ESS and managing expectations

[Sean L]

Failure to continue the climate control system when ESS kicks in is the failure.

95 degrees outside, get to a light and ESS kicks on, hot air blows out, and I'm back to square one by the time it starts going again.

If not for that failure, I would just let it do it's thing, but it's too hot in South Florida to use it on any regular basis.

Do you use the auto climate control? I find that mine usually turns the fan down during an autostop so its not just blasting exterior air.

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[TimmH]

Do you use the auto climate control? I find that mine usually turns the fan down during an autostop so its not just blasting exterior air.

I've used auto and manual, and while auto does slow the fan, it is still blowing very hot air. And since DoT down here are idiots, there are lights that if you hit a fresh red, could be 2:30 -3:00 before you get a green, and that assumes that the idiots on the cross road are not blocking the intersection when it changes.

 

[Sean L]

I've used auto and manual, and while auto does slow the fan, it is still blowing very hot air. And since DoT down here are idiots, there are lights that if you hit a fresh red, could be 2:30 -3:00 before you get a green, and that assumes that the idiots on the cross road are not blocking the intersection when it changes.

Interesting. How long does it take before the engine cranks again to cool the cabin?

 

[TimmH]

Interesting. How long does it take before the engine cranks again to cool the cabin?

I don't recall it ever cranking up to control the cabin temp. Pretty much stays off until I remove my foot from the brake.

Been awhile though, as my ESS is always "NOT AVAILABLE ... SYSTEM CHARGING" all the time anymore. Hasn't worked in months.

 

[Sean L]

I don't recall it ever cranking up to control the cabin temp. Pretty much stays off until I remove my foot from the brake.

Been awhile though, as my ESS is always "NOT AVAILABLE ... SYSTEM CHARGING" all the time anymore. Hasn't worked in months.

I would think It would crank back up quickly in the summer for you. Mine usually stays off about a minute or so before cranking back up on a hot day with the AC on.

Have you had your batteries checked?

 

[NeoMaximuz]

Been awhile though, as my ESS is always "NOT AVAILABLE ... SYSTEM CHARGING" all the time anymore. Hasn't worked in months.

Same here, mine stopped working, took it in for an oil change right before covid and they fixed it, worked for a week, and then it stopped working again.

I just took a 1,500 mile round trip this weekend and it started working on the way back. Let's see how long it lasts. I'm due for an oil change anyway, so I'll get them to look into it.

And I actually like the ESS... I notice a slight mileage increase, even though I live in the hot Texas heat.

 

[TimmH]

I would think It would crank back up quickly in the summer for you. Mine usually stays off about a minute or so before cranking back up on a hot day with the AC on.

Have you had your batteries checked?

Haven't had them checked yet. My intention is to replace it, just haven't really gotten around to it.

 

[Sean L]

Haven't had them checked yet. My intention is to replace it, just haven't really gotten around to it.

I Replaced mine under warranty. Its a good Idea unless you have a very specific battery in mind that the dealer won't use.

 

[TXWRANGLER20]

Clearly, we all have many different viewpoints on all the dimensions of ESS, including but certainly not limited to:

• Why government forces manufacturers to implement it in a non-latching (has to be turned off each time the rig cranks with a start button press without buying tech to do it) ways or face stiff penalties if fleet MPG ratings fail to meet certain thresholds
• Concern over how much it really saves as compared to vehicle wear and tear
• The design of the system and, at least on 3.6L JLs that dang ESS/Aux battery.

These have all been well covered here before. And I hope like me, you respect, if not agree with opinions differing from your own.

That said, my focus here is on my own personal curiosity with so many owners just hating the idea of pressing the ESS off button so much, that they'd spend on tech to do it for them. By no means am I criticizing those who make such purchases as we all have adversity to doing different things. I just find it curious how I don't hear, "dang, I wish that radio on button was latching. Why do I have to press it to turn on the radio I almost always want on?"

I suspect it has to do with the idea that we're willing to press buttons to enable the things we enjoy, or that were use to as a society to enable, even if we don't like them (e.g. having to tie our shoes if we choose lace based footwear) rather than buttons to disable the things we dislike. But to my way of thinking, I think in short order, habit could form where we press the starter button with our thumb, and the ESS button a second later after successfully cranking with, say, our pointer finger.

