Turn off ESS warning light?

[Acourvil]

Is there any way to turn off the ESS warning light? I know you can get ESS dongles that let you automatically set the ESS off switch, but is there a way to eliminate it completely? (Pushing the ESS off switch does not clear the warning light).

Apparently, a connection in the ESS wiring somewhere under the car disconnected and the plug has been damaged. I have been told that in order to fix it, the wiring harness needs to be replaced. However, I don’t like ESS anyway and am happy to have it permanently off. the only problem is that the warning light is on and I get a warning that the system isn’t functional when I start the car. Is there a way to eliminate the warning messages and warning light? Everything else is working just fine.

This is a 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara, automatic transmission.

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[tomk62]

I am going to estimate that nearly 10% of the threads in this forum are about this exact same topic ... well ok maybe not that many, but it's a lot.

 

[Reinen]

If the wiring harness is damaged all bets are off. Your JL is not going to behave in a normal predictable way. Just be happy that it's something non-critical like ESS. Replacing the wiring harness is the only guaranteed way out of that situation.

 

[Acourvil]

I understand that questions about turning off ESS are common. My question is a bit different, since it has turned itself off and it’s only the warning light I am asking about. I don’t think one of the ESS dongles will work, since the physical switch does not turn off the warning light. I was hoping someone might know if a Tazer (or other re-programer) might have the ability to simply turn it off. I guess maybe if it did there might be fewer questions about the subject. I definitely think the ESS is a “feature” that has little value to many owners.

What I was told was that the plug to the ESS had fallen out and had become melted/deformed and could not be plugged back in, not that there was something more generally wrong with the wiring harness, and I do not have any other problems.

 

[Byron]

I was hoping someone might know if a Tazer (or other re-programer) might have the ability to simply turn it off.

I don't think so. I have the Tazer and all it does is electronically "push" the button every time you start the Jeep. When my aux battery went out I had the ESS light you are referring to on until I got that fixed. So if pushing the button doesn't work, I doubt the Tazer would either.
-Byron

 

[AndySpill]

Art:

The warning light you speak of--so that we're on the same page--is the one in the EVIC (a.k.a. dash) that features a capital letter "A" with a near circle around it followed by an exclamation point, correct?

You own a dual AGM battery 2019 JL Sahara, right, not that JKs where made in 2019, though they were in 2018 and did not have engine start stop nor dual AGM batteries.

Is Fuse 42 pulled on your vehicle? If not, this simply step, along with turning ESS off at the button, or with aftermarket tech to do this may get the aforementioned light to stop appearing.

One reason why this light appears is when the vehicle detects no, or inadequate voltage on the ESS battery when it does its isolated test of this battery just prior to cold (not post ESS) cranking.

In model years 2019 and beyond, for the dual AGM battery JL, failure to pass this test will cause the crank to fail, but the next crank attempt will go solely against the main battery, and if successful, illuminate the ESS light in the dash and allow all subsequent cold cranks to happen on the first try against only the main battery. Only the introduction of an energized ESS battery, or some cabling tricks (discussed below,) or in your case I guess, fixing the wiring would solve this dash light from appearing on the next cold crank after the fix.

I realize, as you describe, that in your case that light is appearing due to faulty wiring, but pulling Fuse 42 in the Power Distribution Center (PDC) will prevent the relay that separates the batteries from being energized and will silently reroute all tests all call for power by the vehicle from only the Aux battery to all available batteries.

This may be enough to rectify your problem. It, along with turning ESS off at the button is the common way people bypass the Aux battery, but in your case may also be a fixed to your dash light...or not.

 

[Acourvil]

Art:

The warning light you speak of--so that we're on the same page--is the one in the EVIC (a.k.a. dash) that features a capital letter "A" with a near circle around it followed by an exclamation point, correct?

You own a dual AGM battery 2019 JL Sahara, right, not that JKs where made in 2019, though they were in 2018 and did not have engine start stop nor dual AGM batteries.

Is Fuse 42 pulled on your vehicle? If not, this simply step, along with turning ESS off at the button, or with aftermarket tech to do this may get the aforementioned light to stop appearing.

One reason why this light appears is when the vehicle detects no, or inadequate voltage on the ESS battery when it does its isolated test of this battery just prior to cold (not post ESS) cranking.

In model years 2019 and beyond, for the dual AGM battery JL, failure to pass this test will cause the crank to fail, but the next crank attempt will go solely against the main battery, and if successful, illuminate the ESS light in the dash and allow all subsequent cold cranks to happen on the first try against only the main battery. Only the introduction of an energized ESS battery, or some cabling tricks (discussed below,) or in your case I guess, fixing the wiring would solve this dash light from appearing on the next cold crank after the fix.

I realize, as you describe, that in your case that light is appearing due to faulty wiring, but pulling Fuse 42 in the Power Distribution Center (PDC) will prevent the relay that separates the batteries from being energized and will silently reroute all tests all call for power by the vehicle from only the Aux battery to all available batteries.

This may be enough to rectify your problem. It, along with turning ESS off at the button is the common way people bypass the Aux battery, but in your case may also be a fixed to your dash light...or not.

Yes, that’s the warning light I mean,

I have a 2019 JL Sahara, but it is single battery, not dual AGM (unless you mean main battery/aux battery, not double main battery; I do have ESS which I think means it has the aux battery).

I tried pulling Fuse 42. It delays the warning light for about a minute, but then it still comes on (whether ESS is on or off using the button on the dash).

Oh well, I guess I will live with the light until I have some reason to get to fixed. I think that may be required before my next smog test, as I think any warning light is an automatic fail.

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