Electrical nightmares

[Jeepsk8]

Was just advised that they charged my battery, and it "tested okay, and the issue with the lights on the dash was probably due to low voltage" and then went on to explain to me that they tested it after charging...and it tested good, but it is rated at 660CCA and it is showing 1200+CCA on the tester. They want to leave it overnight and re test it again tomorrow...

My issue with this is that the battery wasn't low when I first got in the Jeep and it wouldn't start/dash going nuts. I checked it on my charger right away...and then I let the battery go completely dead, re-charged it and had the same exact problem. I don't have a bogus charger either, its a decent one. Hindsight I should have just disconnected the battery for 30-45 minutes while I charged the battery instead of letting it go completely dead.

2nd why/how would my battery be that low to start to begin with. I drove the Jeep on at least a 5 mile trip Saturday mid-day, then it sat until Sunday mid-day...thats a pretty serious draw, to have something kill the battery entirely when I've never had an issue before. Not only that, don't these jeeps have the 15 minute auto off feature if something (interior lights, etc) is left on?

I also tried to re-charge the battery the next morning and start the jeep, with the same outcome as the day before.

I feel like this is a kick the can down the road situation that is going to pop up again and again, but then again maybe I'm just being a pessimist about my brand new vehicle that's been in the shop multiple times in the first 3 months of ownership.

Is this the main battery or the Aux (ESS) battery?

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[Jeepsterfreak]

I suspect there is a problem with the aux battery not charging or not holding a charge. A faulty aux battery seems to cause havoc with the electrical system.

Hopefully your dealer is knowledgeable with the aux battery system in the JL.

Have you read this thread about how to disconnect both batteries?

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/to-kill-12v-power-to-the-jl-jlu.6244/

 

[KCwrangler]

Is this the main battery or the Aux (ESS) battery?

They left me a voicemail as they were closing, I tried calling back but I couldn't get ahold of my service advisor...just rang and rang. I am going to call them in the morning and voice my concerns/ask if it was the aux battery or main battery.

I wonder if the aux battery throws off battery testers, and that is why it is showing such a high CCA?

I suspect there is a problem with the aux battery not charging or not holding a charge. A faulty aux battery seems to cause havoc with the electrical system.

Hopefully your dealer is knowledgeable with the aux battery system in the JL.

Have you read this thread about how to disconnect both batteries?

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/to-kill-12v-power-to-the-jl-jlu.6244/

I did not know that, when I charged my battery I removed all the terminals from the battery itself and charged it stand alone. I didn't know if charging it while it was still connected to the rest of the car would mess with the ESS/etc so I didn't want to risk it.

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

They left me a voicemail as they were closing, I tried calling back but I couldn't get ahold of my service advisor...just rang and rang. I am going to call them in the morning and voice my concerns/ask if it was the aux battery or main battery.

I wonder if the aux battery throws off battery testers, and that is why it is showing such a high CCA?



I did not know that, when I charged my battery I removed all the terminals from the battery itself and charged it stand alone. I didn't know if charging it while it was still connected to the rest of the car would mess with the ESS/etc so I didn't want to risk it.

Have you watched his other videos?





If you have future problems maybe you can test and charge the smaller aux battery by itself.

 

[W1ck3d]

Looks like the aux battery going whacky.... You can charge it simply by disconnecting the #1 and #3 terminals on the pdc and hooking your charger up to thise 2 terminals and it will charge the aux.. . You can also check the charge by using a multimeter and touching the #1 and #3 terminals on the fuse box

 

[KCwrangler]

I got a call today and it was "your jeep started ok this morning so there is nothing wrong with it, we can't explain what happened...but until it happens again you're on your way." "your battery is charged up to spec and there is no current draw on it"

I asked if there could potentially be a problem with the ESS battery because when the glitches started happening I checked the battery and it was fully charged. I then let the battery go completely dead and disconnected it from the vehicle to re-charge and when re-connected fully charged it still was acting crazy.

The service advisor told me the ESS battery would have nothing to do with this situation, and there is no way the ESS battery would have prevented the car from starting. After watching the video above where the guy literally starts his Jeep off the ESS battery alone I am convinced there is an issue with mine.

I also just drove around for 40 minutes and periodically stopped, I never disengaged ESS and the ESS never kicked in once in 40 minutes of driving...

I guess all I can do is take it back in with the complaint that ESS isn't kicking in? Or should I wait until my dash goes up like a christmas tree again (with a fully charged battery) and make FCA eat another tow and rental for me? All I am looking for is reliability, and it doesn't seem to me that the dealer knows whats going on....evident by them telling me the ESS has nothing to do with starting and would't cause a no-start like I experienced...This is a FCA only dealer, I feel like they should be educated on these things? @JeepCares

 

[W1ck3d]

Ive seen jls plenty of them.... With a dead aux battery that caused it not to start.... Just because ive had it happen so many times i made a jumper that connects from the #1 and #3 terminal to bypass the aux battery all together.... The problem is too with the dealerships these cars are brand new basically (electricly) so the dealers haven't seen many of them.. You think out of all the fca cars they sell how many a day are jls their working on? So i think the service guy may have been blowing smoke

 

[KCwrangler]

Ive seen jls plenty of them.... With a dead aux battery that caused it not to start.... Just because ive had it happen so many times i made a jumper that connects from the #1 and #3 terminal to bypass the aux battery all together.... The problem is too with the dealerships these cars are brand new basically (electricly) so the dealers haven't seen many of them.. You think out of all the fca cars they sell how many a day are jls their working on? So i think the service guy may have been blowing smoke

Will running that jumper cause any other issues though?

Its probably not a bad idea to keep a jumper in the jeep in case of emergency if in fact that would alleviate my problem

 

[Akbill]

Ive seen jls plenty of them.... With a dead aux battery that caused it not to start.... Just because ive had it happen so many times i made a jumper that connects from the #1 and #3 terminal to bypass the aux battery all together.... The problem is too with the dealerships these cars are brand new basically (electricly) so the dealers haven't seen many of them.. You think out of all the fca cars they sell how many a day are jls their working on? So i think the service guy may have been blowing smoke

Have you tested your jumper successfully to start with no adverse effects? I assume you are disconnecting the aux battery cables from 1 and 3 before connecting posts #1 and 3 on the fuse bar with a jumper?

 

[blessidsoul12]

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/help-jlur-wont-start-acting-strange.12916/

 

[blessidsoul12]

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...ailure-safety-concern.9880/page-6#post-315138

 

[W1ck3d]

Yes i have many times but i use it only for a temporary fix as in to move the car a short distance... I havent done it for long road trips or anything... Few hundred feet or something like that

 

[W1ck3d]

This is what i use... Then the 1 and 3 terminal il clamp together with the charger to charge the aux battery

 

[JeepCares]

@JeepCares been at the dealer since 9a yesterday, called at 4:45pm when I hadn't heard from them...they said "i think you're next in line, maybe call back later" and haven't heard from them since...

Thanks for this update. I also saw the one below. I just responded to your private message and will continue assisting from there.

Jasmine
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[KCwrangler]

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...ailure-safety-concern.9880/page-6#post-315138

So you've been problem free since they did that "STAR" case on yours?

They didnt do anything besides charge my battery and supposedly its ok now, but ESS never engages...

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