[cmtaz]

I have come to the conclusion that the Cherokee does not like where I live. Well, I am enjoying life in the retirement community, the Cherokee TH/E is not. 3 weeks ago, I replaced the battery under warranty @ Oreilly's. Last week it went back to Start / Stop not ready - Battery Charging. However, after driving 20 +/- miles stop / start was ready. This has since been repeated several times.

This leads me to believe that the Jeep in unhappy sitting for several days at a time, and quite often when it does get started, it goes 2 miles to the community center / gym. So, it may be time for a battery maintainer / trickle charger.

which begs the question, HOW DO YOU USE IT?
It would seem a pain, to have to hook this up every time I pull into the garage. It would make more sense to me, if the Jeep had been sitting for 2 days and I was not planning on a long drive to go out and hook it up for 12 hours or so.

How is the Cherokee community using these devices?

Thanks

 

[AZJeeper]

The charging system is VERY sensitive to battery fluctuations. I will use a Battery Tender (Costco version) when I know the Jeep will be sitting for a few days. Even when the charger shows fully charged, it can be a fairly long drive before the EVIC stops saying "Battery Charging". I've narrowed it down to this - if you deplete your battery a bit and THEN charge it, then it takes some time for the computers to fully acknowledge that the battery is charged. I believe it's trying to believe the IBS is still accurate. If you put the charger on ASAP after realizing the vehicle will be sitting for a few days, then the battery will be fully charged and you are ready to go out of the chute, so to speak.

The bottom line is if you wait a few days and then put a battery tender on you'll probably still see several miles of 'Battery Charging" (aka "ESS Not Ready") messages. If you put it on, say, the same day that you drove the Cherokee, it will not give any messages when you finally get around to driving off.

Took me a while to figure that out!

 

[Flybynightcru]

I use like six of them full time on 3 cars, 2 UTV's, and a motorcycle that don't get driven regularly. They really aren't a big deal. You attach the quick connect plug lead to the battery, where it stays. The actual unit is just like any DC power supply, a little box that plugs in. I use just the Battery Tender Jr's which are just a 750mA regulated trickle charger/maintainer. It's not going to charge a dead battery, but will definitely keep a good battery at full charge...😎
Battery Tender® Junior 12V, 750mA Battery Charger

 

[Lindy]

Yes, if your Cherokee sits for several days at a time and then when you do drive it, it's only a 2 mile or so trip, (Which is not enough time to fully charge your battery) then you most definitely need a battery maintainer.

Is it a pain to use them? That depends upon your definition I guess. But it's more of a pain having a battery which is never fully charged and will die prematurely on you and that will probably happen at the worse possible time.

You can attach permanent leads to your battery similar to the one pictured below. Then you just plug the battery tender cord to it and you are set. Easy peasy.

I use battery maintainers all the time and with regular use they will greatly expand the life span of your battery. My Cherokee battery is now 4.5 years old and it still tests great on my load tester. But that is because it is on a battery maintainer whenever my Jeep sits for more than a few days.

 

[sanghill]

What you could do is get a block heater cable and connect it to the battery with the receptacle dangling in front of the grill someplace.
Then you can plug the battery tender into the receptacle without having to open the hood.
Might need to put a 'tent' over the battery tender if it will be exposed to the elements. (not your situation)
I charge my X2 Power AGM battery about every 5 days or so. Today I charged it as it was at 50% charge. Took about 15 minutes. I don't have ESS.
Be sure to use a battery tender designed for AGM batteries.
I use a PROSERIES PSC-12500A battery charger. It is big and heavy but it works great. It is also expensive. Think I bought it at NAPA.
It is ok if the PROSERIES is connected all of the time, it is really smart. Works great as a battery tender.

 

[Mark_]

The charging system is VERY sensitive to battery fluctuations. I will use a Battery Tender (Costco version) when I know the Jeep will be sitting for a few days. Even when the charger shows fully charged, it can be a fairly long drive before the EVIC stops saying "Battery Charging". I've narrowed it down to this - if you deplete your battery a bit and THEN charge it, then it takes some time for the computers to fully acknowledge that the battery is charged. I believe it's trying to believe the IBS is still accurate. If you put the charger on ASAP after realizing the vehicle will be sitting for a few days, then the battery will be fully charged and you are ready to go out of the chute, so to speak.

