ESS, AUX Battery Delete and Remote Start...

5422 Views 30 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Lone-Wolf, 7 d ago

Ranger_10X

Discussion Starter · 5 mo ago

I'm experiencing the well-known aux battery failure. It's actually no surprise - the ESS 'feature' has frequently not worked since new. But this time it affected the main battery, and it resulted in a no-start and all sorts of electrical issues until I isolated the aux battery. I am thinking I want to delete the aux battery all together but want to have a clear picture of what doing that might affect. Specifically, will the remote start continue to work without it? Up to this point the remote start has increasingly refused to work, especially when it's cold outside or the vehicle has been sitting awhile. This seems to tie the issue to the aux battery problem, so will deleting it eliminate remote start capability?

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StevieTex

· #2 · 5 mo ago

That's a good question. Someone here surely can answer it for you.

As for eliminating the battery, consider that your dealer might have an issue with it if you need warranty work done even though it isn't causing any problems by being removed.

Are you simply wanting to do a work around, or go to a different dual battery system like Genesis?

FWIW, several here have replaced the factory batteries with quality replacements from battery stores and the problem seems to be eliminated for a long time afterwards because the factory batteries are of very poor quality in the first place.

Reactions: 2

Old Dogger

· #3 · 5 mo ago

Just remove fuse F42. Then remove the negative battery cable from the aux battery, where it is attached to the main battery negative cable. Next replace your main battery with a H7 AGM Battery. That is all that is to it. As for your remote start, I have no experience with them.

Reactions: 2

Chugiakguy

· #4 · 5 mo ago

Old Dogger said:
Just remove fuse F42. Then remove the negative battery cable from the aux battery, where it is attached to the main battery negative cable. Next replace your main battery with a H7 AGM Battery. That is all that is to it. As for your remote start, I have no experience with them.

In doing all that, Old Dogger, I assume that the small battery should actually be removed from the engine compartment as well?

Reactions: 2

Old Dogger

· #5 · 5 mo ago

Chugiakguy said:
In doing all that, Old Dogger, I assume that the small battery should actually be removed from the engine compartment as well?

When the time comes, I will on ours. But some don’t. In time, it will just deteriorate and crack. I am not sure, but I don’t think that the OEM Battery is a AGM. So if it cracks in time, freezes in your area, it will just make a mess with the leaking acid.

Reactions: 1

Chugiakguy

· #6 · 5 mo ago

Old Dogger said:
When the time comes, I will on ours. But some don’t. In time, it will just deteriorate and crack. I am not sure, but I don’t think that the OEM Battery is a AGM. So if it cracks in time, freezes in your area, it will just make a mess with the leaking acid.

Yeah, that is exactly what I was thinking and wondering about.

Reactions: 1

Mudyapster

· #7 · 5 mo ago

I deleted my Aux battery when it started acting up and my remote start still works as designed. My JL came with a AGM H7 main battery and AGM Aux battery. The AGM Aux battery is a small 12ah battery.
I have a Tazer mini and disabled the start stop function with it.
My Jeep never knew it had a AUX battery and everything works as it should without it.
Get rid of it before it kills your main battery and leaves you stranded in BFE.
We overland and besides having a onboard ARB refrigerator running we have a ton of accessories going all day and have no issues. At night we run our refrigerator off of a lithium battery. During the day while driving all accessories and lithium battery are recharged using our onboard 500 watt true sine inverter and charger.
So there you have it get rid of the aux battery and put a H7 series battery in and be done with it. No worries 👍
PS;
Walmart carries a AGM H7 with a 4 year Free replacement warranty for $170.
Happy Jeeping!!!

Reactions: 1

aldo90731

· #8 · 5 mo ago

Doing the auxiliary battery delete is overkill IMO. Simply replacing the crummy OE batteries with a set of decent aftermarket brand makes the problem go away for good.

I replaced both OE batteries two years ago and everything on the Jeep works like charm. Including the ESS in sub-freezing temperatures.

Something to keep in mind if you are still covered by the factory warranty, by an extended warranty, and want to keep it that way.

Reactions: 2

Ranger_10X

Discussion Starter · #9 · 4 mo ago

Mudyapster said:
I deleted my Aux battery when it started acting up and my remote start still works as designed. My JL came with a AGM H7 main battery and AGM Aux battery. The AGM Aux battery is a small 12ah battery.
I have a Tazer mini and disabled the start stop function with it.
My Jeep never knew it had a AUX battery and everything works as it should without it.
Get rid of it before it kills your main battery and leaves you stranded in BFE.
We overland and besides having a onboard ARB refrigerator running we have a ton of accessories going all day and have no issues. At night we run our refrigerator off of a lithium battery. During the day while driving all accessories and lithium battery are recharged using our onboard 500 watt true sine inverter and charger.
So there you have it get rid of the aux battery and put a H7 series battery in and be done with it. No worries 👍
PS;
Walmart carries a AGM H7 with a 4 year Free replacement warranty for $170.
Happy Jeeping!!!

Thanks, that answers my question. I'll be removing the aux battery. Thought about replacing it with a quality AGM type, but those are pricey and I really don't see the need for ESS so I'll disable it with the Tazer. Save a little weight in the process.

