Four batteries dead in 2 years!

[Herkder]

I need advice on what to do. I have a 2024 JLUR 2.0l. Yesterday my fourth battery died in just over two years of ownership and it was a Costco battery I had to put in this July because my third battery died! My first three sets of batteries (main and ESS) died about every six months and were replaced by dealer. So when this happened this July I tried to take it into the dealer in Seaside CA where we were vacationing but they couldn't get me in for seven days (for a battery!)! So I went to Costco and bought one and then went to a local shop in Monterey and they helped me swap batteries and disconnect the ESS battery (by removing the negative led and taping it off then pulling fuse 42). I thought this would fix this once and for all!

I also have a Tazar mini and it is set to always have the ESS off button in the off position every time I start so I don't have to push it each time. So on Saturday I drove over 200 miles with no issue then Monday I try to start it and its dead as a doornail. Smart charger says replace or service battery.

Do I have some sort of parasite draw on my battery that is killing them? If so, how would I find it and fix it? Or did I do the ESS disconnect wrong? I have the following after market electrical items: Rock Side steps, Smitty Built winch, two KC lights, Air Force One braking system for flat towing behind my RV, and a seven pin plug in front for same.

Any thoughts or help would be appreciated. Thanks!

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[Aonarch]

Delete the aux battery.

Is your winch on a cut off switch?

Did you wire the other accessories to the aux switches, or direct to the battery?

 

[Herkder]

I thought I did delete the aux battery by the procedure listed? Winch is not on cut off switch, just direct to battery. The only aux switch connections are for the KC lights.

 

[Aonarch]

I thought I did delete the aux battery by the procedure listed? Winch is not on cut off switch, just direct to battery. The only aux switch connections are for the KC lights.

Did you remove the battery completely? Sounds like the positive is still connected? What about the aux battery cables to the main battery, still connected to the terminals?

I bet it is your winch. Install a cut off switch, or just remove the winch power cables and reinstall before a wheeling trip.

 

[dstevens]

No, if the aux negative is disconnected and F42 pulled then the aux battery is out of the equation.

Check your alternator is working by looking at the battery voltage when the engine is running. Depending on temperature and battery state of charge it typically is 14.4V at startup and 13.5V after a long trip.

Then check that the battery terminals are tight.

Otherwise you're going to have to chase down a parasitic draw. I'd look at anything after market wired into the electrics first. eg the brake controller.

It's a bit of a pain to measure the dark current. You have to have the doors closed and the hood pins pushed down so that the Jeep can be looked. Then after about a minute most systems should go to sleep. The trick is to put a ammeter across the battery (either positive or negative; whatever is easiest) and while that is connected remove the battery terminal. If you just disconnect the battery and then connect the ammeter 100% of the time the inrush current will blow the small fuse in the multimeter. Normal sleep current could be 20 mA or so. If your battery only lasts a couple of days then it must be 500 mA or so.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@Herkder

I'll let others help you sort things out... but...

In regard to your Tazer JL.... do you have Set In-Motion Nav “InMoNav”: Set to ON ???

Known issue: Set to on and then you park the JL overnite, etc. with it's left set to on ..... you have rather high risk of having a no start scenario due to 12v depletion thanks to Set In-Motion Nav “InMoNav”

"Set In-Motion Nav “InMoNav”: Set to ON, this
allows address entry while the vehicle is in motion. This
is for PASSENGER use. It may be illegal for the driver
to manipulate the navigation system while driving. It is
recommended to leave this setting OFF, enabling it only
when you need to use it.

 

[Herkder]

Did you remove the battery completely? Sounds like the positive is still connected? What about the aux battery cables to the main battery, still connected to the terminals?

I bet it is your winch. Install a cut off switch, or just remove the winch power cables and reinstall before a wheeling trip.

The negative cable is still attached to the main battery but the negative led to the aux was removed and taped. I'll take a look at the winch and see about a cut off switch. Thanks

 

[Herkder]

No, if the aux negative is disconnected and F42 pulled then the aux battery is out of the equation.

Check your alternator is working by looking at the battery voltage when the engine is running. Depending on temperature and battery state of charge it typically is 14.4V at startup and 13.5V after a long trip.

Then check that the battery terminals are tight.

Otherwise you're going to have to chase down a parasitic draw. I'd look at anything after market wired into the electrics first. eg the brake controller.

