenger's side under the hood. Leave that cable connected.

The other cable, which should be disconnected temporarily to either test or charge batteries independently has as its other end the negative post of the Aux battery.

Wrap the loose end of that cable in a towel to avoid any shorts while working with the main batter as follows:

Placing either a charger or load tester on the main battery's terminals after this step now only affects the main battery. Move the negative side of the load tester or charger to the exposed end of the dangling cable, even while leaving the positive side of the load tester or charger on the positive terminal of the main battery, affects the Aux battery only.

Don't forget to reconnect that cable when done.

Thx for your advice…I will definitely use that process to independently charge the batteries

 

[cobra]

Are you sure you have the aux battery. My 21 has the e torque which does not have the little aux battery.

 

[hoch]

you could simply write down this procedure on a piece of paper and tape it to the inside of the fuse box.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/jumperless-aux-battery-bypass.95945/

 

[phantomfixer]

Are you sure you have the aux battery. My 21 has the e torque which does not have the little aux battery.

I have the 2.0 motor w/o Etorque .I didn’t think it was still offered in’21

 

[cobra]

I have the 2.0 motor w/o Etorque .I didn’t think it was still offered in’21

I have the 3.6

 

[phantomfixer]

I have the 3.6

Oh,ok...

 

[txj2go]

Disconnect the small battery and never look back.

 

[Joe Nichols]

I just recently purchased a 2021 JL Sahara with approx. 22K miles.I’m planning a road trip,but after reading about so many Aux battery issues, I’m very concerned about being stranded with a dead aux battery away from home.What should be my level of concern in planning this trip?I’d appreciate any and all comments

If you have the 3.6L with E torque, you will not have an aux battery.

 

[mrschwarz]

I have the 2.0 motor w/o Etorque .I didn’t think it was still offered in’21

I have a 21 w/o eTorque

 

[phantomfixer]

If you have the 3.6L with E torque, you will not have an aux battery.

I have 2.0...thx

Sponsored