Jeep wouldn't start this Morning

[Kevin_D]

There’s been discussion on using a powersports battery for the AUX battery. They’re usually less expensive; have you checked that option?
Found this:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/14-bs-motorcycle-battery-experiment.55768/

Kevin

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[Jeeperjamie]

There’s been discussion on using a powersports battery for the AUX battery. They’re usually less expensive; have you checked that option?

Kevin

I haven't but I'm down here now at the dealership getting the small battery put in, Maybe next time I guess. Our 2017 BMW X5 50i has 65,000 miles on it and has ESS on it and the battery is still going strong in it. Seems premature for less than 3yrs and 57,000 miles for one to fail but I guess anything can happen

 

[XraytecH]

I just watched one on YouTube that showed how to do it by removing the fuse box. Seemed like a little work but not to bad. I feel like they could of come up with a better place for that battery but I guess it is what it is. I'm gonna give it a shot, took the day off now to commit to it so hopefully I can avoid some bloody knuckles. Now time to locate a ESS battery.

I went through the passenger wheel well, way easier.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I went through the passenger wheel well, way easier.

Yeah, I saw both but I ain't got time to really mess with it and I really didn't want to honestly. Some things you just let someone else take in the headache , especially when it's only a $76 headache to pass on

 

[Puch]

I went through two AUX batteries before I decided to delete. Isolated the ground and ran the positive to the main battery. Replaced the main battery with an Odyssey. haven't had an issue since.

I was going to do this too, but I thought someone said it doesn’t work for long? Something about the system is looking for different current from two batteries. If the system sees the current draw is the same at the Aux and main battery’s, you get the service ESS warning light after a couple starts.
How long have you had it like this? Any warning lights?

 

[kevman65]

Personally, when it happens, I'm losing the Aux battery.

You either make a jumper and go from N1 to N3 or you pull F42 fuse. Isolate the battery leads for the Aux and you're done.

 

[XraytecH]

Yeah, I saw both but I ain't got time to really mess with it and I really didn't want to honestly. Some things you just let someone else take in the headache , especially when it's only a $76 headache to pass on

Sorry man, I should have read the whole thread.

 

[Lost1wing]

I chickened out and brought it to the dealership. They said $188 to replace the small battery. I'll just have them throw one in and then have Advance put the big battery in since they will drop it in for free. It was going to be $112 for small battery any ways, for $76 more I'll happily let the dealership put it in, my times worth more than that. The $536 quote was with a $87 diagnosis fee because it's out of warranty. I just took it by advance and had them test it for free. What the heck, $87 to test a battery, SMH on that one.

Advance said the big battery seemed to be ok, so I'm gonna get the small one replaced and then see what happens.

I don't get the diagnostic fee when you bring it in and ask them to replace the aux battery. Unless you asked them to check out the system, what is the diagnostic fee for?

I was I a road trip and my 5.4l ford tossed a spark plug. I drove it to a dealer and ask them to replace the coil, plug and install a helicoil. When the job was over the bill was $1000. I asked what the diagnostic fee was for since I told them what to do. They said it was standard to charge the fee. I told them that I wasn't paying for it. It took the dealership owner to waive the fee. It is just wrong.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I don't get the diagnostic fee when you bring it in and ask them to replace the aux battery. Unless you asked them to check out the system, what is the diagnostic fee for?

I was I a road trip and my 5.4l ford tossed a spark plug. I drove it to a dealer and ask them to replace the coil, plug and install a helicoil. When the job was over the bill was $1000. I asked what the diagnostic fee was for since I told them what to do. They said it was standard to charge the fee. I told them that I wasn't paying for it. It took the dealership owner to waive the fee. It is just wrong.

Yeah, they aren't charging me the fee, they had added in over the phone to replace both batteries when they quoted me $536, it actually would of been a little more with taxes,like $570 something. They tried to say they needed to do the test when I got down here but I told them I wasn't paying $87 for them to tell me exactly what advance told me. They said they had better equipment to test it than advance but I mean we ain't talking about a engine or transmission diagnostics, it's a battery and if it's good it's good and if it's bad it's bad. The big one was showing good charge and the ESS hasn't worked in I know at least 3 weeks. The last time I remember it engaging I remember thinking it seems like something was off when it cranked back up, like it seemed weak or something. I'm pretty sure it's the small battery, but if not I'll handle the big battery myself.

I get it though they got to try to make money and this dealership has always been good to me so I'm not bashing them. They are some people that will just let them do it and pay the $87 and I'll let those people pay it but I'm not.

