- First Name
- Andy
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2019
- Threads
- 59
- Messages
- 1,658
- Reaction score
- 1,264
- Location
- SanFrancisco
- Vehicle(s)
- JL Wrangler
- Banned
- #16
Right now JC @R3D J33P, in the very short term, I see the trickle charger as neither for you. Instead, I see it as a diagnostic tool to determine if keeping your rig on a trickle charger while parked. makes the program go away. If it does then it's likely that your ESS battery isn't getting charged enough, and a replacement may help the problem go away (or not.)I do have a 3.6 and no my daily commute is about 45 min each way. Is the trickle charger a one time use or do I need to leave it on there daily?
If it doesn't, then it may also be the above, but likely also something else wrong too.
A trickle charger may solely attach to your main battery to charge both batteries as the 3.6L's batteries are connected in parallel while the rig is off (in fact they're, as per factory, in parallel at all times but for an instant at cold crank, and during ESS events.)
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I trickle charge habitually. If I don't ESS won't engage in my rig. When I bring the rig in for other things I'll have the dealer check this. I'm an infrequent and small trips driver, as much as I feel that FCA should not have designed a system that many owners also find is inadequate to keep the supplemental battery charged enough for the ESS system to engage as soon as other factors preventing it for doing so (e.g. cold engine) have been overcome. Most people in the know seem to believe that battery life is maximized by keeping your batteries at peak.
Although I have the A/C cord for the charger easily accessible, others here may rightfully think this charging both a pain and less than necessary. As long as the supplemental battery has enough power to cold crank**, ESS not engaging because the supplemental battery lacks the higher power threshold for ESS than cranking, to them is a feature. I see their point but believe ESS engaging should be the owner's choice, not the rig's.
**(The supplemental battery must have sufficient power on its own for a cold crank to be attempted. Cranking though is effective with both batteries in the 3.6L.)
I'm not an supporter of less than routine trickle charging. Others here may sight advantage for it other than convenience being the obvious one.
If the dealer solves your issue long term, not just by replacing batteries with ones that have the problem reemerge 3 months later, do share!
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