DIY How-to: Take the Aux Battery Offline

[Lunentucker]

I got about 2-1/2 years out of mine, then started getting odd messages about Aux switches being out of service at start up. Replaced both batteries all us well Now. I have the Auto-Stop/Start disabled so it doesn’t drain the setup. By the time I hit 3 years in October I’ll probably have 52-53,000 miles So it does get driven.

I think frequent use and garage storage contribute greatly to extended battery life.

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[Angler3]

Don’t want to jinx it , but my 2020 still has both working with 33k miles. Not garaged , but I do hit the button when I remember . occasional tows and more highway driving then bumper to bumper .

 

[Timoleon]

After living in a few different places in the world, I have just decided that if I have more than 3 years on the batteries (any batteries), I am on borrowed time. I have started to live with a starter kit as part of my recovery gear pack. There are lots of options out there. Just remember, that little battery in those kits need a little preventive maintenance as well by keeping it's battery topped off.

 

[EricStanley]

So I followed these directions exactly. However, no power to the truck now - as if there was no ground reconnected at all. So i did a continuity test and found that the main ground has no chassis continuity at all. The other does. So when I connect it back to factory stock, all is good. When I disconnect the main ground and leave only the aux ground, all is good. When I connect only the aux ground, I get nothing. Any ideas?

 

[EricStanley]

Ignore that. Just retested and it does have continuity.

 

[Oilburner]

Ignore that. Just retested and it does have continuity.

Then please Delete the errant post-

 

[EricStanley]

So… the issue still exists. Yes, that cable has continuity to the chassis. But when it is connected to the battery without the aux battery cable cable, continuity is interrupted and nothing has power. It’s very odd. When I connect only the aux neg everything has power and the truck starts. When I connect the main ground and an additional cable from the ground post to the chassis, I get power to everything but not enough to start the truck.

 

[sharpsicle]

So… the issue still exists. Yes, that cable has continuity to the chassis. But when it is connected to the battery without the aux battery cable cable, continuity is interrupted and nothing has power. It’s very odd. When I connect only the aux neg everything has power and the truck starts. When I connect the main ground and an additional cable from the ground post to the chassis, I get power to everything but not enough to start the truck.

The ground cables were switched in 2021. For 2020 models, you want to do the opposite of what his video shows. The one with the post is the one to keep connected.

@Lunentucker I recommend you update the video title/description to call out the applicable years.

 

[EricStanley]

Well that makes sense. Thank you.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The ground cables were switched in 2021. For 2020 models, you want to do the opposite of what his video shows. The one with the post is the one to keep connected.

@Lunentucker I recommend you update the video title/description to call out the applicable years.

Yup - 2020 has the small ended cable on top of the other going to the aux. 2021 and later have the bottom cable, the one with the big end with the stud going to the aux battery.
So what you disconnect and tape over depends on the year - 2020, or 2021 and later.

This picture is a 2020 and I'm charging ONLY the aux battery. The main battery to ground cable is still on the IBS.

For 2021 and later, the cables are switched - the one I have the clamp on is the chassis ground and the one still on the IBS would be the aux bat ground cable on a 2021 and later.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think frequent use and garage storage contribute greatly to extended battery life.

Frequent use, drives over 30 minutes, yes. Garage? Naw. Our garage gets HOTTER than outside.
How you drive, how often you drive, how long you drive - that's the kicker.
Keeping a battery charged will make it last longer.

 

[EricStanley]

Just a quick update. Yep, the reverse works. Thank you for the heads up!

 

[Lunentucker]

So… the issue still exists. Yes, that cable has continuity to the chassis. But when it is connected to the battery without the aux battery cable cable, continuity is interrupted and nothing has power. It’s very odd. When I connect only the aux neg everything has power and the truck starts. When I connect the main ground and an additional cable from the ground post to the chassis, I get power to everything but not enough to start the truck.

Sorry. I was doing other things all day.

From the detailed descriptions on the YouTube video -
"Jeep inexplicably changed the ground cable configurations in 2021 around mid year, so depending on which side of that change your vehicle was built, it could be the larger cable or it could be the smaller one. If you remove one and there's no power, simply swap them. "

 

[Imbuere]

How long can we expect the auxiliary battery to last before it fails. I have the start/stop disabled using a tazer so I’m hoping the aux battery last longer.

I had 3 go bad in the first 24 months. At 45 months and I can tell it's happening again.

 

[AEsco48]

Made a short and sweet video (slideshow)



There is more detailed information in the full description of the video on YouTube.

Worth noting - Jeep inexplicably changed the ground cable configurations in 2021 around mid year, so depending on which side of that change your vehicle was built, it could be the larger cable or it could be the smaller one. If you remove one and there's no power, simply swap them.

Funny, im pissed my Aux battery always says charging and my ESS does not work...

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