Sigh...auto stop start service message

[FoxForce4]

Hi guys-

Took delivery of a new Gladiator High Altitude last week. Second or third time I started it, I got the auto stop start message I've seen around the forum. It may very well be it was there from start #1, I didn't notice it.

I know the issue itself has broadly been discussed in the forum, so sorry for YET ANOTHER THREAD on the issue- What I haven't seen is a sense of how much driving it would take to top off the ESS battery, if indeed that's the issue. The service department at the dealer said they'd be happy to take a look, but that "90%" of the time it's an issue w/ the ESS battery sitting for a long time with the usual "sales guy" activity of messing with the truck but not starting it.

His suggestion was drive it around extensively and see if it turns off. Managed to put about 100 miles on it since the error first appeared, and it's still there.

I realize I can check the voltage w/ a meter, but was wondering two things (since it's raining and no room in the garage atm)......

How many miles we talking here to charge you think? I know my way around normal batteries pretty well, and 100 miles should be plenty to get a normal battery on the road to "right".

Is there a way in UConnect to find errors/voltage levels? I poked around for a bit but it seems pretty "nerfed" in terms of being able to see exactly what's going on with the vehicle beyond tire pressure.

Thanks

Sponsored

 

[catdaddy63]

The first thing would be to pop the fuse box cover off and press each fuse and make sure they are completely seated. This has fixed issues for many.

 

[FoxForce4]

Thanks man. I did so. As irritating as it was, I did just drop it at the dealer & got it back the next day. A very exasperated service manager said they're dealing with the issue constantly, and generally it is -as it was with mine- a failure of the smaller battery only and not a larger issue...though we certainly know those occur reading this forum.

Specifically, brand spankin' new vehicles w/ this setup are coming back at a very high rate, so I guess the lesson here is give yourself a minute when you've started your new ride to leave the dealer lot & see if ESS pops a message. You'll save yourself a trip.

 

[catdaddy63]

Thanks man. I did so. As irritating as it was, I did just drop it at the dealer & got it back the next day. A very exasperated service manager said they're dealing with the issue constantly, and generally it is -as it was with mine- a failure of the smaller battery only and not a larger issue...though we certainly know those occur reading this forum.

Specifically, brand spankin' new vehicles w/ this setup are coming back at a very high rate, so I guess the lesson here is give yourself a minute when you've started your new ride to leave the dealer lot & see if ESS pops a message. You'll save yourself a trip.

Glad to hear that they took care of it...yes that small battery is a royal pain!

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

I haven't bothered to look - it that battery a standard motorcycle battery, or is it some kind of proprietary thing that's only available from the dealer?

 

[MrZappo]

With all of us driving less these days due to current events, it is a good bet that that is really bringing this issue to light ...

Does anyone know if a battery maintainer connected to the primary battery will also keep the start/stop battery maintained ?

As far as the question about a motorcycle battery, it is about 2 times larger than a typical motorcycle battery physically. I don't know about the CCA or battery capacity though ... Maybe half the physical size of a typical car battery ...

 

[Kevin_D]

I haven't bothered to look - it that battery a standard motorcycle battery, or is it some kind of proprietary thing that's only available from the dealer?

Appears to be a Group Size 400 battery, rated 200CCA.
Group Size (BCI): 400; Cold Cranking Amps (CCA): 200 CCA; Voltage (V): 12 Volt; Length (In): 5-7/8 Inch; Width (In): 3-7/16 Inch; Height (In): 5-3/4 Inch

 

[Casique]

I wonder if one of the new small lithium batteries would work better. They keep a charge better supposedly.

 

[FoxForce4]

When I picked up the truck, I asked about a tender. I don't know enough to critique the service guy's answer, but it seemed to be a "no" in terms of the smaller battery. He said that's part of the problem- dealerships put the main battery on a tender, which obviously works fine, but to hear him tell it the smaller battery isn't impacted.

Apparently there is a charge point for the smaller battery under the driver seat. I have not looked, nor have I scanned the manual to see if that's the case. If I get a minute this weekend maybe I'll hunt around and see what I can find.

Seems as though feeding the big battery would feed the smaller one, given how they're wired, at least at how I grasp that they're wired reading some of these other threads.

Best practice seems to be make sure when you take delivery that you're not starting off w/ a dead battery. I had been advised to drive it around for a while and see if it took a charge- it didn't.

 

[jebiruph]

When I picked up the truck, I asked about a tender. I don't know enough to critique the service guy's answer, but it seemed to be a "no" in terms of the smaller battery. He said that's part of the problem- dealerships put the main battery on a tender, which obviously works fine, but to hear him tell it the smaller battery isn't impacted.

Apparently there is a charge point for the smaller battery under the driver seat. I have not looked, nor have I scanned the manual to see if that's the case. If I get a minute this weekend maybe I'll hunt around and see what I can find.

Seems as though feeding the big battery would feed the smaller one, given how they're wired, at least at how I grasp that they're wired reading some of these other threads.

Best practice seems to be make sure when you take delivery that you're not starting off w/ a dead battery. I had been advised to drive it around for a while and see if it took a charge- it didn't.

You are correct about charging, service guy is wrong. I think the Grand Cherokee has the batteries under the passenger seat.

 

[FoxForce4]

You are correct about charging, service guy is wrong. I think the Grand Cherokee has the batteries under the passenger seat.

LOL massively encouraging. Looking forward to posting my "Gladiator bricked in the middle of an intersection, service team says I must have run out of gas" thread.

Sponsored