It's a bit of a pain to measure the dark current. You have to have the doors closed and the hood pins pushed down so that the Jeep can be looked. Then after about a minute most systems should go to sleep. The trick is to put a ammeter across the battery (either positive or negative; whatever is easiest) and while that is connected remove the battery terminal. If you just disconnect the battery and then connect the ammeter 100% of the time the inrush current will blow the small fuse in the multimeter. Normal sleep current could be 20 mA or so. If your battery only lasts a couple of days then it must be 500 mA or so.

I'll check the alternator but I'm pretty sure it is working. On Saturday a drove to Tucson and back and stopped several times on the trip with no issue starting. If the alternator wasn't working I don't think I would've been able to do that trip. I've heard finding parasitic draw is a pain but It look like I'm going to have to look into it. I can't trust my batteries and if it won't start out on a trail somewhere it would suck. Thanks!

 

[Herkder]

@Herkder

I'll let others help you sort things out... but...

In regard to your Tazer JL.... do you have Set In-Motion Nav “InMoNav”: Set to ON ???

Known issue: Set to on and then you park the JL overnite, etc. with it's left set to on ..... you have rather high risk of having a no start scenario due to 12v depletion thanks to Set In-Motion Nav “InMoNav”

"Set In-Motion Nav “InMoNav”: Set to ON, this
allows address entry while the vehicle is in motion. This
is for PASSENGER use. It may be illegal for the driver
to manipulate the navigation system while driving. It is
recommended to leave this setting OFF, enabling it only
when you need to use it.

I'm almost positive I didn't switch the in motion nav on, I was temped to but didn't do it. I just did Killhonk and seat beat ding off as well as set speedo for 37's. Thanks for pointing it out!

 

[Rhinebeck01]

I'm almost positive I didn't switch the in motion nav on, I was temped to but didn't do it. I just did Killhonk and seat beat ding off as well as set speedo for 37's. Thanks for pointing it out!

Do check to be sure that setting is not set to on. You want to 100% it is not..

Early on when Joe , first came up with that Set In-Motion Nav “InMoNav, diddy, he had me try it... I did when I went on a 400 mi trip. Got to destination, turned off the JL and of course Set In-Motion Nav “InMoNav was on. There was no warning to turn it off. Who knew there would be an issue..

ANYWAY, next morning my JL had total 12v depletion. I called Joe at home and let him know and he offered an "oh shit" and some ideas up. That day Joe added the warning to to Tazer JL instructions..
It is recommended to leave this setting OFF, enabling it only
when you need to use it.

 

[Herkder]

Do check to be sure that setting is not set to on. You want to 100% it is not..

Early on when Joe , first came up with that Set In-Motion Nav “InMoNav, diddy, he had me try it... I did when I went on a 400 mi trip. Got to destination, turned off the JL and of course Set In-Motion Nav “InMoNav was on. There was no warning to turn it off.

ANYWAY, next morning I had total 12v depletion. I called Joe at home and let him know and he offered an "oh shit" and some ideas up. That day Joe added the warning to to Tazer JL instructions..
It is recommended to leave this setting OFF, enabling it only
when you need to use it.

Okay, will do. Thanks again!

 

[azjl#3]

Suspects in order, tazer setting, sensor on steps, brake controller. Doubtful winch is doing anything unless you have a Bluetooth controller plugged in.

 

[Herkder]

Suspects in order, tazer setting, sensor on steps, brake controller. Doubtful winch is doing anything unless you have a Bluetooth controller plugged in.

Thank you for that! Not sure what I could do about the step sensors or brake controller but I;ll look into that. Maybe a cut off switch for the brake controller is possible. Don't need it all the time. I don't have a bluetooth winch.

 

[roaniecowpony]

You can test your parasitic draw with a multimeter and some pigtails with alligator clips or you can buy a special jumper with a switch like the one from Lisle. Amazon.com: Lisle 64970 Parasitic Drain Tester, One Size, Factory : Automotive







This MAC tool is the same one made by Lisle.

 

[grimmjeeper]

Step one for me was to stop putting in cheap batteries. I did that instead of having the dealer warranty my first set of batteries.

Step 2 was to keep my Jeep on a trickle charger when I don't drive it every day.

4 years later, I'm still running the same batteries I put in myself.

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