Start/Stop not functioning

[Readely]

Hey all, new Mojave, 2500km and stop/start warning pops up. From my limited research I see it might be an aux battery issue. Took to dealership and was told I don’t drive it long enough to charge.
it likely won’t be used as a long driver and the reality of it will likely be used to jig around locally. I was told it’s something gladiator owners just deal with but I don’t want to have a new rig with a constant dash light on. Any suggestions?? Our local dealership is not known for being capable. The next nearest dealership is 40 minutes away.
what has been or can be done to correct??

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[Mr._Bill]

It has to be driven at least thirty minutes a day to combat the parasitic draw of the computers and other electronics. If you are not driving it regularly, get a battery maintainer.

 

[Armsbearer]

I have a 2021 Mojave that had ESS issues couple months back. Been driving it a few weeks without noticing the problem because there were no lights nor warnings at all. It took a few trips to the dealership until they replaced both batteries and IBS under warranty. That fixed the problem.

 

[Wildtoad]

So how much, often do you drive the Jeep? If it sits most of the time, then Mr. Bill is correct.

 

[Puch]

It has to be driven at least thirty minutes a day to combat the parasitic draw of the computers and other electronics. If you are not driving it regularly, get a battery maintainer.

I totally disagree with that statement. No offense. If Jeep built a vehicle that needs a battery tender when not driven for 30min a day, they should be put out of business. Any vehicle should be able sit for long periods, a week, a month, whatever without getting warning lights. That’s a joke!
As a person who has come to despise dealerships, I would consider you take that back to the dealership and tell them they have two choices.
Politely speak to the service manager with phone in hand. Tell him/her you are recording your conversation. Tell the person the following while holding your keys out for them:
1. Tell me again that it’s “normal” and you will hear from the state consumer protection department and I will start pursuing every legal option available to me.
2. Take my vehicle and return it to me without the warning lights and no additional mileage on it (except a short test drive). If I receive the warning lights again within the warranty of the battery life,I will reconsider option #1.
The vast amount of dealerships are lying pricks. Jeep makes you jump through hoops to get work done. They have “steps” they force the dealers to take. Lying isn’t one of the steps. They don’t make any money fixing warranty issues and they are totally booked for service repairs. If they can blow you off for awhile they can make money on some poor bastard that has no warranty.
Disclaimer: I have not used this tactic for my benefit. This was suggested to me by a family member after I told them about my journey through jeep BS over the past couple years.
I had the battery issue and few other issues too. I got the same runaround. I decided to delete the aux batt and buy the largest main batt I could fit in it.
I’ve had no batt problems for over a year maybe two.
Because of my experiences with jeep I will never buy a new one again. My plan is to find a nice restorable classic. Which I will thoroughly enjoy modding the hell out of.

 

[Viper501]

It has to be driven at least thirty minutes a day to combat the parasitic draw of the computers and other electronics. If you are not driving it regularly, get a battery maintainer.

This is, unfortunately, a common problem with low use vehicles. Even high end manufacturers like Ferrari gives their owners a battery maintainer at purchase. They know that these are third, fourth, or greater cars for most buyers and as a result they will crap the battery in no time. Mercedes, BMW, etc. also have their own branded tenders that they will sell.

Even with a tender they are not too long for the world. I’ve got to replace two ‘new’ batteries in a slantnose 911 and a Testarossa that both just got replaced and now won’t recharge. Both sit way more than roll. I’m guessing the tenders are both crap on them as well.

And I don’t suggest using the recorder in the face suggestion. The dealers I know would tell you to leave and allow you to be escorted off of their property. They can deny service to you and I wouldn’t really blame them for someone trying to intimidate them. However, your mileage may vary. I just wouldn’t do it. Flies and honey and all. I’ve always gotten much further talking to the adviser, or their boss, in a polite and knowledgeable manner. Being an aggressive A-hole is not going to get them to do anything but find that they have no appointments for you for the next fifty years.

 

[Fundamental Jeepster]

I always turn mine off. Never use it and never had a problem with it.

 

[NotSo Bright White]

This is, unfortunately, a common problem with low use vehicles. Even high end manufacturers like Ferrari gives their owners a battery maintainer at purchase. They know that these are third, fourth, or greater cars for most buyers and as a result they will crap the battery in no time. Mercedes, BMW, etc. also have their own branded tenders that they will sell.

Even with a tender they are not too long for the world. I’ve got to replace two ‘new’ batteries in a slantnose 911 and a Testarossa that both just got replaced and now won’t recharge. Both sit way more than roll. I’m guessing the tenders are both crap on them as well.

