ESS dashlight came on

[openingshok]

So I'm curious. My ESS system is throwing a dash light and stopped working. Had a battery drain and needed to jump start. After that the ESS has been dead. Thing is I drive a manual 6-speed, so the ESS never engages anyway. Do I really need to get this fixed? Is the little AUX battery causing a drain on the system? Anyone know which terminal disconnects it?

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[aldo98229]

Sounds like your auxiliary battery needs replacing.

Contrary to what many think, the auxiliary battery is not there to power the ESS; it is there to power everything else in your vehicle when the ESS kicks in —i.e., the wipers, lights, HVAC, heated steering wheel, radio, defroster, etc.

You will notice increasing, seemingly unrelated, electronic gremlins appear as the power coming from the auxiliary battery continues to weaken.

 

[openingshok]

Makes sense. Thanks.

 

[Jebiruph]

The battery going dead caused ESS to be disabled and triggered the warning light. ESS will stay disabled with the warning light on until the error is cleared, it doesn't mean it's an ongoing problem. Either way, you'll want to be sure your batteries are good.

 

[openingshok]

Yeah I was going to plug in and clear the codes. Figured the batteries are well enough charged by now.

 

[openingshok]

Yup. Codes cleared problem solved. Thanks for the common sense reminder?

 

[linuxos77]

Sorry dusting off this OLD post. Our 2020 was in for the bubbling hinge warranty work and sat parked for 3+ weeks, ever since then (August) we've had the Service ESS warning and the circle A light. The Jeep has 60k miles and the batteries are both original but the ESS error doesn't mention charging or anything like that, says service ESS only. Since August it's been fine starting, no other error lights, etc. Before simply giving in and buying new main/aux battery this thread indicates clearing the ESS code and maybe ESS woud magically start working again? I don't have a reader or anything, but by clearing code would this be the same as clearing a CEL code (ala Auto Zone or similar)?

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