[brent]

Add me to the list. 16 with 69k. ESS stopped working about 2 weeks ago, with "Stop/Start not available Battery charging" message in the dic. Disappointed that I may need a battery after only 3 years, last vehicle went 200k and 9 years on original battery.

 

[brent]

Well, I've seen a few different messages about ESS in mine, but never just *Stop/Start unavailable*. Shortest message I see is *Stop/Start not ready*, and that one is a mystery because it usually corrects itself in a few seconds, no idea how/why. I have teh basic display, not the premium display you guys have (TH, Limited and Overland) so maybe the wording is different in yours... Yeah 4 years is about average..

Did ESS stop working completely ? That's a little odd, mine started out very slowly in March of last year, with intermittent *battery charging* messages, gradually getting longer to work, over 6 months until it wouldn't work at all (always with the battery charging message). I replaced the battery last January and it was really done... So if your ESS has quit completely, quickly, there may be something else at play, like the IBS. Do you have a battery charger at home ? That could help with t-shooting : if you charge it overnight and ESS is back online the next morning, then you'll know it's the battery with more certainty..

For a few days ess would work one time after initial startup, then not again during that drive . Shut down, and would work again, once. Now, not at all. Battery does not seem to struggle at all on startups either, yet. I will try a charger overnight this weekend.

 

[brent]

Well, I've seen a few different messages about ESS in mine, but never just *Stop/Start unavailable*. Shortest message I see is *Stop/Start not ready*, and that one is a mystery because it usually corrects itself in a few seconds, no idea how/why. I have teh basic display, not the premium display you guys have (TH, Limited and Overland) so maybe the wording is different in yours... Yeah 4 years is about average..

Did ESS stop working completely ? That's a little odd, mine started out very slowly in March of last year, with intermittent *battery charging* messages, gradually getting longer to work, over 6 months until it wouldn't work at all (always with the battery charging message). I replaced the battery last January and it was really done... So if your ESS has quit completely, quickly, there may be something else at play, like the IBS. Do you have a battery charger at home ? That could help with t-shooting : if you charge it overnight and ESS is back online the next morning, then you'll know it's the battery with more certainty..

Checked battery with multimeter after getting home tonight, 12.4. Trickle charger hooked for an hour brought to 12.8. Took a pic of negative terminal, looks like some corrosion going on with the ibs sensor. Maybe a cause?!

 

[brent]

Nah, I doubt it. That's just surface corrosion on a galvanized nut, it seems. The IBS is in the black plastic box.

About charging : I'm not liking your numbers there. 12.4V is kinda low, if everything off (no drain) and you'd come back from a drive within a few hours.

What type of battery charger are you using there ? If it's an older style model, say 10 or 15 Apms (or more), then yeah don't let it charge overnight, but you can let it do its thing for at least 4-6 hours. But if it's a newer style, *smart* type, then you should hook it up for at least 12 hours straight, to try to bring that voltage up even higher (above 13V for sure). After a decent charge, you'll be able to check on ESS to see if it'll work a bit more.

But from what you've told us so far, it does sound like a failing battery.

What i have

 

[brent]

Thanks. That's a microprocessor controlled charger (aka smart). It's only 1.5 Amps which is not great for charging - it's more for maintaining/float charging, but it will charge when left hooked up long enough. If you can, hook it up for as long as you can (say 12+ hours) and maybe do that a few days in a row. After that, see how ESS behaves.

And don't worry about overcharging with those chargers ; they can be hooked up indefinitely.

Yes, it was purchased originally to maintain seasonal toy batteries in the off season. I'll give it a shot for a longer time period.

 

[brent]

Thanks. That's a microprocessor controlled charger (aka smart). It's only 1.5 Amps which is not great for charging - it's more for maintaining/float charging - but it will charge when left hooked up long enough. If you can, hook it up for as long as you can (say 12+ hours) and maybe do that a few days in a row. After that, see how ESS behaves.

And don't worry about overcharging with those chargers ; they can be hooked up indefinitely.

Never got a chance to hook up for a long charge but I'm pretty certain it was the battery failing since it wouldn't start to come home from work this morning! Jump started and picked up the autocraft duralast platinum agm from advance on the way home. Purchased in the parking lot online with 25% off coupon and came to $162 .

 

[brent]

Yep, that sounds like a dying battery for sure. Good move, good price too !

Just make sure the battery connectors are on nice and tight, which isn't very easy to do with these specific connectors. Trick is to twist them down as much as you can on the post before tightening the nut. You can check tightness by applying twisting force on a connector (with your hand only) and see if it moves ; if it does move, best to re-tighten.

Enjoy the new battery and worry-free starts :wink:

Just wanted to say thanks for the troubleshooting help. ESS is working great again with the new battery. Cel was on for a few days, guessing from disconnecting the battery, but went away after a few drive cycles. Guess this a 3-4 year maintenance item. Sad!

 

[brent]

You bet.

Yeah, about 4 years average, depending on where you are and driving habits. It's the shortest battery life I've ever had on a vehicle myself (mine : 3.5 years).

Normal for the check engine light. When the battery is disconnected too long , it trips the CEL, then goes away after "x" amount of engine Run/Off cycles.

Enjoy your ESS :wink:

Think battery life can be extended by turning off ess every time you get in the vehicle?