Electrical issue, computer or battery?

[melendez69]

The NOCO Genius 10 is a 10-amp charger. That's a bit much for the JL battery.

Someone much smarter than I am can correct me.

Sponsored

 

[AnebuR]

Since yours is a 2018, make sure you had TSB 18-092-19 completed (Power Control Update) applied. It decouples the Aux battery from the main one for starting the Jeep. On 2018's, if your Aux battery goes, you won't be able to start the Jeep even if your main is fully charged. You can also pull F97 at night and reinsert when driving just to make sure it isn't your radio getting stuck in an auto-update loop and draining the battery overnight. Had that happen to me.

 

[Initial-Jeep]

10A is a slow charge for starter batteries. There are three different charging stages it'll use; the power isn't constant.

 

[MDG]

Sounds like the batteries were tested using an electronic tester and not a true carbon pile load tester.

Thats true. Batteries were in the Jeep so they didn't offer to do more.

 

[MDG]

When my ESS system was acting up, the batteries tested fine at auto parts store too. Over CCA and voltage fine. But after replacing main battery ESS has worked perfectly ever since.

I'll have to call around to see who can load test the batteries then.

 

[MDG]

Since yours is a 2018, make sure you had TSB 18-092-19 completed (Power Control Update) applied. It decouples the Aux battery from the main one for starting the Jeep. On 2018's, if your Aux battery goes, you won't be able to start the Jeep even if your main is fully charged. You can also pull F97 at night and reinsert when driving just to make sure it isn't your radio getting stuck in an auto-update loop and draining the battery overnight. Had that happen to me.

Thank you for that TSB, I had read about it but not seen the number. I'm pretty sure this hasn't been done yet.

 

[MDG]

The NOCO Genius 10 is a 10-amp charger. That's a bit much for the JL battery.

Someone much smarter than I am can correct me.

10A is a slow charge for starter batteries. There are three different charging stages it'll use; the power isn't constant.

It does take two days from when its dead to full charge with the NOCO 10. Thats to bring both batteries up as connected in the Jeep. My Battery Tender which was probably 10 years old wouldn't even charge them. I/'m sure it was a lot lower amp though

 

[Initial-Jeep]

hehe, I like slow-charging all my batteries (for longevity) and I used 2A on my PT's battery once....took all week! (not doing that again)

 

[MDG]

Update on where I am with this issue.

Went back and forth with NAPA on the batteries. I connected with a more knowledgeable person there that was able to test the batteries properly and he found no issues. He even called the Deka rep to discuss the issue. They decided to do a good faith warranty replacement for both batteries given my purchase history with them. So being loyal to a vendor does have its benefits. Immediately after installing these new batteries the issue I was having persisted.

I had made an appointment with the dealer for the next day so dropped it off on Thursday at 8am for an 8:50 appointment. I suspected they weren't going to fix my issue based on how the service advisor was dealing with what I was telling him. The typical preemptive playing down of Jeep fault and blaming NAPA batteries. Called at 1 PM to get a status and they had just pulled it in! So much for appointments! Called again at 3 for a status and he now says he needs to keep it overnight to charge batteries so he can eliminate that as the issue. The next morning he called and talked to my wife at about 9am saying he was forcing the computer to relearn the batteries. I have never heard of this before. Waited until 11am to call for status and had to leave voicemail, again called at 1 and had to leave voicemail. He didn't call me back until 3 when he said the tech was test-driving it as they think they have it set. Called back at 4 saying it was all set. When I picked it up he said the ESS was all set! I said WTF are you talking about I didn't have an issue with ESS. He said that was my issue. So I paid my bill and walked out to my Jeep. Before I even got in I could see the dash doing the exact same thing it did when I brought it in! I walked back in and in the middle of the service area I let him know he failed because he didn't listen to what I told him was happening. Took him out to the Jeep and showed him what was happening. He of course had no clue and said "well, it doesn't have any codes". Since they were on shortened hours the tech and the service manager had already left, I don't believe him, and to take it home and call him on Monday. As I'm pulling out of the lot the dash lights up with a code message saying the drivers rear turn signal is out! So much for no codes. I get out and look and the turn signal is working as it should but I notice there is condensation in the lens. Get home and pull the tail light and unplug it. Guess what, dash stops the on off cycle. So I'm thinking its this light shorting out.

Aren't these LED tail lights supposed to be sealed? The other light has no condensation so I think they are. Has anyone had this covered under their extended warranty? I'm already expecting them to not cover it based on how the advisor was posturing.

Sorry for the long description but I wanted to document all of this in detail in case I need it when I dispute what they charged me to repair an issue I didn't have and didn't address the issue I did.

 

[DaltonGang]

Update on where I am with this issue.

Went back and forth with NAPA on the batteries. I connected with a more knowledgeable person there that was able to test the batteries properly and he found no issues. He even called the Deka rep to discuss the issue. They decided to do a good faith warranty replacement for both batteries given my purchase history with them. So being loyal to a vendor does have its benefits. Immediately after installing these new batteries the issue I was having persisted.

