Waiting for the hatchet to fall ...............

[Sunnysideup]

3 years two months... lost the aux battery in July, lost the main battery last week. I had swapped the aux battery with a higher quality battery and now I swapped the 94R with a Northstar AGM (100 bucks more than most). The sides of the stock battery seemed to be bulged out? Everything is running fine again- but now I wonder if the new aux battery is damaged from the main battery going out? Guess time will tell?

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[BearFootSam]

My biggest complaint with stop-start is that we don’t get a good old physical ignition key. I am not super keen on the button, it doesn’t give me the tactile and auditory warm and fuzzy. On the other hand, the handful of times so far it’s been in the single digits I have appreciated the remote start which is a new one for me.

On the diesel I would have some concerns with the turbo coking oil after say coming off the highway or towing. When I had my old 2.0 TDI I could get off the autobahn and be in my garage in down town Stuttgart in less than five minutes. I would always let her idle a few minutes in the drive before shutting down for this reason. That said, stop-start has been prevalent in the EU for a long time, including diesels and small turbos, and they seem to do ok. I suspect the technology is pretty mature at this point.

Since quite a few gladiators come with the HD 240amp alternator which is really overkill for this application, the charging system should handle it. In my past experience a monthly night on the battery tender is the single best thing you can do for longevity.

For normal use I think the system is well designed. Off road I’d turn it off for various reasons but on road no problem.

 

[Raven65]

I was also anti-ESS before I understood how the system works and that the starter was beefed up to handle the extra work. I don't mind it now... leave it on most of the time. Better fuel mileage and less emissions... win/win. I don't get the fear around being stranded somewhere by a dead battery. Just spend $50 for one of those small Li-Ion/Li-Po jump batteries. The first time you have to use it, replace your batteries and get on with your life. Done. I've been carrying one in all of my vehicles for years. No more worries about being stranded due to a dead battery.

 

[Jeepasaurus_Rex]

I've got the Cascadia solar panel on my hood that charges the battery with sunlight. I'm curious to see if this will help with the longevity of the factory batteries.

So far no issues, and I use it to run my fridge while the jeep is off, too.

 

[seanmh72]

I was also anti-ESS before I understood how the system works and that the starter was beefed up to handle the extra work. I don't mind it now... leave it on most of the time. Better fuel mileage and less emissions... win/win. I don't get the fear around being stranded somewhere by a dead battery. Just spend $50 for one of those small Li-Ion/Li-Po jump batteries. The first time you have to use it, replace your batteries and get on with your life. Done. I've been carrying one in all of my vehicles for years. No more worries about being stranded due to a dead battery.

Why do I have to spend more money to make sure I don’t get stranded? Why not produce a product that works?

Guess they should go back to the crank method of starting a vehicle.

Seems that’s where we are headed. It isn’t 2022, it’s 1922.

 

[Raven65]

Why do I have to spend more money to make sure I don’t get stranded? Why not produce a product that works?

Guess they should go back to the crank method of starting a vehicle.

Seems that’s where we are headed. It isn’t 2022, it’s 1922.

It does work. Batteries die. They just do. It doesn’t cost much to be prepared. If you can afford a $45k-$70k+ truck, you can afford a $50 jump battery for WHEN that happens.

 

[seanmh72]

It does work. Batteries die. They just do. It doesn’t cost much to be prepared. If you can afford a $45k-$70k+ truck, you can afford a $50 jump battery for WHEN that happens.

Or there could be a built in mechanism to let you know the battery is going bad…..again, make things work. It isn’t 1922.

 

[Raven65]

Or there could be a built in mechanism to let you know the battery is going bad…..again, make things work. It isn’t 1922.

Really? Name ANY manufacturer that has such a mechanism.

 

[Jeepasaurus_Rex]

Why do I have to spend more money to make sure I don’t get stranded? Why not produce a product that works?

Guess they should go back to the crank method of starting a vehicle.

Seems that’s where we are headed. It isn’t 2022, it’s 1922.

You don't HAVE to

 

[seanmh72]

Really? Name ANY manufacturer that has such a mechanism.

https://www.walmart.com/search?q=battery testers

When I buy a car, I buy it with the expectation that it will work. I don’t buy it with the expectation that it will fail.

 

[OVERLORD]

This thread went into an interesting direction.

In closing...

I don't care about gas mileage; I'm driving a brick anyway.

I don't care about emissions, at all.

I do care about getting stranded.

I do care about wear and tear on components, because the system doubles, or more, the number activations on a given trip

Here's my thought ...

If I make it through till spring, I will replace both batteries in my low miles 2020.

I have remote pigtails on my motorcycle batteries for trickle charging, and testing, if needed.

I think I'll attach one of those pigtails on the secondary battery in an accessible location in the Gladiator.

What say you?

Schumacher Ring Connection Cable for Battery Chargers and Maintainers: 18 inches WM-12 - Advance Auto Parts

 

[briscoelab]

Really? Name ANY manufacturer that has such a mechanism.

Lol, right? Je$us Christ. This board never fails to remind me that people will complain about literally anything.

 

[Geoarch]

ASS is hated because of the way it is implemented...Yea, if you like it have at it, but it should default off upon starting the vehicle and (not on). For those who want it to save a few pennies driving in heavy traffic, go head and enable it. But many of us don't drive in heavy traffic and have better and more meaningful ways to feel good about ourselves for "saving the planet" from climate change.

I had a 2015 BMW Z4 and when you turned it off, it stayed off. Perhaps that can't be the case anymore.

 

[Geoarch]

I think @ShadowsPapa said it too. But they aren't allowed to default to off and claim the mpg benefits. It's that simple. It's sounds ridiculous, but it's the EPA rule.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a...-to-deactivate-stopstart-systems-temporarily/

Here is the relevant section:

"But if a vehicle’s stop/start system can be permanently turned off, then the vehicle’s fuel economy is tested both when stop/start is active and when it’s off. The EPA then averages the two tests for a resulting fuel-economy rating found on the car’s window sticker—which is certain to be lower.
"

Well, that makes me feel better about my JTR mileage. I get about 16 in town and about 18 highway (if I stay below 70 mph). I have 35" tires. Add about 10% to that and it's close to the EPA mileage on the sticker. My ESS has had a warning (the A with a !) for a couple of months and hasn't been working which is fine by me. I'll have the dealer look at it at my first oil change, then pull the Aux cable and the fuse and be done with it. Re-connect it at the next oil change and not worry about it. My voltage reads in the 14s unless I go on a long trip. I'm retired so not commuting.

 

[seanmh72]

Lol, right? Je$us Christ. This board never fails to remind me that people will complain about literally anything.

Yep, complaining about a $60,000 truck where the batteries don’t last more than 3 years….I should hang my head in shame.

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