I also suspect that one would be hard pressed to find a community of people more interested in freedom than Wrangler owners. The vehicle's history in securing it during military conflict, and its ability to make trails of its own where few other vehicles can appeals to people so annoyed by government forcing an ESS feature they don't like in their vehicle, which they bought and paid for the gasoline to drive, that buying tech to forget its there is worth it to them.

What say you? Why does such tech to disable it sell as well as it does. Do you think a device to "tie your shoes," say, for example, would sell as well?

I will leave this OP with one opinion. I hope it doesn't start a firestorm because you don't have to agree with it. Here goes:

Technically, you are not paying the true price of gasoline. Assuming you buy into global warming, that gasoline's effect on our climate requires money to remedy. If included in the price of gasoline, which many argue would be fair, your fuel might be triple in cost, and an ESS you can turn off through multiple means is far less costly to remedy.

I don't have an issue with mine, when the jeep has max A/C on it disables the ESS. also disabled in 4 wheel drive. When I start the jeep I hit the home link, ESS, and release the brake, good old check list. I don't understand what the big deal is over something we can control and not spend a dime doing it?

 

[zakaron]

My 5sp lifted '87 XJ got 19-21 hiway mpg with ethanol... 21-23 hiway straight regular (no ethanol). I simply cannot be impressed with the new JL mileage considering that 33 years of assumed technological advances should have been gained. Think of aircraft evolution the 33 years between 1934 and 1967.

A '65 VW typically got 40 mpg!

Check out the stats for a '57 Scotsman...look at the size of that thing!

Moreover.....

Keep in mind that the EPA has changed their methodology on calculating fuel mileage over the years. For example in 2008, they factored in the use of A/C, higher MPH limits on most state highways (when states were getting away from the 55mph limit), and consideration for larger range of colder vs hot climate temperatures. These all made mileage ratings go down as it tried to give a more real world expectation for consumers.

Just like back before mid-late '70s, manufactures used to rate engine power with no exhaust or accessories attached. So when you look at power ratings for an old muscle car, it can be deceiving because once all that equipment is hooked up (as it would be when a consumer purchases the vehicle) the rating fell a good bit.

The Studebaker in your example, although heavy, used a 6 cyl that was lucky to put out about 100hp. It took 20 seconds to get to 60mph! No thanks...
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker_Scotsman)

So of course the smaller power output will yield better fuel economy, but today's drivers (maybe not all) want both decent acceleration and fuel mileage. I mean why else do people bother regearing when changing to larger tires and adding weight?

 

[nostatic]

that's redundant - braking shows a lack of committment

 

[nostatic]

My 5sp lifted '87 XJ got 19-21 hiway mpg with ethanol... 21-23 hiway straight regular (no ethanol). I simply cannot be impressed with the new JL mileage considering that 33 years of assumed technological advances should have been gained. Think of aircraft evolution the 33 years between 1934 and 1967.

A '65 VW typically got 40 mpg!

My '63 Baja Bug had 40hp. Not sure that would fly with anyone today...

That said, my '67 was 53hp and was a hoot to drive but maybe it was the times.

 

[Sean L]

My '63 Baja Bug had 40hp. Not sure that would fly with anyone today...

That said, my '67 was 53hp and was a hoot to drive but maybe it was the times.

40 Hp was my learner bike...

 

[nostatic]

40 Hp was my learner bike...

My KTM 1290S had 160 hp/103 ft-lbs torque. That bike was stoopid-fast - and was a nut-roaster. Ended up going back to the GS with "only" 125hp. Both got/get around 40mpg plus or minus depending on one's right hand.

 

[Sean L]

My KTM 1290S had 160 hp/103 ft-lbs torque. That bike was stoopid-fast - and was a nut-roaster. Ended up going back to the GS with "only" 125hp. Both got/get around 40mpg plus or minus depending on one's right hand.

lol I consider my 1300 to be plenty with 80 Hp. Although knowing the guy I bought it from it might be tuned so 80 is the low estimate. His other bike was a Hayabusa with a turbo.

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