And I don’t suggest using the recorder in the face suggestion. The dealers I know would tell you to leave and allow you to be escorted off of their property. They can deny service to you and I wouldn’t really blame them for someone trying to intimidate them. However, your mileage may vary. I just wouldn’t do it. Flies and honey and all. I’ve always gotten much further talking to the adviser, or their boss, in a polite and knowledgeable manner. Being an aggressive A-hole is not going to get them to do anything but find that they have no appointments for you for the next fifty years.

I would be happy to drive your other cars to keep the batteries charged. And I am not an A-hole either!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I totally disagree with that statement. No offense. If Jeep built a vehicle that needs a battery tender when not driven for 30min a day, they should be put out of business. Any vehicle should be able sit for long periods, a week, a month, whatever without getting warning lights. That’s a joke!

Sorry, no. Even my Eagle with no parasitic draws other than the battery's own self-discharge ad the electronics in the radio mean that if it sits a month, the battery is low. If I drive it only a few miles or a few minutes, it never gets 100% charged back up. Park it another month, drive it, and it gets charged a bit but not to the point it was when it was started.
You start out 100%
Sitting you drop to 90%
Drive it and get back to 95%
It sits and drops to 85%
Drive it and get to 90,
and so on.
The last 20% of a battery is harder to "fill" than the first 80%. The last few is the hardest and that's why AGM chargers ramp the voltage and amperage during the different charging phases.

This is all true of any vehicle, but it's more so with modern vehicle watching for a FOB, keeping settings alive and more.
Batteries also self-discharge. Charge one and put it on a shelf - after a few months it won't be nearly full state of charge.

Hey all, new Mojave, 2500km and stop/start warning pops up. From my limited research I see it might be an aux battery issue. Took to dealership and was told I don’t drive it long enough to charge.
it likely won’t be used as a long driver and the reality of it will likely be used to jig around locally. I was told it’s something gladiator owners just deal with but I don’t want to have a new rig with a constant dash light on. Any suggestions?? Our local dealership is not known for being capable. The next nearest dealership is 40 minutes away.
what has been or can be done to correct??

DAMN, wish the admin would make battery charging and ESS diagnostics a STICKY!!!!
I need to write a macro!

This has been covered until the cows came home - the horses, elephants, even the penguins. But here we go -
ESS not working can be any of at least 2 dozen things if not more.
Does it say Auto stop/start not ready, battery charging?
If not, it could be almost anything, including a problem with the engine like a rogue misfire, sensors for CAT temperature, and more.

As far as batteries -
Disconnect the ground cables from the top of the IBS. That's the Intelligent Battery Sensor on top of the main battery negative post.
Take those two cables apart.
One will be a ground to the chassis, the other will be the negative cable going to the aux battery (see picture below)
Using a good AGM battery charger of at least 10 amps, charge the aux battery by clipping to the main battery positive (TRUST ME, this IS correct!)
Clip the negative of the charger to the black cable going to the aux battery (again, see picture below)
Let it charge.

Now when that's done, take the IBS off the negative post of the main battery and charge the main battery by clipping the negative charger lead to the negative post. Leave the positive where it was - on top of the main battery post.
Let it charge.

When both are done, check the voltage of each battery - they both should read about 12.7 volts.

With the IBS sitting off the battery and to the side it is now reset.
Put it all back together. From here on, charge the batteries by connecting to the TOP of the IBS as shown in the second picture.

Take both off the IBS (arrow points to IBS)
Take these two apart.
The one marked 2020 is the aux battery ground lead for a 2020 model year.
The one marked 2021+ is the aux battery ground/negative for 2021 model year and later.

In the future, charge by connecting to the studs (green circle) not by connecting below the IBS (red x)

 

[Puch]

?

 

[Reddog]

Hey all, new Mojave, 2500km and stop/start warning pops up. From my limited research I see it might be an aux battery issue. Took to dealership and was told I don’t drive it long enough to charge.
it likely won’t be used as a long driver and the reality of it will likely be used to jig around locally. I was told it’s something gladiator owners just deal with but I don’t want to have a new rig with a constant dash light on. Any suggestions?? Our local dealership is not known for being capable. The next nearest dealership is 40 minutes away.
what has been or can be done to correct??

Go to another dealership. If you think driving forty minutes is extreme maybe you aren't driving your JT enough. Dealerships mostly suck, at least the service departments anyway. Cars are evolving and no one is teaching or educating the service techs fast enough. Go to a good repair shop that will give you honest advice and ask what they think too and make an informed decision.

 

[Readely]

This is, unfortunately, a common problem with low use vehicles. Even high end manufacturers like Ferrari gives their owners a battery maintainer at purchase. They know that these are third, fourth, or greater cars for most buyers and as a result they will crap the battery in no time. Mercedes, BMW, etc. also have their own branded tenders that they will sell.