The bottom line is if you wait a few days and then put a battery tender on you'll probably still see several miles of 'Battery Charging" (aka "ESS Not Ready") messages. If you put it on, say, the same day that you drove the Cherokee, it will not give any messages when you finally get around to driving off.

Took me a while to figure that out!

I read recently (and it makes sense) that we should connect the negative charger lead ''before'' the IBS, not after (directly on negative post), so that the BCM (or PCM - whichever the IBS talks to) can monitor all currents, in and out, even when the Jeep is resting. This would allow the PCM to know state-of-charge in real time as you charge the battery, so no dreaded relearn period that prevents ESS from working immediately on a freshly charged battery.

Give it a try, if you don't hook up upstream from the IBS already. And keep us posted

What you could do is get a block heater cable and connect it to the battery with the receptacle dangling in front of the grill someplace.
Then you can plug the battery tender into the receptacle without having to open the hood.
Might need to put a 'tent' over the battery tender if it will be exposed to the elements. (not your situation)
I charge my X2 Power AGM battery about every 5 days or so. Today I charged it as it was at 50% charge. Took about 15 minutes. I don't have ESS.
Be sure to use a battery tender designed for AGM batteries.
I use a PROSERIES PSC-12500A battery charger. It is big and heavy but it works great. It is also expensive. Think I bought it at NAPA.
It is ok if the PROSERIES is connected all of the time, it is really smart. Works great as a battery tender.

One could tinker a bit and install one of these, somewhere in the lower grill :

Amazon.com: NOCO GCP1 15A AC Port Plug, 125V Power Inlet Socket, and Waterproof Electrical Outlet Receptacle Box with 16-Inch Integrated Outdoor Extension Cord : Greyson Chance: Automotive

Buy NOCO GCP1 15A AC Port Plug, 125V Power Inlet Socket, and Waterproof Electrical Outlet Receptacle Box with 16-Inch Integrated Outdoor Extension Cord: Engine Heaters - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[AZJeeper]

Yes, if your Cherokee sits for several days at a time and then when you do drive it, it's only a 2 mile or so trip, (Which is not enough time to fully charge your battery) then you most definitely need a battery maintainer.

You can attach permanent leads to your battery similar to the one pictured below. Then you just plug the battery tender cord to it and you are set. Easy peasy.

Exactly how I did it.

Car has been on several short trips recently (<1 mile) so the battery is down.

I read recently (and it makes sense) that we should connect the negative charger lead ''before'' the IBS, not after (directly on negative post), so that the BCM (or PCM - whichever the IBS talks to) can monitor all currents, in and out, even when the Jeep is resting. This would allow the PCM to know state-of-charge in real time as you charge the battery, so no dreaded relearn period that prevents ESS from working immediately on a freshly charged battery.

Give it a try, if you don't hook up upstream from the IBS already. And keep us posted

Experiment underway! I should find out this weekend if this indeed works.

What you could do is get a block heater cable and connect it to the battery with the receptacle dangling in front of the grill someplace.
Then you can plug the battery tender into the receptacle without having to open the hood.

I'm more of a "need a visual reference so I don't do something dumb" sort of guy. You know, the type that's likely to forget the maintainer is plugged in and drive off with it. I leave the hood latched, but not all the way down. Then I get the visual clues from the hood being up a bit and an EVIC warning if I make it that far.

 

[cmtaz]

I read recently (and it makes sense) that we should connect the negative charger lead ''before'' the IBS, not after (directly on negative post), so that the BCM (or PCM - whichever the IBS talks to) can monitor all currents, in and out, even when the Jeep is resting. This would allow the PCM to know state-of-charge in real time as you charge the battery, so no dreaded relearn period that prevents ESS from working immediately on a freshly charged battery.

OK, so can someone clarify this (hopefully with a pic). I was about to order:
Amazon.com: Battery Tender Junior 12V Charger and Maintainer: Automatic 12V Powersports Battery Charger and Maintainer for Motorcycle, ATVs, and More - Smart 12 Volt, 750mA Battery Float Chargers - 021-0123 : Automotive

but now have questions as to how to hook it up. I would have assumed (red + / Black -) to the battery terminals, but don't want to damage the IBS.

