Wrangler won't start - Advice Please

[The Last Cowboy]

Anyone can fix this easily in an hour for about $200. Beats getting towed to the dealer for them to have it for a week, only to replace one battery, or the other, and have the problem reoccur within a year.

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[Jamrock]

Anyone can fix this easily in an hour for about $200. Beats getting towed to the dealer for them to have it for a week, only to replace one battery, or the other, and have the problem reoccur within a year.

Anyone with the required knowledge and experience.

 

[FTW1996]

curious why not having dealer deal with it. batteries should be covered under the 3year/36,000 mile bumper to bumper.

My reasons for avoiding a dealer are probably irrational, but here they are;

1) I just don't have confidence in Jeep dealer technicians. I've heard too many horror stories. Would prefer it if I can keep them away from my Jeep.
2) There are 3 Jeep dealers within 50 miles of me. All three have very poor service dept reviews. I've had personal negative experience at 2 of the 3 dealers. Haven't dealt with the 3rd yet.
3) I expect that a dealer will take my jeep in to do diagnostics and then let it sit for weeks. Then, once they figure out the problem, They'll fart around for another couple of months while telling me they can't find the one critical part they need to fix it. We're coming into jeeping season and I would prefer not to have my jeep sitting on their lot for the summer. If I can at least get it running I'll have them check it and if they try any nonsense I can drive away. If I tow it to a dealer I'm kinda stuck there.
4) Based on my previous negative experience on a warranty claim (Gorilla glass), I expect the dealer and/or Jeep to find any way possible to keeping from letting a warranty claim go through. I've added a winch and cabling for my redarc charger that I use for my camping batteries. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to say my winch or cable install (done 2 years ago) are the cause of the problem and, therefore, not covered by warranty.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Anyone with the required knowledge and experience.

There are many threads on this site on just how to do it. Not to mention YouTube videos. And, any time I have been in a jam about something with my Jeep, someone here will answer up and provide the help I need, even if I have to take some friendly ribbing, or "I told you so" remarks.

Changing the main battery, and taking the aux out of circuit, is a mod that almost anyone here can do. I'd say anyone, but there are some out there who have neither the aptitude, nor the desire to do such things, I get that. If you, or others here fall into that category, no shame.

I would never suggest someone go to the extreme I did when it comes to hardening the electrical system on their JL. But the ground disconnect and fuse removal is Geico caveman simple.

 

[Jamrock]

There are many threads on this site on just how to do it. Not to mention YouTube videos. And, any time I have been in a jam about something with my Jeep, someone here will answer up and provide the help I need, even if I have to take some friendly ribbing, or "I told you so" remarks.

Changing the main battery, and taking the aux out of circuit, is a mod that almost anyone here can do. I'd say anyone, but there are some out there who have neither the aptitude, nor the desire to do such things, I get that. If you, or others here fall into that category, no shame.

I would never suggest someone go to the extreme I did when it comes to hardening the electrical system on their JL. But the ground disconnect and fuse removal is Geico caveman simple.

I spend a lot of time hanging out with mechanics. They have taught me all kinds of stuff. I change the oil, spark plugs, filters etc. on my vehicle.
However, I know lots of people who just don't have that talent. There is a young man living nearby who is always tinkering with his vehicle. He gets stranded on the road from time to time. I don't answer the phone when he calls after dark.

 

[rickinAZ]

My reasons for avoiding a dealer are probably irrational, but here they are;

1) I just don't have confidence in Jeep dealer technicians. I've heard too many horror stories. Would prefer it if I can keep them away from my Jeep.
2) There are 3 Jeep dealers within 50 miles of me. All three have very poor service dept reviews. I've had personal negative experience at 2 of the 3 dealers. Haven't dealt with the 3rd yet.
3) I expect that a dealer will take my jeep in to do diagnostics and then let it sit for weeks. Then, once they figure out the problem, They'll fart around for another couple of months while telling me they can't find the one critical part they need to fix it. We're coming into jeeping season and I would prefer not to have my jeep sitting on their lot for the summer. If I can at least get it running I'll have them check it and if they try any nonsense I can drive away. If I tow it to a dealer I'm kinda stuck there.
4) Based on my previous negative experience on a warranty claim (Gorilla glass), I expect the dealer and/or Jeep to find any way possible to keeping from letting a warranty claim go through. I've added a winch and cabling for my redarc charger that I use for my camping batteries. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to say my winch or cable install (done 2 years ago) are the cause of the problem and, therefore, not covered by warranty.

