Start/Stop malfunction?

[motorman27]

I got pretty good at remembering to hit the off button each time I got in my willys gladiator. The last several times I didn't and realized the function was not shutting the engine off when I stopped. I pulled the info up on the dash display and it states start/stop not ready, no reason. I am glad about it but also wondering if something is wrong. Any thoughts?

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[ShadowsPapa]

I got pretty good at remembering to hit the off button each time I got in my willys gladiator. The last several times I didn't and realized the function was not shutting the engine off when I stopped. I pulled the info up on the dash display and it states start/stop not ready, no reason. I am glad about it but also wondering if something is wrong. Any thoughts?

There's several threads on this.........
There are over 2 dozen things the PCM and other modules check before deciding ESS should work. Most of those give you no message.
There are also certain malfunctions that can cause it to not work and say "not ready" with no other reason - among those, issues detected with the engine (misfires detected but NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) or other parts of the truck. If the CATs aren't up to temperature, it wont' work and will give no reason (that can mean an issue as well)
Like it or not, ESS can be an indicator of things going wrong - from batteries going bad to engine issues detected that do NOT always set the MIL (malfunction indicator light - many call the "check engine light" although it covers all malfunctions, not just engine)

I'd check battery voltage with the truck not running, check it after a day of sitting (if possible, that is - some drive them daily), and see what the voltage is in the cluster display or Off Road Pages with the truck running. Batteries going south are a common issue with these (frankly, with any Jeep).

 

[motorman27]

Thanks very much. at 197 degrees the battery shows 14.2. I'll check it after sitting a day. It does sit a lot, iv'e had it 2 years and only racked up 7500 miles. Thanks again for your info and suggestions.

 

[HooliganActual]

+1 to what Papa said. I’m in Arizona and the summer temps just destroy batteries. Mine lasted about as long as your scenario before I started getting that error. Looks like you are in Florida with similar temps.

Occam’s Razor says look at BOTH batteries (in case you weren’t aware that there are actually 2).

 

[motorman27]

Thanks buddy (Fellow Navy). I don't know as much as I should about these newer jeeps but I did know about the other battery (I got a laugh out of that) I may have to end up taking it in just to make sure it's not something bigger.

 

[Carrotzilla]

Looks like after the mini battery dies, you can’t jump the main. After your warranty expires, ditch the mini and rewire. At least the start stop will be disabled.

 

[motorman27]

Appreciate the response, thanks.

 

[FoxForce4]

Have had mine for a bit over 2 years; just swapped in my 3rd battery. First one was croaked when I got it, so second one lasted about 2 years and a bit. Speaking to the service guy he suggested they just don’t seem to last very long.

 

[Lunentucker]

 

[motorman27]

Damn!

 

[Casique]

As soon as my warranty runs out, I'm switching to the Genesis Dual Battery System. I've had no issues in 1.5 years, but it is a crappy system to begin with.

 

[rr11]

My biggest complaint about the start/stop system is the location of the second battery. Some one dropped the ball on that one.

 

[HooliganActual]

My biggest complaint about the start/stop system is the location of the second battery. Some one dropped the ball on that one.

Not that I entirely disagree, but when I replaced mine I went through the fender well and it just wasn’t that bad. Now… not making all of the fender clips more removable/reusable for the purpose of replacing that battery is where I think they could have done better.

 

[AZJT]

My ESS gave me a dashboard light literally on the day I bought it - dealership tested both batteries and found that, sure enough, one or both were bad (can't remember which). As a fellow Arizonan says above, our heat is HELL on batteries. I recently changed out my main battery (it died) and shortly after, the aux battery died - had to change that one out, too. I wish they never put this system in my Jeep, or at least made it an option. It's crap and I NEVER use it (my Tazer leaves it off full-time for me).

 

[rr11]

My brother was ordering work F150s last month and he found you can order a F150 without the start/stop system. Wow how would have thought.

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