Battery Issues- Question for group

[392Stinger]

I don’t drive my 392 daily and it sets for a week maybe before I decide to drive it during these winter months. I have noticed that last couple of weeks when I do crank it, I get this message aux switches unavailable due to battery charging. So I have my amp power steps wired in to my aux switch so I can turn them off wheel wheeling or off-road, so my question is could this be causing a drain? As I’m thinking about it, this would be no different than wiring to battery direct as the instructions showed but maybe I’m wrong. Anyone experienced any issues with battery needing a maintainer hooked up for those not driving daily or insights into what could be draining the battery? Appreciate any thoughts.

 

[YukonCornelius]

Hmmm. Been a while (over a year) since my JL so I may be “mis-remembering” but can’t you set the aux switches independently to be on or off with the ignition? Maybe it just needs set to off.

But like I said, might be incorrect on this - so thinking it may be a battery protect thing in the cold weather where all battery power is sent to ignition on start to prevent drain… rather it being an actual “drain.” Is it a new behavior in just the cold weather?

 

[392Stinger]

Hmmm. Been a while (over a year) since my JL so I may be “mis-remembering” but can’t you set the aux switches independently to be on or off with the ignition? Maybe it just needs set to off.

But like I said, might be incorrect on this - so thinking it may be a battery protect thing in the cold weather where all battery power is sent to ignition on start to prevent drain… rather it being an actual “drain.” Is it a new behavior in just the cold weather?

Yes you can set them for battery or ignition as you remember. I have them set to battery so when I open doors prior to ignition they drop down. Like I said, the AMP instructions have you wire directly to battery, so in my mind using aux with battery input should be the same. Your right it could be cold weather causing it since I’ve only recently gotten that message. Never an issue when I installed back in early fall. Appreciate it.

 

[Ckorte13]

I don’t drive my 392 daily and it sets for a week maybe before I decide to drive it during these winter months. I have noticed that last couple of weeks when I do crank it, I get this message aux switches unavailable due to battery charging. So I have my amp power steps wired in to my aux switch so I can turn them off wheel wheeling or off-road, so my question is could this be causing a drain? As I’m thinking about it, this would be no different than wiring to battery direct as the instructions showed but maybe I’m wrong. Anyone experienced any issues with battery needing a maintainer hooked up for those not driving daily or insights into what could be draining the battery? Appreciate any thoughts.

Hi, I have a 2018 JLUR. With AMP XL power steps as well. We had the steps put on in 2020. My Jeep also says the same message yours is saying. It has been showing this message for about 7 months or so. It is not my daily driver. Only has 15,000 miles on it as of this week. Jeep told me it is the separate battery below the main battery in a compartment that is being drained. If not replaced, it will eventually drain the main battery as well. We still have not replaced it. I was told it is a 4 hour service test and will probably cost over $500 to get it replaced. No Thanks. I looked on you tube and watched how they replaced it. Actually watched the guy from WayALife-Eddie. he had made a video on it. The same exact thing had happened to his 2018 Jeep JLUR, but his actually died and he used a back up hand held battery to charge it enough to get it home. Smart. He showed a step by step video of how to replace both batteries and what tools to use. We also have another JLUR 2018 that is used as a daily driver, it Does Not have Amp Steps, and it does not have a message abut the Auxiliary Battery. So I really am baffled as to why this is happening. Our 392 is on order in D status. If you find out why this is happening, please do share your findings. Best of luck.

 

[392Stinger]

Hi, I have a 2018 JLUR. With AMP XL power steps as well. We had the steps put on in 2020. My Jeep also says the same message yours is saying. It has been showing this message for about 7 months or so. It is not my daily driver. Only has 15,000 miles on it as of this week. Jeep told me it is the separate battery below the main battery in a compartment that is being drained. If not replaced, it will eventually drain the main battery as well. We still have not replaced it. I was told it is a 4 hour service test and will probably cost over $500 to get it replaced. No Thanks. I looked on you tube and watched how they replaced it. Actually watched the guy from WayALife-Eddie. he had made a video on it. The same exact thing had happened to his 2018 Jeep JLUR, but his actually died and he used a back up hand held battery to charge it enough to get it home. Smart. He showed a step by step video of how to replace both batteries and what tools to use. We also have another JLUR 2018 that is used as a daily driver, it Does Not have Amp Steps, and it does not have a message abut the Auxiliary Battery. So I really am baffled as to why this is happening. Our 392 is on order in D status. If you find out why this is happening, please do share your findings. Best of luck.

