Peace of mind at last! Replaced main battery with a premium H7/Group 94 battery

[Andy29847]

No offense I just don’t know but what’s the big deal here why so worried/relieved?

Really? You don't know? Look around at forums for other cars. See if you can find one with a "Battery" section like we have.

Then there's this: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...teries-and-charging-system.75512/post-1231320

Throw in the the RV forums always have someone asking why their Jeep will not start after towing it all day.

Then add in that my 2020 JLU had the battteries replaced under warrenty. It only took 4 visits over 6 months wiht the kicker being a complaint to the owner of the dealership.

Now my Gladiator has 1 battery, no auto stop/start, and the readings on the vehicle voltmeter actually provide clues to battery condition.

Thanks for asking.

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[CyberHero]

I had no idea I lived in Az for two years with my first gladiator with not one sign of trouble and now midwest where it’s been below 0 for a week and not one sign on my second gladiator here! I’ll look into it more now

 

[drewcnit]

Really? You don't know? Look around at forums for other cars. See if you can find one with a "Battery" section like we have.

Then there's this: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...teries-and-charging-system.75512/post-1231320

Throw in the the RV forums always have someone asking why there Jeep will not start after towing it all day.

Then add in that my 2020 JLU had the battteries replaced under warrenty. It only took 4 visits over 6 months wiht the kicker being a complaint to the owner of the dealership.

Now my Gladiator has 1 battery, no auto stop/start, and the readings on the vehicle voltmeter actually provide clues to battery condition.

Thanks for asking.

I'm going on 2 years strong on my 22 Sport with the OEM battery, no issues yet...
The auto stop/start feature stopped working at some point in the past year which according to everyone means my battery is going to go, but each day I go out there and lo and behold it starts right up...

I'm not saying peace of mind isn't worth changing the battery... I've re-done plenty of work because I couldn't shake the feeling I left something loose or didn't do something right, so can totally get where peace of mind comes into play.

For me, it's not something that flies on my radar at all... even with all the complaints about the batteries in the forums, I've never had an issue. Same for Oracle Flush Mount tail lights.. No issues been running them since August of 2022.
Maybe I'm the anomaly and got all the good versions of the products mentioned. But I mean, if it doesn't start, I will grab my handy, dandy little jump box and jump it and go get a new battery... https://a.co/d/4qFmXLg

Just my 2 cents.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I had no idea I lived in Az for two years with my first gladiator with not one sign of trouble and now midwest where it’s been below 0 for a week and not one sign on my second gladiator here! I’ll look into it more now

Remember - the internet is where people come to talk when something goes wrong. It's not meaning things WILL go wrong. It's like funneling problems into one spot, or visiting a hospital and finding most humans have cancer.

The bit about towing and having a dead battery isn't connected at all - it's generally not a problem, depending.

We've had Jeeps with aux batteries and start/stop since 2016, several of them - only one ever had a battery issue - after 3 years. Every time I could easily jump start it, easily.

I'm on my 2nd JT, we've had at least 3 Grand Cherokees with the same setup.

Most of the issues seen are due to the very basic "just to get by" batteries Jeep uses, and often - lack of driving and proper charging. Even my wife's 4xe sees the battery voltage drop to 12.1 after several days - if it sits like that for long, pretty soon the battery won't be capable of holding a full charge. After a couple of years - now you have a battery running at half capacity, not able to take a full charge - and that's where a much better battery comes in. It will survive that much better. Or - if you aren't going to drive it, or if your drives are short - a tender on the battery does the trick.

Throw in the the RV forums always have someone asking why there Jeep will not start after towing it all day.

Unrelated to ESS - it's related to how things are being towed, not understanding, like most electrical system "issues" are - total lack of understanding.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for putting in the largest capability battery one can fit in there, and do realize the Jeep supplied batteries, well, putting it nicely - leave a lot to be desired (would I go to Jeep to buy a replacement? Uh, no........ I'd hit Walmart or NAPA or one of the top battery brands)
But the towing bit? Different animal.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'm going on 2 years strong on my 22 Sport with the OEM battery, no issues yet...
The auto stop/start feature stopped working at some point in the past year which according to everyone means my battery is going to go, but each day I go out there and lo and behold it starts right up...