 

[Mister Lamb]

You can probably get away with replacing just the AUX battery for a while if you don't feel like dropping $500+

 

[legacy_etu]

Yeah, they aren't charging me the fee, they had added in over the phone to replace both batteries when they quoted me $536, it actually would of been a little more with taxes,like $570 something. They tried to say they needed to do the test when I got down here but I told them I wasn't paying $87 for them to tell me exactly what advance told me. They said they had better equipment to test it than advance but I mean we ain't talking about a engine or transmission diagnostics, it's a battery and if it's good it's good and if it's bad it's bad. The big one was showing good charge and the ESS hasn't worked in I know at least 3 weeks. The last time I remember it engaging I remember thinking it seems like something was off when it cranked back up, like it seemed weak or something. I'm pretty sure it's the small battery, but if not I'll handle the big battery myself.

I get it though they got to try to make money and this dealership has always been good to me so I'm not bashing them. They are some people that will just let them do it and pay the $87 and I'll let those people pay it but I'm not.

Don't forget to throw a charger on the new battery. I've yet to buy a battery that didn't require at least 6 hours on a charger to get it up to a full charge. In fact a battery I bought for my Mother's car required a day and a half on a charger to get a full charge into it.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

You can probably get away with replacing just the AUX battery for a while if you don't feel like dropping $500+

Well I was going to do that but they went ahead and done the diagnostic on the battery without charging me and apparently it is the big battery. The smaller battery was showing good charge but the bigger battery was showing a dead cell. Not sure how this system works but that seems crazy. I questioned it but on their computer that's what it's showing. $300 for them to drop it in, guess I'm going to let them do it since I'm down here. It's a long wait when you don't have a appointment.

 

[Mister Lamb]

Well I was going to do that but they went ahead and done the diagnostic on the battery without charging me and apparently it is the big battery. The smaller battery was showing good charge but the bigger battery was showing a dead cell. Not sure how this system works but that seems crazy. I questioned it but on their computer that's what it's showing. $300 for them to drop it in, guess I'm going to let them do it since I'm down here. It's a long wait when you don't have a appointment.

You're at or near the 3-year mark and they replaced your main battery and not the AUX?

You're going to have problems in the near future because regardless of what they're claiming, that AUX battery is not lasting much longer.

When that crappy little battery dies, it renders the whole truck useless. When you start noticing the ESS automatically disabling it's a tell-tale sign the AUX is on it's way out. Just went through it with my wife's Compass. Was dying every day. I ended up replacing both but put the AUX first and the car started right up. Was tempted to keep the main battery in but already bought the replacement.

If I was you id buy an AUX battery for the $100 and keep it on hand because I can't imagine yours at 36 months lasting all that much longer.

 

[RickF]

My ESS stopped working, too, and then the main battery failed completely a few weeks later. I charged it enough to get it started once with my external charger, then drove to O'Reilly Auto Parts and had them replace the battery. I was impressed with the speed and quality of their service--no charge to install it and I was out of there in 15 minutes. Try that at a specialized battery store.

Bill was about $250 for the strongest, highest-quality battery they carry in the correct size.

I was disappointed that the factory battery only lasted two years, but then, San Antonio heat plus a tight engine bay without much airflow is probably very bad for a battery.

Anyway, I did NOT have to replace the auxiliary battery, as the ESS not only started working again with the new main battery, it started working much better. Before, with the A/C on, the engine would only stop for 25-30 seconds. Now, it will stay off for the duration of a longer stoplight--a full minute or more.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

You're at or near the 3-year mark and they replaced your main battery and not the AUX?

You're going to have problems in the near future because regardless of what they're claiming, that AUX battery is not lasting much longer.

When that crappy little battery dies, it renders the whole truck useless. When you start noticing the ESS automatically disabling it's a tell-tale sign the AUX is on it's way out. Just went through it with my wife's Compass. Was dying every day. I ended up replacing both but put the AUX first and the car started right up. Was tempted to keep the main battery in but already bought the replacement.

If I was you id buy an AUX battery for the $100 and keep it on hand because I can't imagine yours at 36 months lasting all that much longer.

I'm gonna buy one, the computer showed it was still good. Apparently they are hit or miss with how long they last. My buddies 2019 JL has just over 100,000 miles on it and he's still running off the same same batteries that came in it when he bought it new. Pretty much the same system we got in the gladiator. I'll have one on hand and I trust the guy down here at Hendricks. Frank's never done me wrong, he said a lot of people do the small one and it ends up being the bigger battery that's the problem. I'll see what happens. Worst case I'll have to replace the small battery as well.

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