I'm joining the "aux battery won't charge" club. Should I just delete it?

[Blue Ridge]

Naturally, the truck's warranty ran out 2 weeks ago. But I've been trickle charging it for several months now, and that usually fixes the issue for a while. Some YouTube videos I've watched recommend just capping off the aux battery and its wires, but I've seen Google recommendations to never do that and just replace both batteries. My main battery seems good, btw. If the aux was easier to get to, I'd be more inclined to keep it, but even getting to it to trickle charge is a pain. If it matters, I have 3 of my 4 switches hooked up to front lights, a winch, and onboard air. I use all three once in a while, but none regularly. As far as I can tell, all fuses look good. I want to simplify things and not have to worry about any electrical issues. Thanks!

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[ShadowsPapa]

Naturally, the truck's warranty ran out 2 weeks ago. But I've been trickle charging it for several months now, and that usually fixes the issue for a while. Some YouTube videos I've watched recommend just capping off the aux battery and its wires, but I've seen Google recommendations to never do that and just replace both batteries. My main battery seems good, btw. If the aux was easier to get to, I'd be more inclined to keep it, but even getting to it to trickle charge is a pain. If it matters, I have 3 of my 4 switches hooked up to front lights, a winch, and onboard air. I use all three once in a while, but none regularly. As far as I can tell, all fuses look good. I want to simplify things and not have to worry about any electrical issues. Thanks!

How are you trickle charging only the aux battery?

You have been disconnecting that black cable each time and trickle charging it and then reconnecting the cables??

You must disconnect cables to charge only the aux.

How are you determining that the aux is a problem? Have you had it tested?

Aux switches have ZERO, nada, nothing to do with the aux battery!
The aux battery and main are connected together at all times. The aux switches are not connected to the aux battery.

 

[AmosMoses]

If the aux was easier to get to, I'd be more inclined to keep it, but even getting to it to trickle charge is a pain.

I think the charging system as designed is meant to be modified/changed into a more user friendly and cost effective system.

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

Aux switches have ZERO, nada, nothing to do with the aux battery!
The aux battery and main are connected together at all times. The aux switches are not connected to the aux battery.

Was gonna say...mine was deleted as part of the Genesis dual-battery kit, and I constantly get the "Switches not available" charging message. It's pretty annoying...and have never been able to figure out the cause.

 

[Blue Ridge]

How are you trickle charging only the aux battery?

You have been disconnecting that black cable each time and trickle charging it and then reconnecting the cables??

Nope! Geez, I wasn't even doing that right! But it would show a full charge after doing it with the wire connected. The whole 2 battery thing is annoying when you get a warning after every startup, and if the main can do the job of both, that would simplify things a ton. I don't want to buy 2 new batteries every 3 years if the workaround is effective and there's no reason I would regret it down the road.

 

[sharpsicle]

If one battery could do the job they're expecting, they wouldn't have put in two. This system is all about maintaining consistent voltage, not the size or capacity of the battery.

 

[Andy29847]

Peace of mind at last! Replaced main battery with a premium H7/Group 94 battery | Jeep Gladiator (JT) News, Forum, Community - JeepGladiatorForum.com

 

[Lunentucker]

Bypass it and let it sit right where it is and do nothing.
Consistent voltage from a failing battery that's trying to recharge itself by cannibalizing the only good battery is an exercise in the full suspension of common sense.

At warranty expiration times and mileage, you'd be best served by bypassing the AUX battery and replacing the main battery with a quality aftermarket AGM battery.
With the bypass completed (takes about 15 minutes), your new main battery will do all of the work reliably and consistently.

My '24 Canyon has Auto Start/Stop and it's all on one battery. MANY other modern vehicles operate exactly the same way with one battery.

Jeep FUBAR'd the battery setup on these things and they're still doing it.

 

[Bananaman]

The aux battery is there (in my understanding) to stabilize the computer electronics during a stop/start event, (although many other vehicles do it with only one battery).
If you don't use, and/or have disabled the stop/start "feature" not having the aux battery is fine, although I can't speak for having aux switches.
I disconnected my aux battery months ago (and pulled the fuse, I think #42) and everything works just fine. In fact, according to my Banks gauge the voltage went from around 12.9 to 13.7 after I did that because I believe (and I may be wrong) that before, the voltage reading was both batteries in parallel and the aux battery was getting weak.

 

[sharpsicle]

Bypass it and let it sit right where it is and do nothing.
Consistent voltage from a failing battery that's trying to recharge itself by cannibalizing the only good battery is an exercise in the full suspension of common sense.

At warranty expiration times and mileage, you'd be best served by bypassing the AUX battery and replacing the main battery with a quality aftermarket AGM battery.
With the bypass completed (takes about 15 minutes), your new main battery will do all of the work reliably and consistently.

My '24 Canyon has Auto Start/Stop and it's all on one battery. MANY other modern vehicles operate exactly the same way with one battery.

Jeep FUBAR'd the battery setup on these things and they're still doing it.

Your ‘24 Canyon likely isn’t as sensitive to voltage drops. The Jeep electronics are quite sensitive to that, and we have seen numerous cases where people are left stranded at a light waiting for a reboot after an ESS event because of that. Hence, the aux battery.

If you want to run on one battery, that’s fine, but don’t use ESS then.

 

[Lunentucker]

My 21 Mojave ran ESS flawlessly after I bypassed the lawn mower battery.
The Canyon is SpaceX compared to the Jeep in terms of electronics.
It even tells which one of my trailer lights isn't working.

And again, placing the "sensitive electronics" in the care of a known failure is dumber than a bag of hammers.

 

[sharpsicle]

My 21 Mojave ran ESS flawlessly after I bypassed the lawn mower battery.
The Canyon is SpaceX compared to the Jeep in terms of electronics.
It even tells which one of my trailer lights isn't working.

And again, placing the "sensitive electronics" in the care of a known failure is dumber than a bag of hammers.

I won't feed the troll further. Good day, sir.

 

[93civej1]

On my 2020, i think mine just died out. It never complained though, it just quit working. I didnt care as I had no problems and no lights. Just nice nonworking auto stop/start without using any button.

 

[Flyboy2109]

Yes, delete.

I have the memory chip that remembers that I never want ESS on in my Sport S.

Removed the aux batt and in the Sport S, at least, the aux batt cables will just reach the main batt so I hooked them up to the main. I haven't pulled any relays or fuses. Been fine for two years. JT must think everything is normal.

 

[Andy29847]

If you don't use, and/or have disabled the stop/start "feature" not having the aux battery is fine, although I can't speak for having aux switches.

Interrupting the function of the aux switches is one of the steps programed into the Jeep for times that the battery test does not meet threshold boundaries. There is no relationship between the aux battery and the aux switches other than the test

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