I'm not saying peace of mind isn't worth changing the battery... I've re-done plenty of work because I couldn't shake the feeling I left something loose or didn't do something right, so can totally get where peace of mind comes into play.

For me, it's not something that flies on my radar at all... even with all the complaints about the batteries in the forums, I've never had an issue. Same for Oracle Flush Mount tail lights.. No issues been running them since August of 2022.
Maybe I'm the anomaly and got all the good versions of the products mentioned. But I mean, if it doesn't start, I will grab my handy, dandy little jump box and jump it and go get a new battery... https://a.co/d/4qFmXLg

Just my 2 cents.

Exactly.
I'd bet at least half of the issues are owner/user errors, lack of understanding, the short-life Jeep batteries, lack of driving (and thus, lack of charging) and so on.
Once a battery sits with a low voltage (and these do have a certain amount of draw on them at all times) it no longer will accept a full charge.
If it is only driven short drives, then each week that goes by it will take just a tiny bit less charge until after a couple of years it's no longer capable of taking a full charge, the capacity dwindles with time (I've posted about this many times, including information from battery experts and makers themselves). After 3 years of infrequent use or less than full charging, you have a battery with diminished capacity.
A BatteryMinder or a quality larger charger can help mitigate the gradual loss of capacity with lack of long drives.
And then you get people winching, drawing that battery waaay down, and sometimes even worse - engine not running so the full power comes 100% from the battery, and you have discharged it and not always gotten it back up to fully charged.

Like I've said before - the 4xe has no aux battery, no ESS - and yet they face battery issues - crap batteries. (I put a charger on her JLU 4xe now and then to keep the 12v battery up - if you lose that 12v battery, the 4xe is a nasty thing to try to get started)

The people in the NAPA store talking about not being able to get even 4 years out of the batteries in their cars...........
and then this last week my John Deere lawn tractor started sending the BatteryMinder into freak-out mode. I tried another charger just in case that one - 15 years old - was going bad. Nope, that charger wasn't able to charge that battery.
OK, the lawn tractor is 10 years old, I'm thinking I put a battery in it a few years ago.
Nope - original John Deere battery in it - at least 10 years old.
Betcha I can't get half that out of any replacement these days.

Maybe I'm the anomaly and got all the good versions of the products mentioned. But I mean, if it doesn't start, I will grab my handy, dandy little jump box and jump it and go get a new battery... https://a.co/d/4qFmXLg

Part of the issue is lack of understanding of how to jump, impatience, and other factors.
People connect, jump in and expect instant results......... you are trying to overcome the load of a discharged battery. it's pulling power right up front so if you connect and instantly try to start - it may not work.
I've never had a jump start fail (so far, anyway)

 

[CyberHero]

Exactly.
I'd bet at least half of the issues are owner/user errors, lack of understanding, the short-life Jeep batteries, lack of driving (and thus, lack of charging) and so on.
Once a battery sits with a low voltage (and these do have a certain amount of draw on them at all times) it no longer will accept a full charge.
If it is only driven short drives, then each week that goes by it will take just a tiny bit less charge until after a couple of years it's no longer capable of taking a full charge, the capacity dwindles with time (I've posted about this many times, including information from battery experts and makers themselves). After 3 years of infrequent use or less than full charging, you have a battery with diminished capacity.
A BatteryMinder or a quality larger charger can help mitigate the gradual loss of capacity with lack of long drives.
And then you get people winching, drawing that battery waaay down, and sometimes even worse - engine not running so the full power comes 100% from the battery, and you have discharged it and not always gotten it back up to fully charged.

