Lights on but engine doesn’t start/turn over - single click then restarts

[OverBrass]

Has anyone experienced this before? 2021 JT Overland 32.4K miles. This video was taken while I had a donor car plugged into my battery in case it was just a weak battery. When I first got in car, all lights came on as usual, break lights work, stereo etc. Once I pressed break and start, it did single click then car fully reset.
Bad starter or connection?

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[Lost1wing]

With the other car disconnected select vehicle info page and find battery voltage. What is it? If you keep the other jump vehicle connected for several minutes you may have better luck getting it started.

 

[berb]

Knowing how these Jeeps work, you probably need a new aux battery.

 

[OverBrass]

I just did that actually… been sitting in here with it on RUN, and battery voltage moving between 9.5V and 9.6V… maybe I need to let the donor sit longer and see if it changes? I did it in a rush before leaving on an 5 day trip and only had them two connected for 5 minutes.

right after I took this picture, it dropped to 9.4V. I turned it off and then back to RUN, and I saw it climb from 10.5V down to 9.5V (this pic). Lights went out and when I went to lock car, honk sounded like a low wet fart. Locked it again and honk barely worked.

definitely need to jump battery longer or replace it all together?

 

[Lost1wing]

Leave everything off and the jump car connected. Go read some emails etc and try again in 10 minutes. Look at your battery voltage again before you try to start it. ( other car disconnected). If it is not above 12.2 just connect the other car for another 10 minutes.

 

[OverBrass]

Leave everything off and the jump car connected. Go read some emails etc and try again in 10 minutes. Look at your battery voltage again before you try to start it. ( other car disconnected). If it is not above 12.2 just connect the other car for another 10 minutes.

Will do - if it works, do you recommend getting new batteries or it should be good as long as I drive it and let alternator is doing its job?

Also, I saw a tread that a guy's mechanic said if you dont use the ESS system (I keep mine off at all times), it could cause the alternator not to charge the battery...not sure if there's any truth to this, but I hate the start/stop feature, so keep it disabled.

Lastly, I'm well within the manufacturers warranty, do you know if MOPAR would replace the battery if needed? I assume labor wouldn't be included? May give them a call later and can advise if you don't know. They told me they pay for towing to dealer up to 10 miles.

 

[Lost1wing]

If you are able to get it started, just driving around a bit will not fully charge the batteries. You can put an AGM battery charger on it and that will be a better option. The best option would be isolating the batteries at the negative post and charge them separately. Let them sit isolated after charging and see how much the voltage has dropped. That is what I would do.

 

[Lost1wing]

The dealer is an option for you, even better under warranty. Depending on your service center, they may charge up your batteries and send you on your way, only for the same thing to happen again. You never know how competent the tech is working that day. Sometimes even a lazy one will toss a couple of new batteries at it.

 

[kb5zcr]

With that voltage, that battery is dead, dead, dead, perhaps forever.
You can put a charger on it overnight to see if it will take a charge, or get new battery.
Connecting a jumper battery, or another car to it for 10 min is not enough to do anything.
Maybe if you can get it started, you could drive it an hour or so while watching your voltage reading on your screen. Maybe it will take a charge, but below about 10.5 volts is considered dead.

 

[Lost1wing]

With that voltage, that battery is dead, dead, dead, perhaps forever.
You can put a charger on it overnight to see if it will take a charge, or get new battery.
Connecting a jumper battery, or another car to it for 10 min is not enough to do anything.
Maybe if you can get it started, you could drive it an hour or so while watching your voltage reading on your screen. Maybe it will take a charge, but below about 10.5 volts is considered dead.

You could be right. However, that 9.5v is with the battery connected to the vehicle with accessories on. The real battery voltage is higher and may not be toast.

 

[Lost1wing]

Will do - if it works, do you recommend getting new batteries or it should be good as long as I drive it and let alternator is doing its job?

Also, I saw a tread that a guy's mechanic said if you dont use the ESS system (I keep mine off at all times), it could cause the alternator not to charge the battery...not sure if there's any truth to this, but I hate the start/stop feature, so keep it disabled.

Lastly, I'm well within the manufacturers warranty, do you know if MOPAR would replace the battery if needed? I assume labor wouldn't be included? May give them a call later and can advise if you don't know. They told me they pay for towing to dealer up to 10 miles.

I like to toggle over to the start stop page every now and then just to see if it says ready. Then you have more confidence with your batteries. If it says battery charging, then it kind of makes you think a bit. The last time that I saw the battery charging message after an hour drive, I put the battery charger on both batteries and reset the ibs. (08/2020 build).

I'm not a fan of dealer techs especially to do something I could do. You could waste a day at the dealer for them to charge you up and send you. You could walk away with new batteries. You could also walk away with new batteries and more problems.

 

[OverBrass]

Fair points all around Tim and Tim - I did notice when I turned it off and back to run, the voltage reader was on already and it went from 10.5V down to 9.5V, so could just be weak and not dead yet... may be best to replace it all together.

I didn't know about the start stop page to be honest, because since I got car (used, one owner), I turned it off and it has remained off. I will try this once I get it going.

Should have a donor car here in the next couple hours - will connect them with the jeep off completely and see what the reading is and if it turns over after 15 minutes.

If after 15-30 mins it doesn't turn over, would easiest next step is get a new battery and swap it out?

 

[Lost1wing]

The aux battery is not something you would do in the AutoZone parking lot. Care must be taken when removing the battery cables so not to blow fuses. There are discussions on the direction to take replacing the aux battery. You have that option of the dealer under warranty that also comes with risks. The dealer will make it right eventually if something goes wrong. I feel pretty confident that you can get it started from a second vehicle. It may just take some time to build up enough charge especially with small gauge cables.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Fair points all around Tim and Tim - I did notice when I turned it off and back to run, the voltage reader was on already and it went from 10.5V down to 9.5V, so could just be weak and not dead yet... may be best to replace it all together.

I didn't know about the start stop page to be honest, because since I got car (used, one owner), I turned it off and it has remained off. I will try this once I get it going.

Should have a donor car here in the next couple hours - will connect them with the jeep off completely and see what the reading is and if it turns over after 15 minutes.

If after 15-30 mins it doesn't turn over, would easiest next step is get a new battery and swap it out?

If you have time, and can get it to the dealer, they will likely replace at least one battery under warranty.

The quickest way to get going is to go buy a new main battery. Get a 94R (H7) AGM battery. After you accomplish what you need for the day, separate the negative cables and separately charge each battery. If the Aux battery doesn't get up around 12.6 volts and stay there, it will also need replaced.

You should be able to jump start it, but it probably won't start again. The engine can't charge it enough, fast enough, from the level it's at now.

 

[Minty JL]

Yeah battery voltage at 9.5v is trash/ Time for a new main battery

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