Main Battery questions

[MarisaM]

Last week the temps dropped to below freezing and I tried my remote start, but it didn't work. When I pressed the ignition button on my 2018 wrangler, it hesitated to start. I had to push the button twice to get it to start. My brother took my jeep to have the battery checked and it showed that I was in need of a new one and replaced it for me. My remote start still isn't working and the message center on the dash says that the start/stop not working, battery in protection mode. The start/stop hasn't worked in months, but that hasn't bothered me. Should we have changed the auxilary battery, too? Have you replaced the auxilary battery yourself, or do you recommend having it done at a dealer? Thanks!

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[Bikemobile]

Yep replace both

 

[mwilk012]

Your auxiliary battery is the problem, but you needed both anyway. It's a quick fix if you want to DIY, just dont listen to the guys that say to pull the fuse box. Remove the inner fender LINER and drop the aux battery down. Takes very basic tools only, and a jack for the tire removal.

 

[dchemphill1]

You don't need to pull the whole fender liner either. If you pull the lower two clips on passenger side, you can fold the liner up to sit on the tire. Have two new clips ready for reinstall. If you lay under the jeep and look up you will see the Aux battery box. From there remove the 3 bolts 10mm and drop the box and unhook the battery. Repeat the process to install or better yet, don't. Be sure to disconnect the black negative terminal from main battery that connects to the AUX.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@MarisaM

Reality is you, might just want the dealer to do the Aux battery change. Cost to have the dealer do it will be about $300+.

In order to decide how to proceed.....

Suggest you and your brother read through this thread and decide after reading through the whole
thread, whether you will want to do the new Aux battery install that your JL definitely needs, yourself..

In the thread I linked to, you will find info in regard to 3 pretty easy ways to do the Aux battery install and also the one Aux battery install way, you are best to avoid..

You will also find a list of Aux batteries to chose from. You will find hints about checking the weep holes in the Aux battery box, cautions, tools you need and lots more...

In closing, if your brother is a tad handy and has time and some mechanical skills he could do as it is not that hard. Again have him read at the thread I mentioned..

->Another really valid option.... Is to just bypass the Aux battery and just use the Main battery.
YOU yourself could facilitate this is say 5 minutes. Easy to do. Pull one fuse and disconnect a single wire that is easily accessible. You and your brother should read here. Many JL and JT owner's run with just the Main battery and the Aux battery bypassed.

Note: You are fortunate enough to have a 2018 JL that will start on the 2nd try / 2nd button push when the Aux battery is dead or depleted. Not all 2018's will. The first 2018 JLs' that left the factory cannot do..

Also... Change the battery in both of your key fobs.. Do read here in regard to Winter and your fob and for info on what battery to buy and how to install..

 

[DonBindas]

Why would you want to replace the troublesome AUX battery when you can eliminate it in 5 or 10 minutes by disconnecting the ground terminal to it and pulling fuse #42 when you can replace the main battery with a 850CCA replacement?

 

[O)()()()()(O]

I just did the #42 fuse pull and disconnected / isolated aux negative from the main battery because I was getting “auxiliary switches not available while battery charging” message after starting. The message started about 3 weeks ago (after the Jeep was parked for a week).

I was still getting the message and lost the remote start capability so I reverted back to the factory set up.

I’m assuming the aux switch message is the beginning of the end for the battery or batteries. The voltage gauge is normal at startup and while driving.

i was considering disconnecting the main battery for 30 minutes to see if that resets the message but Im concerned that will possibly cause more gremlins.

 

[DonBindas]

After you disconnect the batteries-expect the electronics to take a while to reboot. That's what I did and everything has been great ever since. The reboot can take hours or sometimes even days-so disconnecting the battery for 30 minutes will restart the reboot process all over again. Once you lose the AUX battery connection from the main battery and pull fuse #42-life will be grand. Later I went to Amazon and installed a memory relay wiring insert behind the climate control panel for $32.00 that remembers to keep the start/stop shut off or on after you manually select the on/off mode.

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