Even with a tender they are not too long for the world. I’ve got to replace two ‘new’ batteries in a slantnose 911 and a Testarossa that both just got replaced and now won’t recharge. Both sit way more than roll. I’m guessing the tenders are both crap on them as well.

And I don’t suggest using the recorder in the face suggestion. The dealers I know would tell you to leave and allow you to be escorted off of their property. They can deny service to you and I wouldn’t really blame them for someone trying to intimidate them. However, your mileage may vary. I just wouldn’t do it. Flies and honey and all. I’ve always gotten much further talking to the adviser, or their boss, in a polite and knowledgeable manner. Being an aggressive A-hole is not going to get them to do anything but find that they have no appointments for you for the next fifty years.

Agreed. In your face isn't the best way to handle situation.

 

[Readely]

Go to another dealership. If you think driving forty minutes is extreme maybe you aren't driving your JT enough. Dealerships mostly suck, at least the service departments anyway. Cars are evolving and no one is teaching or educating the service techs fast enough. Go to a good repair shop that will give you honest advice and ask what they think too and make an informed decision.

It's a daily driver, just doesn't get a whole lot of miles on it per day.

 

[Readely]

All I’m saying is if a vehicle in good working condition and sits for a week or a month, it should start without warning lights! If it starts with warnings lights, the battery isn’t performing well and/or the engineer of the vehicle is a frickn idiot!
My JT sits for a week often. Starts up without lights every time. Okay, a month might be pushing it. Temperature has alot to do with it too.
Anyway, Readely is getting in the ass from the dealership. They’re not your friend if they say “it’s something gladiator owners just deal with”.
Readely needs to be aware that they will most likely play the supply shortage game with you too. I had to physically show the dealership where my exhaust was leaking after they told me three time that there wasn’t any problems. Then they kept it for a week saying they couldn’t get parts. I ordered the parts (gasket), received the part, and called them back. They continued to say they couldn’t get the part. Once I told them that I had it and would bring it to them if needed, they suddenly found a gasket and had it fixed the next morning. This was all warranty work BTW.

I agree. It's a daily driver and to have this issue doesn't sit well given it's a brand new vehicle. I didn't like the explanation I got and being told to basically "deal with it". Better to have some good info before going back.

 

[sharpsicle]

I totally disagree with that statement. No offense. If Jeep built a vehicle that needs a battery tender when not driven for 30min a day, they should be put out of business. Any vehicle should be able sit for long periods, a week, a month, whatever without getting warning lights. That’s a joke!
As a person who has come to despise dealerships, I would consider you take that back to the dealership and tell them they have two choices.
Politely speak to the service manager with phone in hand. Tell him/her you are recording your conversation. Tell the person the following while holding your keys out for them:
1. Tell me again that it’s “normal” and you will hear from the state consumer protection department and I will start pursuing every legal option available to me.
2. Take my vehicle and return it to me without the warning lights and no additional mileage on it (except a short test drive). If I receive the warning lights again within the warranty of the battery life,I will reconsider option #1.
The vast amount of dealerships are lying pricks. Jeep makes you jump through hoops to get work done. They have “steps” they force the dealers to take. Lying isn’t one of the steps. They don’t make any money fixing warranty issues and they are totally booked for service repairs. If they can blow you off for awhile they can make money on some poor bastard that has no warranty.
Disclaimer: I have not used this tactic for my benefit. This was suggested to me by a family member after I told them about my journey through jeep BS over the past couple years.
I had the battery issue and few other issues too. I got the same runaround. I decided to delete the aux batt and buy the largest main batt I could fit in it.
I’ve had no batt problems for over a year maybe two.
Because of my experiences with jeep I will never buy a new one again. My plan is to find a nice restorable classic. Which I will thoroughly enjoy modding the hell out of.

I feel your response is a bit too tone-deaf to reality.

This isn't just something with Jeep. Any vehicle that sits for long periods, or is not used frequently/long enough, has battery issues. These days it's the electronics drain, but even before that batteries would leach charge when sitting. It's why shutoff switches exist to preserve the battery during storage. You can be upset about that, or you can maintain it. I choose the latter.

I would also say doing those things to the service manager at the dealership and provoking them is not a good next step. In some situations, sure, but as last resort. You had a bad experience clearly, but I feel it's unfair to then convince everyone to go nuclear in your stead. The reality is they're under no obligation to follow either of those options, and trying to threaten them rather than work together will just make the situation worse. Why try to start a fight? If you're unhappy, speak with the dealership's management and see if you can get on the same page with them. If that's not possible, you can still go elsewhere or even contact Jeep about that dealership. There are other options in this instance OP can go for without creating unnecessary conflict and drama.

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