I had made an appointment with the dealer for the next day so dropped it off on Thursday at 8am for an 8:50 appointment. I suspected they weren't going to fix my issue based on how the service advisor was dealing with what I was telling him. The typical preemptive playing down of Jeep fault and blaming NAPA batteries. Called at 1 PM to get a status and they had just pulled it in! So much for appointments! Called again at 3 for a status and he now says he needs to keep it overnight to charge batteries so he can eliminate that as the issue. The next morning he called and talked to my wife at about 9am saying he was forcing the computer to relearn the batteries. I have never heard of this before. Waited until 11am to call for status and had to leave voicemail, again called at 1 and had to leave voicemail. He didn't call me back until 3 when he said the tech was test-driving it as they think they have it set. Called back at 4 saying it was all set. When I picked it up he said the ESS was all set! I said WTF are you talking about I didn't have an issue with ESS. He said that was my issue. So I paid my bill and walked out to my Jeep. Before I even got in I could see the dash doing the exact same thing it did when I brought it in! I walked back in and in the middle of the service area I let him know he failed because he didn't listen to what I told him was happening. Took him out to the Jeep and showed him what was happening. He of course had no clue and said "well, it doesn't have any codes". Since they were on shortened hours the tech and the service manager had already left, I don't believe him, and to take it home and call him on Monday. As I'm pulling out of the lot the dash lights up with a code message saying the drivers rear turn signal is out! So much for no codes. I get out and look and the turn signal is working as it should but I notice there is condensation in the lens. Get home and pull the tail light and unplug it. Guess what, dash stops the on off cycle. So I'm thinking its this light shorting out.

Aren't these LED tail lights supposed to be sealed? The other light has no condensation so I think they are. Has anyone had this covered under their extended warranty? I'm already expecting them to not cover it based on how the advisor was posturing.

Sorry for the long description but I wanted to document all of this in detail in case I need it when I dispute what they charged me to repair an issue I didn't have and didn't address the issue I did.

So, long story short: water in the tail light shorted things out, threw codes, and drained the batteries? I would raise hell, at the dealership, get my money back, and possibly look for another dealership in the future.
I miss the simplicity, of my 98 TJ.

 

[MDG]

So, long story short: water in the tail light shorted things out, threw codes, and drained the batteries? I would raise hell, at the dealership, get my money back, and possibly look for another dealership in the future.
I miss the simplicity, of my 98 TJ.

Yes, that about sums it up. Monday I will be talking to the Service Manager to get a refund. If they won't then I'll challenge the charge through my credit card. Thats after I find out if they will cover the light under warranty.

 

[RAIDEDR_JLU]

I’ve been having all these issues as well for about three weeks now. My Jeep would even die while driving. Very dangerous. So I thought it was the batteries so I replaced them both; still acted up. Dealership had the Jeep a few days. Ended up getting that rear driver turn signal out error code right before the Jeep would die. Turned out the wiring harness for my trailer hitch that was getting its power from that lamp had shorted out, was sending signals to the RF-hub and taking it down, which was killing my electronics. They disconnected the faulty harness and all codes cleared. Jeep drove for two days without issue then last night I was an hour from home and it acted up again so tomorrow it’s going back to the dealer. After reading your post, I’m wondering if that rear driver side light box is faulty itself. I haven’t noticed any moisture but all signs are pointing to that part of the Jeep for now. It’s killing me; this Jeep is my baby.

 

[MDG]

I’ve been having all these issues as well for about three weeks now. My Jeep would even die while driving. Very dangerous. So I thought it was the batteries so I replaced them both; still acted up. Dealership had the Jeep a few days. Ended up getting that rear driver turn signal out error code right before the Jeep would die. Turned out the wiring harness for my trailer hitch that was getting its power from that lamp had shorted out, was sending signals to the RF-hub and taking it down, which was killing my electronics. They disconnected the faulty harness and all codes cleared. Jeep drove for two days without issue then last night I was an hour from home and it acted up again so tomorrow it’s going back to the dealer. After reading your post, I’m wondering if that rear driver side light box is faulty itself. I haven’t noticed any moisture but all signs are pointing to that part of the Jeep for now. It’s killing me; this Jeep is my baby.

My service advisor said that it was common for the LED light board to short out. You can check it yourself by unbolting the taillight and then unplugging the wiring harness. IF the code goes away that's the issue.


By the way, it took just over a month to get my new light. Light was ordered on 5/3/2022 and it was finally installed on 6/8/2022. I do suspect that the light was at the dealership before then but I had to call for them to realize it and schedule me.

 

[RAIDEDR_JLU]

My service advisor said that it was common for the LED light board to short out. You can check it yourself by unbolting the taillight and then unplugging the wiring harness. IF the code goes away that's the issue.


By the way, it took just over a month to get my new light. Light was ordered on 5/3/2022 and it was finally installed on 6/8/2022. I do suspect that the light was at the dealership before then but I had to call for them to realize it and schedule me.

Unplugged it and code immediately went away. So they plugged the taillight into its factory connector and bypassed the trailer wire harness and it was good for two days. Had issues again so they removed all the wiring entirely, not just the module harness. Got the Jeep back yesterday, fingers crossed.

Sponsored