[AlanGJP]

There's many times I'm sitting idle waiting and can see the benefit of my engine shutting off. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong that's avoiding it triggering, or if it's because it's a manual. I'd be nice if this feature worked. (I get it, it's a huge annoyance for a lot of people)

I've sat idle in neutral with the parking brake set and at lights with the brake down in neutral and the engine never shuts off. I do have a Tazer mini installed, but it didn't work before the install either. And I haven't turned on/off anything that should affect it afaik anyway.

It's done this since I bought it a couple months ago. 2019 2D JL 3.6 Manual. Any ideas?

 

[aldo90731]

Yes. Either (1) the auxiliary battery is not holding sufficient charge any more, or (2) you are not driving long enough to recharge the battery.

My bet is it is (1). The OE batteries are notorious for not lasting very long.

Good luck.

 

[AlanGJP]

My bet is it is (1). The OE batteries are notorious for not lasting very long.

Great. I'm guessing there's no way to know without digging in there and testing it? And at that point, might as well replace it given the work needed to get to the damn thing? Would a bad aux battery affect anything else?

 

[AlanGJP]

As an aside: I'm getting no errors, nothing. Just that the ESS does not function at all. I read in another thread someone's AUX went out and it started throwing errors. Not sure that matters, but strange to me that there's no indication it's bad other than ESS not working.

 

[aldo90731]

Great. I'm guessing there's no way to know without digging in there and testing it? And at that point, might as well replace it given the work needed to get to the damn thing? Would a bad aux battery affect anything else?

Yes. It will make your backup camera disappear and reappear, your CEL and TPMS lights to come on and go away, your speakers pop, your transfer case shift into 4H on its own, etc., etc.

As ridiculous as it all sounds, I am not kidding.

In my case, all of these gremlins appeared randomly over a two-week period. But when the speakers started popping, that’s when I finally replaced the batteries.

 

[AlanGJP]

Yes. It will make your backup camera disappear and reappear, your CEL and TPMS lights to come on and go away, your speakers pop, your transfer case shift into 4H on its own, etc., etc.

As ridiculous as it all sounds, I am not kidding.

In my case, all of these gremlins appeared randomly over a two-week period. But when the speakers started popping, that’s when I finally replaced the batteries.

Crazy. None of that is happening in mine. Everything works great outside of ESS. I assumed (incorrectly it seems) it was somehow disabled since I'm getting no errors, everything else works as it should...

Given the age - it's a 2019 with 10k miles on it - I'll probably swap out the AUX this weekend. Looks like it's going to be a bit of a chore, but do-able. Hopefully that takes care of my problems.

 

[splinter3267]

I've sat idle in neutral with the parking brake set and at lights with the brake down in neutral and the engine never shuts off.

Setting the parking brake will defeat the start stop process. Think I'd start there.

 

[Chugiakguy]

Setting the parking brake will defeat the start stop process. Think I'd start there.

When driving a manual transmission vehicle, I've never used the parking brake for anything but parking. It would NEVER have occurred to me to try to use it while actually driving! Unless perhaps I were stopped at a light on a very steep hill, a situation I've never found myself in.

 

[aldo90731]

And you are sure the ESS isn't disabled with the Tazer Mini...

 

[AlanGJP]

When driving a manual transmission vehicle, I've never used the parking brake for anything but parking. It would NEVER have occurred to me to try to use it while actually driving! Unless perhaps I were stopped at a light on a very steep hill, a situation I've never found myself in.

Parking lot waiting on family, sometimes for 10-20 mins. In neutral with the parking brake pulled.

 

[AlanGJP]

And you are sure the ESS isn't disabled with the Tazer Mini...

Pretty sure. I had the car a good week or two before getting the Tazer and the engine has never shut off at a light. I’ll double check the settings, but I know I didn’t disable it - unless it’s disabled by default, or I did it by accident (unlikely).

 

[Chugiakguy]

Parking lot waiting on family, sometimes for 10-20 mins. In neutral with the parking brake pulled.

OK, I could potentially see that situation. But if you're waiting that long, why keep it running the whole time? (I"m guessing maybe to run the heat or the A/C).

 

[aldo90731]

You need to have your foot firmly planted on the brake for ESS to engage. It won’t come on any other way.

If you even shift your foot just a tiny bit on the brake pedal, ESS will disengage.

 

[AlanGJP]

(I"m guessing maybe to run the heat or the A/C).

Yup, usually not alone either. It’s minor really, just figure if it should do it automatically, it’d be nice in my circumstance.

 

[Chugiakguy]

You need to have your foot firmly planted on the brake for ESS to engage. It won’t come on any other way. If you even wiggle your foot just a tiny bit on the brake pedal, ESS will disengage.

I have to wonder how the ESS works for those many ignorant drivers who like to use the brake AND the accelerator simultaneously?

 

[AlanGJP]

You need to have your foot firmly planted on the brake for ESS to engage. It won’t come on any other way. If you even wiggle your foot just a tiny bit on the brake pedal, ESS will disengage.

I see. So it won’t engage if I’m “parked” with it in neutral and the brake pulled.

Could you give me an example that would trigger it? Something I could do in my drive way - for instance.

Seems awful finicky. I figured by the posts here hating on it - I’d be coming on at every chance it has.

 

[aldo90731]

I have to wonder how the ESS works for those many ignorant drivers who like to use the brake AND the accelerator simultaneously?

I have to wonder how those who drive with their feet on both the gas and the brake pedals get anywhere...

 

[aldo90731]

I see. So it won’t engage if I’m “parked” with it in neutral and the brake pulled.

Could you give me an example that would trigger it? Something I could do in my drive way - for instance.

Seems awful finicky. I figured by the posts here hating on it - I’d be coming on at every chance it has.

Yes. It is finicky.

For instance, when I drive to the gym, 7 minutes away, ESS won’t engage at the first stop sign, only 30 seconds away from my driveway. But it will engage by the time I hit the first light, which is 2 or 3 minutes away. I don’t know if it needs a little time or reach a certain speed first for a ESS to become available. At that point all I have to do is come to a complete stop and keep my foot on the brake. ESS will kick in right away.

If I shuffle my foot on the brake, though, ESS will disengage immediately and it WON’T COME ON AGAIN until the vehicle starts moving and I come to a complete stop at another light. At that point the cycle starts all over.

Those who don’t like ESS learn to shuffle their foot on the brake when they come to a full stop to prevent the system from engaging.

 

[Chugiakguy]

I have to wonder how those who drive with their feet on both the gas and the brake pedals get anywhere...

Indeed. Although sad to say, that is far from the least stupid thing I see many drivers do. Such as this recent penchant many of them have to blindly barrel onto a freeway or highway without any consideration whatsoever for the existing traffic in the right-hand (merging) lane. I've narrowly avoided two separate collisions in recent months due to this --- in very light traffic!

 

[aldo90731]

PS - I HATED ESS at first, but I don’t mind it any more.

I now feel bad when I’m idling at a light, burning gas for no good reason.