Thanks

 

[sanghill]

That battery tender will work, it is compatible with AGM batteries.
There is a Post on here someplace that says which end of the IBS it should be connected to.
Basically the IBS needs to know what is happening so it doesn't have to do a relearn.
So probably the battery tender connects to the point furthest away from the battery?
Thank goodness I don't have ESS so I don't have to worry about it.

 

[Flybynightcru]

View attachment 222268
OK, so can someone clarify this (hopefully with a pic). I was about to order:
Amazon.com: Battery Tender Junior 12V Charger and Maintainer: Automatic 12V Powersports Battery Charger and Maintainer for Motorcycle, ATVs, and More - Smart 12 Volt, 750mA Battery Float Chargers - 021-0123 : Automotive

but now have questions as to how to hook it up. I would have assumed (red + / Black -) to the battery terminals, but don't want to damage the IBS.

Thanks

Yes, red/positive and black/negative. I've only used the Battery Tender Jr's on the Trailhawk a couple times, and just used the clip ons right on the battery terminals, and no issues. If you are installing the eyelet cables, attach them to the top accessory bolts, not the terminal bolts that tighten the battery terminal connection...😎

 

[Mark_]

View attachment 222268
OK, so can someone clarify this (hopefully with a pic). I was about to order:
Amazon.com: Battery Tender Junior 12V Charger and Maintainer: Automatic 12V Powersports Battery Charger and Maintainer for Motorcycle, ATVs, and More - Smart 12 Volt, 750mA Battery Float Chargers - 021-0123 : Automotive

but now have questions as to how to hook it up. I would have assumed (red + / Black -) to the battery terminals, but don't want to damage the IBS.

Thanks

Some great info here : https://kb.fcawitech.com/assets/S1408000384_IBS_Blind_Charging_Stop_Start_SOL.pdf

.
.
.
You need to connect the charger negative lead to the IBS bolt, not to the connector bolt directly on the negative battery post. Alternatively, as stated in the document, connect charger negative lead to the chassis ; this ensures the IBS will read the charge (chassis is 'upstream' from battery sensor). See pic below :

 

[Flybynightcru]

You need to connect the charger negative lead to the IBS bolt, not to the connector bolt directly on the negative battery post. Alternatively, as stated in the document, connect charger negative lead to the chassis ; this ensures the IBS will read the charge (chassis is 'upstream' from battery sensor). See pic below :

Thanks Mark!!! I was trying to find a picture. Tried to explain it the best I could...Tie the negative cable eyelet to that bolt just "upstream" from the actual terminal and IBS...There's also a similar spot on the positive side as well. That's where they need to go...😎

 

[40_over_S9]

I first noticed Start/Stop alerts about 10 months after taking delivery of my 2016 Latitude. A couple of months later, the battery apparently overcharged and overheated, causing the pressure relief vent to open. A dealer firmware update reduced the maximum charge voltage, but the damaged battery still passed FCA's load test procedure, so I couldn't get a warranty replacement at that time. "Battery Charging" messages continued to appear if I hadn't driven in a few days. The factory battery finally failed test about 1-1/2 years after I had purchased the vehicle. Since it was still under warranty, the dealer installed a new one, but I started seeing messages again once that replacement was about 29 months old. I'm now on the third battery -- a NAPA Premium AGM that I installed 4 years and 2 days after purchasing the vehicle -- but decided to buy a Battery Tender which I connect whenever it's parked in the garage more than a day or two -- and 38 months/45,000 miles later, battery #3 still performs well. Haven't seen a "Battery Charging" message since making that change.

Whenever it's in the garage, I open the hood to prevent an unintentional remote start (the fob has a way of getting bumped against other stuff in my jeans pocket) so it's not that inconvenient to clip on the Battery Tender leads. I've been attaching directly to the post terminals, but will try putting the negative clip on the other side of the IBS and see if that makes a difference in the initial charge voltage after the engine is started.

