Replacing the Auxiliary battery

[Packnbeer]

There have been a lot of discussions about what is the easiest way to replace the Auxiliary battery. Some prefer to remove the fender and/or fender liner vs just going in from the top. The rivets along the outer edge of the fender are where removing the fender liner gets tricky. I opted to just go in from the top. I have watched a lot of videos and read a lot of posts and articles about how difficult that is but wanted to go that route anyway to avoid messing with the fender rivits. The entire process of removing the battery and the fuse box took about 15 minutes and was ridiculously easy. I have no idea what people were freaking out about. Everything was straight forward and there was absolutely nothing difficult or complex about it. I had the battery out and new one back in within 45 minutes and that was taking my time and wiping everything down as I went. It would have taken longer to jack up the rig, pull the tire and screw with the fender liner.

one note on the Auxiliary battery-
Everyone that sells the auxiliary battery lists the AUX12 battery as the replacement. This is not correct. The AUX14 is the direct replacement. The AUX12 is only 12amp and is only 180cca and is a little shorter than the OEM. The AUX14 is the exact same size as the OEM and spec for spec aligns with OEM. I am not a fan of Autozone for reasons that are kind of unfair to Autozone. Their staff has not always proven to be the most reliable people with knowing ther products. Certainly not all of them. There have also been some outstanding people. Aitozone corporate does not believe in taking care of their people so they get a tremendous anount of turnover. Enough about that... I bought the Aux batter from Autozone because their AUX14 battery is in their Platinum series and has a 3 year warranty. Every other option I looked at only had a 1 year warranty for the same money. I ddnt want to order one from somewhere, I just wanted to get it done. My Jeep is still under warranty and I could have replaced it for free but it was in for the same issue 3 freaken times and each time they came back with "it just needed to be charged, its ok now". Each time my reply was "why does a jeep I drive every day need to have a charger put on it to charge the batery?" Each time I took it in for the same issue, I had to unmarry the tazer and unhook the fuse taps I installed for my extra electrical add-ons to avoid the warranty BS. Since I changed the battery, absolutely no issues. I even told them the battery was bad but they still give the run around. I even use a battery tender if its going to sit for more than a few days without beng driven.

• I recomend replacing from the top
• specifically ask for the AUX14 battery, dont let them sell you the AUX12 that their system probably calls for.

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[Rhinebeck01]

Not being confrontational, but just wanting to post this so some young guy or gal or some old fruck, by reading your thread, gets the idea that going in from the top is risk free.... it's not!

It's the tremendous risk factor that is the issue with going in from the top.... by dismantling the power distribution center. There is a risk of damaging a connector, damaging a pin/ bending, having dirt/sand get into connections, etc.

It is real easy to have/cause an issue that can cost you hundreds and hundreds of dollars and see your vehicle out of service until you source parts and get all back together, clear codes, etc..

Going in from the top is kinda of a crap shoot that either goes aok or.....

Stellantis, instructs Techs to do the deed via fender liner peel for good reason.. It takes far less time to do the Aux change via fender line peel in comparison to going in from the top and there is no risk in damaging the power distribution center.

The Techs I know (more then 6), do the Aux change the peeky boo way. They remove a couple of fender liner plastic push pins and then use a bungee cord to hold back the fender liner a bit so they can get to the Aux battery. Takes the Tech about 15 min. to do the deed.

Anyway, a JL owner really needs to be aware of the risks of going in through the top. IF they are willing to take the risk and have the additional time to go in through the top..... then...

As for me I have dismantled the PDC on JL's for other reasons. NO, no way would I dismantle the PDC/go in from the top to do a simple Aux battery change out.

HEY.... Terrific pics. Amazing the pics that you can obtain with a decent smart phone these days..

Important: DO go to the parts place armed with knowledge. Research before you walk into the store.

You tell them what you know you need... you tell them exactly what you want.. You leave with what you want and that you know is right/correct for your vehicle.

Anyone that has done their homework knows you use/want/need to buy an Aux 14 battery for the JL/JT they are working on.

.

 

[Dragon52]

Planning to replace my batteries on my 2020 Rubi diesel. Thanks for the info on Aux 14, most helpful. For the main battery I am considering size 48 Odessy Performance or Optima. Any experience/guidance on the choice?

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Planning to replace my batteries on my 2020 Rubi diesel. Thanks for the info on Aux 14, most helpful. For the main battery I am considering size 48 Odessy Performance or Optima. Any experience/guidance on the choice?

@Dragon52

I would not go with a Group "48" Main battery.... no way...

Read here... Read the whole thread....
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/??-main-battery-replacement-talk-jl-jt-?.100534/

 

[Dragon52]

Thanks, this was very helpful!!

 

[jellis4148]

I went through the bottom. After watching several different videos of people doing it both ways I decided that would be the easiest. Obviously this is just my opinion, but I thought it was easier taking the fender off and going that way.

 

[Dragon52]

I plan to go through the bottom as well

 

[SadRobot]

I just had mine replaced and with aftermarket fenders/liners it was easy to get access to it. I didn't even have to remove my whole fender liner.

 

[nsfw_andy]

I plan to go through the bottom as well

You can go through the top easily in the ecodisel.

The aux is right underneath the main battery so you don't have to mess around with the fuse box wiring. Since you're already replacing the main battery, then you have access to the aux right under there.

 

[Dragon52]

Great

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