Spent $600.00 on the Gladiator today and nothing to show for it.

[Sean3565]

Started out the morning swapping out both batteries, then an oil change, and filled the tank with gas. After spending $600.00 and no new mods to show for it I guess I will chill for the rest of the Labor Day weekend. Anyway, after driving the truck around this past Sunday, I had left it parked outside the garage while I did some cleaning and organizing inside the garage. After I had finished getting things in order I went to put the truck back inside the garage and it wouldn't start. I jumped it with my new jump box that I recently bought for such occasions. The truck is a 2021, put into service on 6/1/2021 so I guess I can't complain too much about having to replace the batteries. After I took care of all the maintenance I cleaned it inside and out so I can admire it the rest of the weekend while is sits in the garage cause I spent all my vacation cash on it. But seriously I do love this truck!

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[Badunit]

I can't complain too much about having to replace the batteries.

Replacing batteries after 4 years doesn't bother me too much, though I got an amazing 11 years out of the OEM batteries in my 2003 Ram (before I sold it, like an idiot). What I don't like is when a battery goes dead with no warning signs. Back in the day we would know because it would crank slower and slower each time and you took your chances on how long to let it go. Now the warning signs, if any, are unexplained electrical gremlins and fault messages then click, dead.

My mods so far have all been stealth. They have all been to make the handling and steering better. Max Tow springs in the rear to make the rear more solid and balance it front-to-back, shocks, PSC steering gear, Mopar long lower control arms, better stabilizer, etc.

 

[suspension]

How much where the batteries??

 

[Rick_Jame55]

“J”ust “E”mpty “E”very “P”ocket . Not really sure who has it worse jeep owners, or Harley Davidson owners. But oh is the poor man who owns both….

 

[Lost1wing]

I feel your pain. I have spent over $5000 in the last two weeks, trying to finish my garage project. A garage that I will never use, because the wife decided to move. I killed the garage door openers and the insulation ideas.

When I finish this garage, I will have to start over at the new place. The JT has been homeless for 6 months already. The place we bought has a nice heated and cooled garage. But, the previous owner never installed an opener. It's on my list of things to do, but life just gets in the way.

Maybe I can fire up the grill on my break this weekend. Happy Holiday boys and girls!

 

[Sean3565]

How much where the batteries??

I bought the Duralast batteries from AutoZone which is the same as an Interstate with a different label. A friend of mine works in the factory where these batteries are produced. I was shopping for Interstate batteries and he told me that the Duralast is the identical batteries with a different label. The two of them together were $460.00, which is about the cost of just the main battery at Mopar. The dealership quoted me $900.00 to replace the 2 batteries. The way I look at it, I paid myself $440.00 to do it. Plus I took the time to vacuum the dust and grit from both battery boxes and cleaned the whole engine bay which I'm sure that the dealership would have not done. At least I know it was done right even though changing the aux. battery is a pain.

 

[Hootbro]

I have never thought of normal maintenance expenses as "nothing to show for it". The fact it continues to be in service is what shows for it.

 

[Sean3565]

I have never thought of normal maintenance expenses as "nothing to show for it". The fact it continues to be in service is what shows for it.

Very true.

 

[ecidiego]

I charge mine through the tow connector once a month. Seems to avoid the commin issue of the motorcycle battery shitting itself and taking out the main. The alternator will NEVER charge the batteries to full, it cuts out too early.

Get a good AGM charger and maintain the batteries.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

Started out the morning swapping out both batteries, then an oil change, and filled the tank with gas. After spending $600.00 and no new mods to show for it I guess I will chill for the rest of the Labor Day weekend. Anyway, after driving the truck around this past Sunday, I had left it parked outside the garage while I did some cleaning and organizing inside the garage. After I had finished getting things in order I went to put the truck back inside the garage and it wouldn't start. I jumped it with my new jump box that I recently bought for such occasions. The truck is a 2021, put into service on 6/1/2021 so I guess I can't complain too much about having to replace the batteries. After I took care of all the maintenance I cleaned it inside and out so I can admire it the rest of the weekend while is sits in the garage cause I spent all my vacation cash on it. But seriously I do love this truck!

Wow that sucks! However did you take the time to thoroughly an fully charge the new batteries before you installed them? Or just put them in and took a short drive around, then park it? I would try to recharge the batteries together in the Jeep to see how that helps. It the issue of non start returns? You have a parasitic draw somewhere.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have never thought of normal maintenance expenses as "nothing to show for it". The fact it continues to be in service is what shows for it.

Beat me to it. Don't do any maintenance and see just how much it costs then!

All vehicles require some maintenance. Some more than others, depending on use and function.

Or you could be like the guy the IHP trooper told us he ran across - you don't have to do oil changes and maintenance on a leased vehicle! HA.

With frequent enough and/or long enough driving, these will get fully charged. It does happen. The problem is - few actually drive them often or long enough.
Frequent long drives with mine gets them back up to 12.7 (12.6 with the parasitic load still connected) - so they can charge up properly. But - it takes a lot of driving.
Mine should stay up nicely with the many 2 hour drives I have coming up.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The truck is a 2021, put into service on 6/1/2021 so I guess I can't complain too much about having to replace the batteries.

I'd reference my comments elsewhere - where I told of people in a parts store complaining "I can't get over 4 years out of car batteries any more". Others there agreed.
And - I ran into the same thing with my 1982 car that only has one load while it's sitting - the radio presets, and was normally on a battery maintainer. 4 years, barely - and it went quick.

 

[Sean3565]

Wow that sucks! However did you take the time to thoroughly an fully charge the new batteries before you installed them? Or just put them in and took a short drive around, then park it? I would try to recharge the batteries together in the Jeep to see how that helps. It the issue of non start returns? You have a parasitic draw somewhere.

Yes sir, I charged them both overnight before installing them the next evening. Which is another thing that I'm sure the dealer would not have done. They actually wanted to charge me $75.00 to test the old batteries before replacing them. What are the chances that they would have come back and said both your batteries are good, hang on to the $900.00 that we were going to charge you to replace them?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes sir, I charged them both overnight before installing them the next evening. Which is another thing that I'm sure the dealer would not have done. They actually wanted to charge me $75.00 to test the old batteries before replacing them. What are the chances that they would have come back and said both your batteries are good, hang on to the $900.00 that we were going to charge you to replace them?

You can get a printout of the tests.

When doing warranty battery checks, the machine they use has to be connected to FCA via wifi and the results transmitted directly to FCA from the machine - after scanning the bar code on the battery. You can ask for the test results.

 

[Charles 236]

You can get a printout of the tests.

When doing warranty battery checks, the machine they use has to be connected to FCA via wifi and the results transmitted directly to FCA from the machine - after scanning the bar code on the battery. You can ask for the test results.

I always included printouts of both battery tests when working in the dealership. For one thing, it showed that the batteries were actually tested and not just recharged and sent out as good to go. Also, when the batteries were defective, not just discharged, there was proof in print from the testing equipment we were using at the time. Pre-charging batteries is a big help to customer satisfaction as well. When I retired, I had 100% Fixed First Visit scores, which was based on customer reports, and I wasn't willing to gamble on improper battery service techniques putting that at risk.

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