 

[cmtaz]

You need to connect the charger negative lead to the IBS bolt, not to the connector bolt directly on the negative battery post. Alternatively, as stated in the document, connect charger negative lead to the chassis ; this ensures the IBS will read the charge (chassis is 'upstream' from battery sensor). See pic below :

Thanks Mark!!! I was trying to find a picture. Tried to explain it the best I could...Tie the negative cable eyelet to that bolt just "upstream" from the actual terminal and IBS...There's also a similar spot on the positive side as well. That's where they need to go...😎

Thanks - This clarifies things. Might be a good idea for me to leave the hood open, to prevent the accidental drive off.

 

[AZJeeper]

I read recently (and it makes sense) that we should connect the negative charger lead ''before'' the IBS, not after (directly on negative post), so that the BCM (or PCM - whichever the IBS talks to) can monitor all currents, in and out, even when the Jeep is resting. This would allow the PCM to know state-of-charge in real time as you charge the battery, so no dreaded relearn period that prevents ESS from working immediately on a freshly charged battery.

Give it a try, if you don't hook up upstream from the IBS already. And keep us posted

Experiment underway! I should find out this weekend if this indeed works.

Well, based on extensive analysis and a sample point of one, the trend is clearly showing that by putting the charger on the IBS lug instead of directly on the negative terminal, the EVIC will show "STOP/START READY" nearly out of the driveway! The battery was lower than I thought and took several hours to charge so I think it was a good test. Before I moved the charger, it still would have taken several miles of "STOP/START NOT READY - BATTERY CHARGING" before it would come back "READY".

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Mark_]

Well, based on extensive analysis and a sample point of one, the trend is clearly showing that by putting the charger on the IBS lug instead of directly on the negative terminal, the EVIC will show "STOP/START READY" nearly out of the driveway! The battery was lower than I thought and took several hours to charge so I think it was a good test. Before I moved the charger, it still would have taken several miles of "STOP/START NOT READY - BATTERY CHARGING" before it would come back "READY".

Thanks for the tip!

Nice !

I had seen that Star Case before, I just forgot about it. Then I think I bumped into similar instructions while searching around. It's not much, but for a certain geek segment of the population (not pointing fingers ), it's interesting and, fun to share..

 

[cmtaz]

Well, based on extensive analysis and a sample point of one, the trend is clearly showing that by putting the charger on the IBS lug instead of directly on the negative terminal, the EVIC will show "STOP/START READY" nearly out of the driveway! The battery was lower than I thought and took several hours to charge so I think it was a good test. Before I moved the charger, it still would have taken several miles of "STOP/START NOT READY - BATTERY CHARGING" before it would come back "READY".

Thanks for the tip!

Thanks, when Amazon gets my Battery Tender® Junior 12V, 750mA Battery Charger here (Supposedly Friday) I now know how hook it up.

 

[Dasher57]

I have come to the conclusion that the Cherokee does not like where I live. Well, I am enjoying life in the retirement community, the Cherokee TH/E is not. 3 weeks ago, I replaced the battery under warranty @ Oreilly's. Last week it went back to Start / Stop not ready - Battery Charging. However, after driving 20 +/- miles stop / start was ready. This has since been repeated several times.

This leads me to believe that the Jeep in unhappy sitting for several days at a time, and quite often when it does get started, it goes 2 miles to the community center / gym. So, it may be time for a battery maintainer / trickle charger.

which begs the question, HOW DO YOU USE IT?
It would seem a pain, to have to hook this up every time I pull into the garage. It would make more sense to me, if the Jeep had been sitting for 2 days and I was not planning on a long drive to go out and hook it up for 12 hours or so.

How is the Cherokee community using these devices?

Thanks

If I am not using the car for three days or more I always plug in the trickle charger to keep the battery topped up as the drives are never long enough to be effective charges.

 

[cmtaz]

"If I am not using the car for three days or more I always plug in the trickle charger to keep the battery topped up as the drives are never long enough to be effective charges. "

That's what I'm running into.
Any suggestions as to what to do with the cable when I disconnect it? Mine is to "scunch it up and wedge it between the battery and fuse box (but I am open to better suggestions).

Also, Thanks !!! Black negative after IBS, Red Positive (where my amp draws from).

 

[sanghill]

Maybe try some Velcro wraps?