Reactions: 1

Chugiakguy

· #10 · 4 mo ago

Ranger_10X said:
Thanks, that answers my question. I'll be removing the aux battery. Thought about replacing it with a quality AGM type, but those are pricey and I really don't see the need for ESS so I'll disable it with the Tazer. Save a little weight in the process.

I'm right there with you, Ranger.

I just permanently disabled my ESS system a few days ago, so there is now utterly no reason to keep that little, so-called "auxiliary" (read: parasite) battery, and some very good reasons to delete it --- namely, the dead weight that it now is, and the parasitic draw on the main battery that it effectively functions as, as well. It is just an electrical tapeworm, serving no positive purpose.

Reactions: 1

Rubiroo

· #11 · 3 mo ago

Old Dogger said:
Just remove fuse F42. Then remove the negative battery cable from the aux battery, where it is attached to the main battery negative cable. Next replace your main battery with a H7 AGM Battery. That is all that is to it. As for your remote start, I have no experience with them.

So you are leaving the small batteries positive connected to the main battery? Isn’t the main battery still going to send voltage to the smaller one?

Old Dogger

· #12 · 3 mo ago

Rubiroo said:
So you are leaving the small batteries positive connected to the main battery? Isn’t the main battery still going to send voltage to the smaller one?

Welcome to the Forum!
Nope, without a ground, the battery is disconnected.

MrEd

· #13 · 2 mo ago

This is a great threat, thanks! My 2018 JLU just left me stranded at a busy intersection. Warning message said it was "Stop/Start System malfunction". I suspect it is the AUX Battery as I just recently replaced the main battery. I am not a fan of Auto Stop/Start so I am actually glad it is Auto disabled by a malfunction. But I don't know what else may be effected or about to crap out if I ignore it. I definitely don't want it to degrade my main battery, so I'll either replace AUX with new one or remove it?

MrEd

· #14 · 2 mo ago

Thread not threat! Dam Auto correct!

aldo90731

· #15 · 2 mo ago

MrEd said:
This is a great threat, thanks! My 2018 JLU just left me stranded at a busy intersection. Warning message said it was "Stop/Start System malfunction". I suspect it is the AUX Battery as I just recently replaced the main battery. I am not a fan of Auto Stop/Start so I am actually glad it is Auto disabled by a malfunction. But I don't know what else may be effected or about to crap out if I ignore it. I definitely don't want it to degrade my main battery, so I'll either replace AUX with new one or remove it?

If you have any reason to go into the dealership for warranty work, I’d replace the auxiliary battery. Removing it gives the dealer ammunition to refuse having to honor the warranty.

You will find that once you have an auxiliary battery of good quality, i.e., NOT Mopar, all your battery issues will become a thing of the past.

Good luck.

MrEd

· #16 · 2 mo ago

Copy That. Good advice, Thanks!

POLARIS PRO

· #17 · 2 mo ago

aldo90731 said:
Doing the auxiliary battery delete is overkill IMO. Simply replacing the crummy OE batteries with a set of decent aftermarket brand makes the problem go away for good.

I replaced both OE batteries two years ago and everything on the Jeep works like charm. Including the ESS in sub-freezing temperatures.

Something to keep in mind if you are still covered by the factory warranty, by an extended warranty, and want to keep it that way.

What batteries did you go with?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

aldo90731

· #18 · 2 mo ago

POLARIS PRO said:
What batteries did you go with?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Super Start direct fit replacement recommended by O'Reilly Auto Parts.

Reactions: 1

Digger84

· #19 · 2 mo ago

Rubiroo said:
So you are leaving the small batteries positive connected to the main battery? Isn’t the main battery still going to send voltage to the smaller one?

A battery is an electron pump
Electrons enter at the positive and are pumped out the negative lead (hence the actual charged particles flow from ground not to it)
But regardless with only one lead of a battery connected it can neither pump out electrons or receive electrons
Think of it as a water pump with either inlet or outlet blocked in either case there is no flow
Thus a battery with one lead disconnected has no effect on a circuit including other batteries on the circuit however it can still freeze crack and leak out corrosive acid

MrEd

· #20 · 2 mo ago

3

I just replaced the AUX Battery and my Stop/Start" malfunction light did not clear? Any suggestions? Jeep runs fine, but the Stop/Start malfunction message and amber "A in Circle" is still on instrument panel. Hood open/closed sensor switches appear OK, and fuse F42 is good. Some questions I have: Should I have disconnected the Main Battery while I was replacing the AUX Battery? Should I now disconnect the Main Battery for 10 seconds for a system re-set to clear the fault? Is a computer re-set from dealer or mechanic with iPad type plug in device required to clear it? btw I put in an AUX battery from Oreilly's, Super Start AUX14, $119. I also went in from under front right Wheel well. Easier in my opinion than taking out the fuse box up top. Here are photos of bending back fender mud liner. I only removed 3 things that hold plastic fender liner in: 1. 1x10mm screw up under wheel well at top; 2.
1x12mm nut and washer at bottom back/inside corner of mud guard; 3. 1 x push pin at rear lower edge of mud guard(remove gently and you can re-use it). It went back up in place with no damage or bend. Thanks

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