Like I've said before - the 4xe has no aux battery, no ESS - and yet they face battery issues - crap batteries. (I put a charger on her JLU 4xe now and then to keep the 12v battery up - if you lose that 12v battery, the 4xe is a nasty thing to try to get started)

The people in the NAPA store talking about not being able to get even 4 years out of the batteries in their cars...........
and then this last week my John Deere lawn tractor started sending the BatteryMinder into freak-out mode. I tried another charger just in case that one - 15 years old - was going bad. Nope, that charger wasn't able to charge that battery.
OK, the lawn tractor is 10 years old, I'm thinking I put a battery in it a few years ago.
Nope - original John Deere battery in it - at least 10 years old.
Betcha I can't get half that out of any replacement these days.



Part of the issue is lack of understanding of how to jump, impatience, and other factors.
People connect, jump in and expect instant results......... you are trying to overcome the load of a discharged battery. it's pulling power right up front so if you connect and instantly try to start - it may not work.
I've never had a jump start fail (so far, anyway)

I’ll admit this cold weather and nasty salt on roads I’ve kept my jeep in the garage. But what I’m reading here is it’s a good idea that once my battery needs replaced or if I’m bored and got money to blow buying the bigger Walmart battery and just swapping them out isn’t a bad idea? And then the other part is just if I want to eliminate the start stop, so that doesn’t apply bc it’s not something I care to mess with. But a bigger battery sounds appealing

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’ll admit this cold weather and nasty salt on roads I’ve kept my jeep in the garage. But what I’m reading here is it’s a good idea that once my battery needs replaced or if I’m bored and got money to blow buying the bigger Walmart battery and just swapping them out isn’t a bad idea? And then the other part is just if I want to eliminate the start stop, so that doesn’t apply bc it’s not something I care to mess with. But a bigger battery sounds appealing

The physically largest, highest CCA/amp hour battery you can fit in there.
A quality battery - and often I go withe NAPA and so on, but really the top of the line Walmart batteries you just don't see complaints about, the prices are really good and Walmarts are all over the country if something does happen.
There are other great batteries of course.
Everstart Maxx seem to be the batteries people like - some say to avoid the lesser value priced batteries there. I see people talking of 6 years, which today is a good lifespan for a battery.

 

[Andy29847]

Youse guys write a lot. I have 2 2020 Jeeps. I had battery problems with one of them. The batteries were replaced under warranty (after 4 visits and 6 months). My other Jeep has been trouble free. When I finished my 3 year warranty on it and I needed a new battery, I went with one bigger battery.

I say again, our Jeep forum has a battery section. Other auto/truck forums do not.

 

[Andy29847]

Unrelated to ESS - it's related to how things are being towed, not understanding, like most electrical system "issues" are - total lack of understanding.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for putting in the largest capability battery one can fit in there, and do realize the Jeep supplied batteries, well, putting it nicely - leave a lot to be desired (would I go to Jeep to buy a replacement? Uh, no........ I'd hit Walmart or NAPA or one of the top battery brands)
But the towing bit? Different animal.

I kinda don't agree.

The issue with RV'ers and their Jeeps not starting after towing seems to be restricted to Jeeps with LED taillights. Generally, there are multiple factors involved. First, the tow is long (often multiple days) and involves lots of stop and starts. Second, the batteries are getting near the end of their useful life. Add in the Jeeps with LED taillights where there is a sensor in each taillight (intended to warn the owner that a taillight is not working) that wakes up the Jeep each time the brakes are used (when towing), and you have a recipe for trouble. it hasn't happened to me, but it is a regular topic on the RV forums.

I'm certain that many RV'ers do not understand how the Jeep 2 battery system works. This leads to problems with maintenance, charging, and jump starting.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Add in the Jeeps with LED taillights where there is a sensor in each taillight (intended to warn the owner that a taillight is not working) that wakes up the Jeep each time the brakes are used (when towing), and you have a recipe for trouble. it hasn't happened to me, but it is a regular topic on the RV forums.

I'm certain that many RV'ers do not understand how the Jeep 2 battery system works. This leads to problems with maintenance, charging, and jump starting.

Jeeps? 2 battery system?
Don't blame JEEPS or the 2 battery system.
Try many modern vehicles, even with a single battery........

