UGH!!! Broke Down Again

[jonlfischer]

Had my power steering hose break a couple weeks ago.. now my headlights were flickering this morning and my battery light came on. I stopped turned it off and started it back, everything fine on my way to work. Just went out and tried starting it....... nothing, turned key off and back to start again started but shut off after about 3 seconds.

Could this be my battery, alternator or something completely different?

I am beginning to question my little jeep. :help:

 

[renegade 04]

check loose cables then charge the battery and see if it holds a charge. If the battery holds a charge then you should see what the charging voltage is with the jeep running. It should be around 13.8 to 14.3 volts with the jeep running.

 

[jonlfischer]

check loose cables then charge the battery and see if it holds a charge. If the battery holds a charge then you should see what the charging voltage is with the jeep running. It should be around 13.8 to 14.3 volts with the jeep running.

Checked the cable and everything is good and tight. Don't have anyway to charge the battery right now here at work. What ***** is I live 2 hours away from work.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

How old is the battery?

Could be alternator, as in it wasn't charging the battery at all. If you don't know how old the battery is, start there. If it's the alternator, $50 for junkyard one (aftermarket ones suck) and 30 mins of your time you'll be back in business, so nothing to really worry about there.

 

[jonlfischer]

How old is the battery?

Could be alternator, as in it wasn't charging the battery at all. If you don't know how old the battery is, start there. If it's the alternator, $50 for junkyard one (aftermarket ones suck) and 30 mins of your time you'll be back in business, so nothing to really worry about there.

The battery is a 2015. I can get the vehicle started and will run if I keep the throttle pushed, all lights and gauges are going on and off however as soon as I let off of the throttle the jeep shuts off.

 

[uss2defiant]

sounds like the battery cant hold a charge anymore.

 

[WINGDOG]

A bad battery in one of these Jeeps will cause problems you'd never associate with it. I learned a long time ago, when things start acting up, replace the battery. Being that new you should run it by autozone or some place that will check the charging system.

 

[JasonJ]

Had my power steering hose break a couple weeks ago.. now my headlights were flickering this morning and my battery light came on. I stopped turned it off and started it back, everything fine on my way to work. Just went out and tried starting it....... nothing, turned key off and back to start again started but shut off after about 3 seconds.

Could this be my battery, alternator or something completely different?

Yes.

I am beginning to question my little jeep. :help:

I wouldn't question the reliability of the vehicle based on potential failures of items with a finite service life. That's on you as the owner to maintain and periodically check on.

Sounds like a battery issue to me. You need to attempt to charge the battery first, see if it holds voltage after 1 hour coming off the charger. If it does, load test it. If it fails either of those two conditions, replace it. If it passes both, charging system test to check out the alternator and voltage regulator.

 

[Dave]

Sounds like a battery issue as others have indicated. Charge it, run it, check it. As noted, Autozone will do it for free if you don't have a way to test it. They can also check the alternator charging voltage.

Dave

 

[steiner.tim]

Had same issue with 02 liberty, battery was good alternator was bad.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

 

[uss2defiant]

autozone can also can also charge and test the battery. Can also get a loaner battery from them if available.

 

[tjkj2002]

I wouldn't trust anyone that works at autozone to be able to open the hood.

The also can not properly test the KJ's charging system since it is PCM controlled,they need the DRBIII/StarScan or the like(basically $5000+ scanner) to test the KJ's charging system.

Try and recharge the battery,let sit(not charging or hooked up to anything) for 12 hours after charging and check voltage.If it does not have at least 12.6 volts for wet cell battery then it's bad,12.8 volts for flat plate AGM,and 12.9 volts for spiral AGM.

 

[Billwill]

As Renegade stated you need to check the voltage across the battery terminals while engine is running....should be around 13.4 volts. A very bad battery could pull this voltage down or it could be worn brushes in the alternator or bad wiring going to the PCM which controls the voltage output from the alternator.

I would definitely start with a good battery, clean and tight battery connections as well as clean and tight grounding points such as the negative battery lead to chassis and the grounding of the engine to the chassis.

 

[JasonJ]

I wouldn't trust anyone that works at autozone to be able to open the hood.

The also can not properly test the KJ's charging system since it is PCM controlled,they need the DRBIII/StarScan or the like(basically $5000+ scanner) to test the KJ's charging system.

Try and recharge the battery,let sit(not charging or hooked up to anything) for 12 hours after charging and check voltage.If it does not have at least 12.6 volts for wet cell battery then it's bad,12.8 volts for flat plate AGM,and 12.9 volts for spiral AGM.

Yeah it's really hit or miss with the local auto parts stores nowadays. I worked there back in the early 2000s; it was different then. More focus on actual automotive training. I had ASE certifications as a diagnostic specialist; I was expected to maintain those and was frequently sent to ASE classes to stay sharp. Doesn't mean I was a certified mechanic, but I knew if a vehicle had a PCM controlled charging system, our diagnostic tests (which was fairly good but generic equipment at the time) would be limited in those cases.

Now, I walk into Advance or O'Reillys and I get the guy who can barely crack open a beer, let alone test a TPS, who only works there for the discount on parts for his demolition derby car.

 

[tjkj2002]

Yeah it's really hit or miss with the local auto parts stores nowadays. I worked there back in the early 2000s; it was different then. More focus on actual automotive training. I had ASE certifications as a diagnostic specialist; I was expected to maintain those and was frequently sent to ASE classes to stay sharp. Doesn't mean I was a certified mechanic, but I knew if a vehicle had a PCM controlled charging system, our diagnostic tests (which was fairly good but generic equipment at the time) would be limited in those cases.

Now, I walk into Advance or O'Reillys and I get the guy who can barely crack open a beer, let alone test a TPS, who only works there for the discount on parts for his demolition derby car.

Yeah all the parts places are crap now.The local Napa had 2 really great guy's but they both got fired for no kidding "knowing to much",that was from there zone reps mouth.

I'm banned from every autozone in town,long story but involved me needing a good laugh.

 

[jonlfischer]

Ended up being the battery...put a new alternator in and the problem was still there...drove to advance auto and tested the battery, sure enough it fixed the problem so far

 

[Whelan]

My wife got her 2005 new before we met and it's up to 170k now. It's the reason I've been able to collect new gadgets and goodies for my DIY mechanic tools. Just picked up a scan tool and a brake caliper piston tool as well. I plan to keep it going for as long as I can, not having a car payment each month for either her or me has been really nice.

 

[GunnerSchenck]

My wife got her 2005 new before we met and it's up to 170k now. It's the reason I've been able to collect new gadgets and goodies for my DIY mechanic tools. Just picked up a scan tool and a brake caliper piston tool as well. I plan to keep it going for as long as I can, not having a car payment each month for either her or me has been really nice.

Code reader... you get the caliper tool which simulates a pad, or do you mean like a caliper key for twisting calipers? Both are convenient to have on hand for needed times, but I hear you...I definitely miss not having a car payment! lol