2024 Jeep Gladiator Nighthawk, No Crank, No Start

[Dan R]

Hello,

I purchased a 2024 Jeep Gladiator Nighthawk, back in July 2024. It had been performing well, but there is a re-occurring issue with getting it to start after it sits for 10 to 14 days. All the lights and accessories work. No MILs on the dash. Both batteries seem to be fully charged. I recently bought a new aux battery and the installation went off without a hitch. However, the same starting issue persists. If it is driven every day, there are no issues. Please have a look at the video. Any help would be appreciated.

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[Minty JL]

Have you had the main battery tested?

If your JT was one the sat on the lot for a long time before you acquired it, the battery is probably toast. Lot of members are expenianceing this if the bought a left over or one that sat on a dealer lot for a long time..........that's why they got screaming deals on them.

Bottomline, these batteries do not like sitting without being charged or run on a regular basis

 

[Mr._Bill]

Check the high current fuse array on the side of the fuse box to make sure none of them popped when you were changing the Aux Battery.

Separate the negative cables and separately charge each battery with a good AGM charger. Fully disconnect the IBS from the negative post of the Main Battery for about ten minutes to reset it. Let me batteries sit for a while after charging and check the voltage with a meter. Each one should read 12.8 volts.

You may also need to replace the Main Battery. They are paralleled together all the time. If one needed replacement, then probably both of them did.

The worst thing for the life expectancy of the batteries is to sit with a low charge level. If the truck is not being driven enough to keep the batteries charged, it should have a battery maintainer connected when parked.

What you are experiencing is normal behavior for this truck.

 

[Dan R]

Have you had the main battery tested?

If your JT was one the sat on the lot for a long time before you acquired it, the battery is probably toast. Lot of members are expenianceing this if the bought a left over or one that sat on a dealer lot for a long time..........that's why they got screaming deals on them.

Bottomline, these batteries do not like sitting without being charged or run on a regular basis

The main battery was tested as far as it can be with a $40.00 charger purchased on Amazon and checks out OK with that. I purchased the JT on July 31, 2024 and the build tag shows 6-24. It must have been sitting for an about a month, as far as I can tell.

 

[Minty JL]

The main battery was tested as far as it can be with a $40.00 charger purchased on Amazon and checks out OK with that. I purchased the JT on July 31, 2024 and the build tag shows 6-24. It must have been sitting for an about a month, as far as I can tell.

Does that tester perform a load test?

 

[Dan R]

Thanks for the reply. I would say no, because everything is “automatic” which can means any number of things. I will definitely get a separate load tester and give it a go. Much appreciated.

 

[Dan R]

Check the high current fuse array on the side of the fuse box to make sure none of them popped when you were changing the Aux Battery.

Separate the negative cables and separately charge each battery with a good AGM charger. Fully disconnect the IBS from the negative post of the Main Battery for about ten minutes to reset it. Let me batteries sit for a while after charging and check the voltage with a meter. Each one should read 12.8 volts.

You may also need to replace the Main Battery. They are paralleled together all the time. If one needed replacement, then probably both of them did.

The worst thing for the life expectancy of the batteries is to sit with a low charge level. If the truck is not being driven enough to keep the batteries charged, it should have a battery maintainer connected when parked.

What you are experiencing is normal behavior for this truck.

Thank you for the reply. I will go ahead and replace the main battery. I didn’t see anything physically wrong with the fuse array. Although I do not understand what the purpose of leaving a nut off one of the bolts serves, as you can see in the attached photo. Perhaps there is a reason for this, but logically I have no idea why, even if it is relevant or not. This is the way it came from the dealer. I have used a maintainer and have not had much luck. Seems like it doesn’t help until a reconnect it to the main battery and let it go to “green”, about a half an hour later. But keep in mind that the battery was already on the charger for 2 weeks.

 

[MudderNuker]

The main battery was tested as far as it can be with a $40.00 charger purchased on Amazon and checks out OK with that. I purchased the JT on July 31, 2024 and the build tag shows 6-24. It must have been sitting for an about a month, as far as I can tell.

I'm suspecting they used a not so fresh or faulty battery when they built your JT.

 

[ScottBeach]

I can confirm. If your truck sat long on the lot replace the battery. I had my 2024 mojave a month. Just replaced the main battery. It sat on the lot 10 months.

 

[RHINO79]

Wouldn't the battery be under warranty?

 

[Mr._Bill]

Wouldn't the battery be under warranty?

Batteries are covered under the 3/36 warranty. Getting them replaced is no easy task. Jeep does not allow the dealer to make the decision. The batteries have to be charged and tested, and the results sent to Jeep for a decision.

 

[ScottBeach]

I didn't even try to get the dealer to replace the battery. I replaced with an optima 800. Figure the winch could use the extra oomph

 

[Glen722]

I watched your video. It looks like an identical issue I recently had with my JL. Someone a lot smarter than me told me to jiggle the gear shift a little bit (in Park) and then try to start it. To my surprise, it started right up. Try it.

 

[Dan R]

Batteries are covered under the 3/36 warranty. Getting them replaced is no easy task. Jeep does not allow the dealer to make the decision. The batteries have to be charged and tested, and the results sent to Jeep for a decision.

I didn't even try to get the dealer to replace the battery. I replaced with an optima 800. Figure the winch could use the extra oomph

Sounds like a good idea. I am moving to replace the primary battery. Thanks.

 

[Dan R]

I watched your video. It looks like an identical issue I recently had with my JL. Someone a lot smarter than me told me to jiggle the gear shift a little bit (in Park) and then try to start it. To my surprise, it started right up. Try it.

Perhaps there is some sort or switch that needs to be awakened, in the shift control; to confirm the vehicle is parked, before it is started. I will give it a try. Thank you.

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