But you did have a clue in there - lack of understanding modern vehicles in general, not just Jeeps.
Why are forums, RV forums especially, filled with "My Jeep battery went dead"?
It's because Jeep is the most commonly towed vehicle, not because it's the one having problems. It's sheer numbers. Of all of the flat tows I see on I80 and I35, over 3/4 are Jeeps so of course you find Jeep as the topic of discussion.

And then.... Owners don't dig deep and learn or seek information before just hooking stuff up, jumping in and going and in the end, if they have a dead battery because they didn't educate themselves on such things, it's worse when they don't understand how to jump and what's involved with a dead battery.
If you are going to do technical things - and towing, especially flat towing, is technical, then learn. It's not like 1970.

The Chevy and Ford forums have plenty of "dead battery after towing" posts.

But you see mostly Jeep talked about because -

Most commonly flat towed:

• Jeep Wrangler JL.
• Ford F-150.
• Jeep Wrangler JK.
• Chevrolet Equinox.
• Jeep Grand Cherokee.
• Jeep Cherokee.
• Chevrolet Colorado.
• Honda CR-V.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'll say it again, Andy - I think we aren't really that far apart, maybe approaching from different flight paths with some minor deviations - otherwise, we're not night and day.

 

[Lunentucker]

But I mean, if it doesn't start, I will grab my handy, dandy little jump box and jump it and go get a new battery... https://a.co/d/4qFmXLg

Just my 2 cents.

If your AUX battery cannibalizes the main it may not even start with that, until you disconnect the AUX ground, so add a wrench to your kit.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

And if the main kills the aux - same thing. However, some of the best jump packs will overcome a dead battery - just not a shorted battery.
The kicker is - a battery has to be discharged down to almost nothing multiple times, or to absolutely 0 to be killed and not be able to be resurrected.

Again, otherwise, anyone who leaves lights on over night will always have to replace the battery.
So we're seeing a lot of misunderstanding on how these things go even now.

if a bad battery drains the other, it's not automatic destruction of the second battery (regardless of which goes first) but you'll never tell Jeep people that - because they read THE TRUTH in the Wrangler forums and got educated on Youtube.

Batteries have been drained down by various things for decades - and it doesn't mean destruction. A bad battery can't reach over and short plates or destroy another battery just be draining it once. (key word, once........ so often people are ignoring signs then blaming Jeep because they know better than Jeep, obviously, they read it on the internet)

I should copy all of the posts from other forums, including the 4xe forums, where a battery goes bad and there's no aux battery to blame. And link to all of the people here who have had a main battery go bad by itself and the aux continues on for another year.

We keep going in circles because there's that memory of reading bunk for a long time that just can't be shaken.

In any case - keeping the aux or not, keeping ESS or not - Andy has the right idea - the biggest best most capable battery you can get in there. The biggest issue is cheap crap Jeep batteries.

Keeping in mind - there is NO AUX battery in those..........
So no matter where you are, if your crank battery goes bad.......... well............... either one can go bad.
I need to find the post where a Jeep DEALER said "there's no way I'd put a Jeep battery back in either of my Jeeps" - I had to laugh - that's a DEALER saying that.

 

[Andy29847]

Jeeps? 2 battery system?
Don't blame JEEPS or the 2 battery system.
Try many modern vehicles, even with a single battery........

Granted that other vehicles have similar problems. The thing is I have a jeep.

All traditional vehicles that start with a battery will eventually have battery problems. The issue with Jeep is what happens after someone has a problem. The simple fact dealers struggle with diagnosing and repairing battery problems is information that supports some of my feelings.

BTW, I'm not on a crusade. I'm having a little fun with this thread. I enjoy your posts. They are well thought out and even pass the spelling and punctuation test.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Granted that other vehicles have similar problems. The thing is I have a jeep.

All traditional vehicles that start with a battery will eventually have battery problems. The issue with Jeep is what happens after someone has a problem. The simple fact dealers struggle with diagnosing and repairing battery problems is information that supports some of my feelings.

BTW, I'm not on a crusade. I'm having a little fun with this thread. I enjoy your posts. They are well thought out and even pass the spelling and punctuation test.

Don't get me going on dealer "techs" LOL. Oh boy.
Some are great, then there are others.

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