Thanks for the reply… the 392 does not have the aux battery your current JL has. It’s just one battery under the hood and I did find out that putting a tender on mine since it’s not a dally driver fixed my problem. Have not had that message return since adding it to the battery charger.. thanks

 

[Viking Jeeper]

This may be obvious but I think the computer is set to disable any power through the aux switches when the battery is low and should restore power when the battery is sufficiently charged. You are right, as far as battery drain, it does not matter if you have the steps hooked directly to battery or through switches. The computer simply has the ability to disable power through the switches in an effort to preserve starting power.

 

[Smess]

ok cowboys, had this convo with Amp the other day as my brother was convinced that he needed his steps wired to aux so he could kill the steps also.
NO, NO, NO. you are going to pis off the steps and as someone stated above if you kill the little hidden battery its a bitch.

Two options,

One is to manually pull the fuse at the battery, second is ti purchase the alternative "doors off" override that Amp has for when its summer and doors are off and you have a separate dash button that you can operate the steps with.

you locate it so you reach in and lower the steps when you approach the vehicle and then retract them when in gear. I had them, its works well and not expensive.

AUX switches NOT a good idea!!

 

[CBH]

OK, my 392 is parked in a storage garage about 2 miles away. I picked it up on 6 June 2021 and have only 2,000 miles on the odometer. I sometimes go 3-4 weeks before I drive it again just to exercise all the moving parts. Each time it fires up like a champ and shows about 14 volts on the battery. So, can I continue to do this without a trickle charger and not worry about the health of the battery?

 

[Smess]

yes sir, I have the same scenario and use the noco, its on sale right now that a great price. I have been using their stuff for 3 years now, impressive so faR.

Amazon.com

 

[Idaho392]

I would suggest a trickle charger. These Jeeps are _really_ finicky about a low voltage battery. I accidentally completely drained my battery a week ago. Used a smart charger and got it back up to full voltage, but things were still acting weird. Ended up disconnecting the battery for an hour, and then reconnected. Everything is good now.

 

[CBH]

yes sir, I have the same scenario and use the noco, its on sale right now that a great price. I have been using their stuff for 3 years now, impressive so faR.

Amazon.com

Wow; looks like a really smart charger! I just ordered one. Thanks for the advice.

Funny, I lived in Montana a few winters and most vehicles had a plug hanging out the front to keep the engine from freezing while parked. I never considered that plug might be for a trickle charger.

Did you install one in your 392 engine bay? If so, could you post a photo? Thanks again.

 

[Smess]

Amazon.com

this one does not think, simple

 

[CBH]

Amazon.com

this one does not think, simple

As long as it is smart enough not to over charge.

 

[byhumba]

The Jeep not moving often enough is my 2003 TJ Wrangler. I've been using this one for over 5 years and has worked flawlessly. Battery is now 7yrs old and still keeping a charge.

 

[CBH]

The Jeep not moving often enough is my 2003 TJ Wrangler. I've been using this one for over 5 years and has worked flawlessly. Battery is now 7yrs old and still keeping a charge.

View attachment 4127View attachment 4128

Thanks!

 

[Smess]

CTEK would be at top of my list with the Noco. It has been around a lot longer so if you dont care about the price difference I would use that.

 

[Smess]

Here

 

[392Stinger]

This is what I just ordered and plan to run it thru bottom of grill opening so I can hook battery tender up without having to open hood each time.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

This is what I just ordered and plan to run it thru bottom of grill opening so I can hook battery tender up without having to open hood each time.
View attachment 4134

I did the same thing on my LJR and routed it alongside my winch power cable. I have a portable air compressor I can hook up also.

 

[Chacalou]

I don’t drive my 392 daily and it sets for a week maybe before I decide to drive it during these winter months. I have noticed that last couple of weeks when I do crank it, I get this message aux switches unavailable due to battery charging. So I have my amp power steps wired in to my aux switch so I can turn them off wheel wheeling or off-road, so my question is could this be causing a drain? As I’m thinking about it, this would be no different than wiring to battery direct as the instructions showed but maybe I’m wrong. Anyone experienced any issues with battery needing a maintainer hooked up for those not driving daily or insights into what could be draining the battery? Appreciate any thoughts.

planning on installing those steps on the 392. Will it drain the battery. ?
are those steps worth having
thank you