I am dealer-shy myself, so all of this makes perfect sense except one thing: How is it possible that there are only three Jeep dealers within 50 miles of Fort Worth, TX?

 

[FTW1996]

I am dealer-shy myself, so all of this makes perfect sense except one thing: How is it possible that there are only three Jeep dealers within 50 miles of Fort Worth, TX?

I'm not actually in Fort Worth. I'm a bit west of it.

 

[mwilk012]

There is some absolutely terrible advice in this thread. Something has gone wrong in your battery installation. You seem fairly competent, just isolate the bad connection and repair it.

Did you pull the PDC or the fender liner to access the aux battery?

 

[FTW1996]

There is some absolutely terrible advice in this thread. Something has gone wrong in your battery installation. You seem fairly competent, just isolate the bad connection and repair it.

Did you pull the PDC or the fender liner to access the aux battery?

I pulled the PDC. I dunno, that just seemed easier to me.

 

[mwilk012]

I pulled the PDC. I dunno, that just seemed easier to me.

Well, it wasn’t. The correct way to service the aux battery is removing the fender liner. You’re probably going to need to do it again, but this time, check for bent pins or loose connectors. Then, never do that again.

 

[FTW1996]

I realize I'm slow in responding to those who are offering advice, but I'm old and slow in general, so please forgive me.

Had some luck today. I removed the aux battery ground cable connection at the main battery negative terminal and removed fuse F42. Jeep started up just fine. Voltage on the dash panel shows 14.5V, but the Check Engine light remains on. It's a little confusing as I have read posts where some guys say they did the F42/neg cable delete and are showing no warning lights thereafter, whereas other guys say their check engine light remains on after the delete. I suppose if I get a tazer I can set the ESS so the Check Engine light goes away. Not sure if that's the case.

 

[mwilk012]

I realize I'm slow in responding to those who are offering advice, but I'm old and slow in general, so please forgive me.

Had some luck today. I removed the aux battery ground cable connection at the main battery negative terminal and removed fuse F42. Jeep started up just fine. Voltage on the dash panel shows 14.5V, but the Check Engine light remains on. It's a little confusing as I have read posts where some guys say they did the F42/neg cable delete and are showing no warning lights thereafter, whereas other guys say their check engine light remains on after the delete. I suppose if I get a tazer I can set the ESS so the Check Engine light goes away. Not sure if that's the case.

That is not the case for the tazer.

 

[FTW1996]

Well, it wasn’t. The correct way to service the aux battery is removing the fender liner. You’re probably going to need to do it again, but this time, check for bent pins or loose connectors. Then, never do that again.

Now that I have the jeep running (see my earlier post today), I'm going to go back in and disconnect the negative cable at the aux battery so I can reconnect it at the main battery and keep that nice large bolt on the negative cable for use on accessory connections. Might even physically remove the aux battery. I'll be sure to go in through the wheel well this time.

 

[Htfan]

I removed the aux battery ground cable connection at the main battery negative terminal and removed fuse F42. Jeep started up just fine. Voltage on the dash panel shows 14.5v...

Since disconnecting the Aux battery helped get it to start, did you happen to check it's voltage when isolated from the main? I'm assuming it's bad.

Also, when the dash panel voltage shows 14.5v +, it means your battery is low and needs charging.

 

[FTW1996]

....

Also, when the dash panel voltage shows 14.5v +, it means your battery is low and needs charging.

I don't think I've ever seen a battery go much higher than 14.5v when running. What voltage would you consider acceptable when the jeep is running?

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