Dead battery

[Alwaysthinking]

Bit of frustration I had the jeep back in the shop to have rock slider replaced (went with retractable steps) and the installer told me the next day the battery was dead and I had a short (he has done all work to date)
The next day he called back and said he left something on and after removing it he was able to charge it up and we brought it home

That was Wed night. Today I went to take it out and the battery is dead again. I've had a compressor added and now power steps and that's it for electronic changes. Could him draining the battery once have ruined it? I plan to run up tomorrow and grab a jump kit but I'm not sure next steps as I don't trust the truck to take it anywhere

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[Alwaysthinking]

Sorry should have said truck's brand new 1k miles.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This is anyone's guess at this point. Not enough information.
I don't like his description of "battery dead, you have a short" - indicating he really has no clue.
Power steps - at least RSE - have a very very small constant draw but it would take days if not weeks.

We don't know what's going on. No one does or can until you've got more information.

Charge the batteries with a good AGM charger. It takes hours if the batteries are very low.
Measure voltage an hour or so after charging - should be up around 12.8 if they took a full charge.
Then check again a few hours later - should still be above 12.6 - even in the 12.7 range if they are good and/or there's no big drain.
Draining a battery once to nothing shouldn't ruin it.
And you are aware there are two batteries in that truck, correct? A smaller auxiliary battery that operates certain things during an ESS engine stop event exists below the fuse panel/PDC - it's accessible behind the fender liner back of the right front tire.
But if you connect a charger to the top of the main battery, it will charge both batteries.

Sorry, anyone is going to be tossing stuff at the wall just to see what sticks. There's no simple or single answer here.
If the guy who installed the power steps is worth a crap - he should know what's going on. If he doesn't - I'd not trust him very far to do any work at all on it.

Why aren't you contacting a dealer since it's new and under warranty?????
that should be your first move - and I'd be leery of your installer from how it sounds.

 

[Lunentucker]

It's under warranty. Take it in and see what they say.
I'm guessing they'll give you a hard time over the mods, but it's worth looking into.
I see a battery upgrade and AUX battery delete in your future.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I see a battery upgrade and AUX battery delete in your future.

Why? Because some guy who messed up and drained the batteries?

As far as the mods - it's really simple to take those out of the equation - disconnect them. (pull the fuse if they are RSE steps).

My guess is the installer messed something up. He's got no reason to expect trouble.

 

[Lunentucker]

Why? Because some guy who messed up and drained the batteries?

As far as the mods - it's really simple to take those out of the equation - disconnect them. (pull the fuse if they are RSE steps).

My guess is the installer messed something up. He's got no reason to expect trouble.

Because he's adding doodads that take more battery power.
" I've had a compressor added and now power steps and that's it for electronic changes "

 

[sharpsicle]

Because he's adding doodads that take more battery power.
" I've had a compressor added and now power steps and that's it for electronic changes "

People add waaay more than that and have zero battery problems.

First step is to run down and make sure the source of the drain (short or otherwise) is dealt with. Then you can start to assess the battery health.

 

[Alwaysthinking]

Thanks all, didn't know they had two batteries. If I pull the main and run it up to auto zone to charge will that let me start to trouble shoot where my issue is at or do I need to charge both?

I have a dealer service appointment Thurs but if I cannot get it started I cannot get it up there so I'm kind of stuck

 

[Casique]

Replace both batteries and start from scratch, or the back-up battery will kill the main battery again.

 

[Lunentucker]

Thanks all, didn't know they had two batteries. If I pull the main and run it up to auto zone to charge will that let me start to trouble shoot where my issue is at or do I need to charge both?

I have a dealer service appointment Thurs but if I cannot get it started I cannot get it up there so I'm kind of stuck

You SHOULD charge both, but you can separate them via the cables and take the AUX battery out of the picture. That will allow you to independently charge the main battery and at least get it started so you can get it to the dealership Thursday.

Go here for a short simple video. Ignore the part about it disabling ESS. It doesn't do that, but it does put you on just the main battery to simplify things and help with the troubleshooting. Read the full description under the video.



Be sure to tell the dealer what you did or undo it when you get there.

 

[tysongladiator]

Why? Because some guy who messed up and drained the batteries?

As far as the mods - it's really simple to take those out of the equation - disconnect them. (pull the fuse if they are RSE steps).

My guess is the installer messed something up. He's got no reason to expect trouble.

It's amazing to me how whenever someone has an electrical issue, their first and only answer is to change and/or delete the batteries. They just automatically want to start spending money on parts. No one ever diagnose issues anymore. They do the same thing with these death wobble questions.

 

[Alwaysthinking]

So got a loaner battery from dealer and think I successfully unmarried the tazer. My last two questions
1. How can I tell for sure it successfully was unmarried without the dealer saying they cannot access it?
2. The dealer isn't dumb and I'm sure the jeep computer records the changes I made with the tazer (tire size) if I'm asked is it better to just say yes I have a third party module or no say nothing?

 

[Hootbro]

So got a loaner battery from dealer and think I successfully unmarried the tazer. My last two questions
1. How can I tell for sure it successfully was unmarried without the dealer saying they cannot access it?
2. The dealer isn't dumb and I'm sure the jeep computer records the changes I made with the tazer (tire size) if I'm asked is it better to just say yes I have a third party module or no say nothing?

The Tazer does not change the base software. It either flips a bit(s) that allows a already selectable setting to be changed or in some instance with the Tazer, act on the bus to reinterpret bus traffic to enable functions not in the base software of a module.

Unmarrying the Tazer, the dealership is really not going to know about the tire size change unless they actually look at that PID in the BCM module. This is really going to be a non issue in my opinion and should not even come up in conversation in relation to your other electrical issue and they will probably be focusing on the powerstep mod if anything.

I would not lie about it if asked, but I would not offer that info upfront if not asked.

 

[Lunentucker]

Yeah, as long as you remove the Tazer and the SGW bypass there's no way to tell it was there.

 

[Alwaysthinking]

The Tazer does not change the base software. It either flips a bit(s) that allows a already selectable setting to be changed or in some instance with the Tazer, act on the bus to reinterpret bus traffic to enable functions not in the base software of a module.

Unmarrying the Tazer, the dealership is really not going to know about the tire size change unless they actually look at that PID in the BCM module. This is really going to be a non issue in my opinion and should not even come up in conversation in relation to your other electrical issue and they will probably be focusing on the powerstep mod if anything.

I would not lie about it if asked, but I would not offer that info upfront if not asked.

Thanks
Honestly I'm baffled now as what my electric issue could be. The abs, traction control, 4serv lights are all on and the battery is draining (I disconnect the loaner so I can ensure it starts Thurs for the appointment).
Hoping it's something dumb and I can get back to enjoying the new tot

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