Strike Four, You're OUT

[YTBlue]

I love everything about my '21 JLU Willys Edition, except the Auxiliary Battery and the pesky Battery Charge Warning Light. The first time the Warning Light appeared, maybe a year or so into ownership, the dealer replaced both the Main Battery and Auxiliary Battery. Everything was fine until the warning light appeared again, maybe a year or so later. The dealer installed a new Auxiliary Battery, which did not charge. That didn't solve the problem so back to the dealer, this time to replace the Main Battery. Four new batteries to the dump, and counting. About a year ago, the Jeep wouldn't start. You guessed it: Battery Warning Light back on. Called AAA, who helped me jump start the Main Battery. Then back to the dealer, who replaced both the Main and Auxiliary Batteries. Now six relatively new batteries had been removed and sent to the dump. The local Jeep dealer suggested coming in to test the batteries before the first 36 months went by, as the "Extended Warranty" does not cover the one problem I keep having with the Auxiliary Battery. Two weeks ago, after driving the day before, the Jeep wouldn't start. This time, the same AAA driver came by, jump started the battery, but the Battery Charge Warning Light stayed on. With six relatively new batteries in the local dump, a Jeep that wouldn't start, the prospect of buying two more batteries despite an "Extended Warranty", less than 29k miles in under 39 months, lots of money spent on mods, clean Carfax and nothing else wrong other than not starting, a Warranty that doesn't cover the things that break, six relatively new batteries in the dump, and getting to know the local AAA Roadside Assistance guy who remembered the last visit, that was it. I traded in my Jeep. I loved my Jeep but need something that starts when I press the ignition. No need for @JeepCares, but as so many know, the Auxiliary Battery is a defective design, and I will gladly work with a Class Action attorney or @NHTSA.

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[JP29]

 

[ForgottenTaco]

Did you trade it for a Tacoma?

 

[Heimkehr]

Speaking of Tacomas, I had wondered why my phone mount had Wrangler and Tacoma printed on it, in terms of compatibility.

Turns out, there's more than a passing similarity betwixt our dashboards. The vents are just Exhibit A.

 

[autotragic]

I love everything about my '21 JLU Willys Edition, except the Auxiliary Battery and the pesky Battery Charge Warning Light. The first time the Warning Light appeared, maybe a year or so into ownership, the dealer replaced both the Main Battery and Auxiliary Battery. Everything was fine until the warning light appeared again, maybe a year or so later. The dealer installed a new Auxiliary Battery, which did not charge. That didn't solve the problem so back to the dealer, this time to replace the Main Battery. Four new batteries to the dump, and counting. About a year ago, the Jeep wouldn't start. You guessed it: Battery Warning Light back on. Called AAA, who helped me jump start the Main Battery. Then back to the dealer, who replaced both the Main and Auxiliary Batteries. Now six relatively new batteries had been removed and sent to the dump. The local Jeep dealer suggested coming in to test the batteries before the first 36 months went by, as the "Extended Warranty" does not cover the one problem I keep having with the Auxiliary Battery. Two weeks ago, after driving the day before, the Jeep wouldn't start. This time, the same AAA driver came by, jump started the battery, but the Battery Charge Warning Light stayed on. With six relatively new batteries in the local dump, a Jeep that wouldn't start, the prospect of buying two more batteries despite an "Extended Warranty", less than 29k miles in under 39 months, lots of money spent on mods, clean Carfax and nothing else wrong other than not starting, a Warranty that doesn't cover the things that break, six relatively new batteries in the dump, and getting to know the local AAA Roadside Assistance guy who remembered the last visit, that was it. I traded in my Jeep. I loved my Jeep but need something that starts when I press the ignition. No need for @JeepCares, but as so many know, the Auxiliary Battery is a defective design, and I will gladly work with a Class Action attorney or @NHTSA.

You know there are fixes for that problem right? I guess it's too late now, enjoy your Tacoma.

 

[Mudduck]

Did you trade it for a Tacoma?

A corolla with a lift kit? J/K...

Why not just delete the AUX battery, its free to do....

 

[Vinman]

Just be happy you didn’t have the problematic E-torque equipped Jeep.

 

[tomk62]

Paragraph spacing is your friend, not enemy.

 

[azjl#3]

You know there are fixes for that problem right? I guess it's too late now, enjoy your Tacoma.

For the crowd, what is the fix? I mean manufacturers fix, not the remove the aux battery and pull some fuses work around, which technically, is not a fix, it’s a bandaid.

 

[autotragic]

For the crowd, what is the fix? I mean manufacturers fix, not the remove the aux battery and pull some fuses work around, which technically, is not a fix, it’s a bandaid.

Removing the aux battery and pulling fuse 42 is the fix. Along with using a not shit battery. If you want to call it a "band-aid" that's on you.

 

[YTBlue]

Did you trade it for a Tacoma?

Just because you would trade for a Taco. Everyone has their own needs. My wish list is: more comfortable, multi-adjustable leather seats, great ride on road-or-off, latest tech but not dominated by large and bright iPad-size screen. BTW, the wait list here for the Hybrid Tacomas is in the hundreds, including several friends. But I'd prefer the comfort of a Land Rover and the reliability and hybrid technology of a Toyota. Still looking...

 

[Bill_BCNtoNY]

A proper parallel battery setup is a solution and it comes from a manufacturer… it’s just not Jeep, but Genesis. Overkill for many of us, yet still the best option I have seen out there.

 

[ForgottenTaco]

Just because you would trade for a Taco. Everyone has their own needs. My wish list is: more comfortable, multi-adjustable leather seats, great ride on road-or-off, latest tech but not dominated by large and bright iPad-size screen. BTW, the wait list here for the Hybrid Tacomas is in the hundreds, including several friends. But I'd prefer the comfort of a Range Rover and the reliability and hybrid technology of a Toyota. Still looking...

I traded my taco for the jeep ?

 

[grimmjeeper]

The batteries in my 21 went out within the first year. Went down to the parts store and swapped in two die hard AGM replacements. Zero trouble since.

You can get the dealer to swap in junk batteries one after the other under warranty. Or you can fix the problem.



"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." -Albert Einstein

 

[YTBlue]

For the crowd, what is the fix? I mean manufacturers fix, not the remove the aux battery and pull some fuses work around, which technically, is not a fix, it’s a bandaid.

Thank you! That was my question to the service manager at our local Jeep dealer. He knew it was a problem, that the Jeep authorized fix was to replace all batteries, and that other "fixes" could void my warranty (or my extended warranty). The local dealer apologized profusely about the inconvenience, then fixed it every time -- warning light back off, new main and AUX batteries, two more dead batteries to the dump. There are plenty of fixes here in the Forum, but you note, they're all bandaids. Without getting into the ESS debate, that dead AUX battery powers ESS (I think), so ESS is useless. I found that as some more expert than I, ESS can save fuel (burned while idling). In my JLU 2.0L, I got 18mpg w/o ESS and 20mpg with it. I keep track and my AUX/ESS were not working. My bottom line was the Jeep didn't start.

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