Driving without an aux battery

[arjusmc]

Can I drive without one? I think it's going out and need it tested. I'm trying to avoid having to ask someone for a ride and I only have one vehicle at the moment, the other option is that I take it out in the parking lot of the parts store. I've read that you can remove the fuse and disconnect the battery, just not sure about it all.

Sponsored

 

[mwilk012]

Why don’t you just fix it? Takes very little time and effort.

 

[arjusmc]

I suppose that wasn't entirely clear. I want to know if I can drive without one to the store to have it tested and buy a new one if needed before I go home and replace it. Its a pain in the ass to get to and not like replacing the main battery.

 

[arjusmc]

The other option is I just go buy a new one and replace it, I'd rather not do that before knowing it's a problem.

 

[mwilk012]

Are you sure you even have one? What are your symptoms?

 

[arjusmc]

I for sure have one, replaced it under warranty 3 or so years ago. The ESS light is on, replaced the main battery yesterday as it was bad. Voltage is around 13-13.5 volts.

 

[GMONEY]

I for sure have one, replaced it under warranty 3 or so years ago. The ESS light is on, replaced the main battery yesterday as it was bad. Voltage is around 13-13.5 volts.

Thought you were supposed to replace them both at the same time.

 

[arjusmc]

Thought you were supposed to replace them both at the same time.

I'm not saying you're not but I was not aware of that. interesting.

 

[Stuckinthesand]

I suggest not doing it for an extended time. I had my ESS light come on and ignored it for 2 weeks. Ended up draining my main battery as well. Had to use my booster pack one morning. Every time I stopped it would stall out and I’d have to boost it again. If the rpm’s went under around 1500 it would stall out due to the bad main. Had to put it in neutral and rev the engine every time I stopped on the way to the parts store. You should be ok since you have a new main for a few days.

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

I suppose that wasn't entirely clear. I want to know if I can drive without one to the store to have it tested and buy a new one if needed before I go home and replace it. Its a pain in the ass to get to and not like replacing the main battery.

Man, don't rely on parts store jerks to know how to test a battery, or even have decent equipment to do so. More batteries have passed that were bad, more have been shown bad that were good than should ever happen.
That's the last place you should rely on.
And a bad aux battery may not leave you stranded - regardless of the horror tales.

What I and others have been finding is that the main battery goes bad almost as often............ so you need the batteries disconnected from each other, fully charged and THEN tested. Most parts stores won't know squat about these.
If the battery is low, say below 12.4 volts, a test isn't going to be accurate.

 

[Fudster]

Can I drive without one? I think it's going out and need it tested. I'm trying to avoid having to ask someone for a ride and I only have one vehicle at the moment, the other option is that I take it out in the parking lot of the parts store. I've read that you can remove the fuse and disconnect the battery, just not sure about it all.

Man, 10 posts in and nobody's bothered to answer your question.

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

People do it all the time permanently, let alone temporarily. Assuming you have a dual AGM battery JL--which the prior posts seem to indicate--just yank from the negative post of the main battery the cable which does not lead to the body ground on the front passenger's quarter panel and pull Fuse 42 in the Power Distribution Center.

Turn off ESS by pressing the button or by purchasing after market tech to do this for you. It's best not to run ESS with just the main battery connected.

 

[dchemphill1]

Yes....been driving without for about 9 months. Works great. I took steps to delete the whole ESS system because it will operate with just the main battery. That may be okay as my Subaru has ESS with just the main battery.

 

[Stuckinthesand]

OP was just worried about driving somewhere to get it replaced. It doesn’t sound like he wants to not use it anymore.

 

[arjusmc]

Yes, just wondering if I could drive 3 miles to have the battery tested at an actual battery store. Instead of tearing apart the jeep in the parking lot without my garage and tools.

Thanks everyone

 

[arjusmc]

Shouldn’t it be an aux14? The dealer replaced it under warranty years ago.

Sponsored