[UniSonBBS]

I just got back from going on vacation for a week and a half. It was left at the airport parking garage unplugged and exposed to the temps (10-30F). When we got back we jumped in and went to start it and it acted like the key wasn't with us. I proceeded to retrieve the key from my suitcase and brought it up front and attempted to start again with no luck. Then it started flashing to service night vision camera or something and some other messages including service charging system. After power cycling the vehicle a few times it started right up like nothing was wrong. Any ideas? Its been fine for days now. Is it 12v related?

 

[Mllcb42]

Is it 12v related?

More than likely. Voltage gets low, causes problems starting up. Enough times opening and closing the doors triggering the idcm to charge the 12v back up.

 

[Sheepish Lord]

The hybrid supplement has a page talking about storing the vehicle and what to do if you plan on storing it for two weeks or more. Probably something to do with that.

 

[Sprinter69]

FROM THE MANUAL - INTERESTING INFO:
-----------------------------------

STORING THE VEHICLE
If the vehicle should remain stationary for more than a month, observe the following precautions:
 Park your vehicle in a covered, dry and possibly airy location with the windows open slightly.
 Check that the parking brake is not engaged.
 Disconnect the negative (-) terminal from the battery post and be sure that the battery is fully charged.

During storage check battery charge quarterly. The 12 Volt battery is located in the rear of the vehicle underneath the spare tire.

NOTE:
Disconnecting the 12 Volt battery will prevent the High Voltage (HV) battery from accepting a charge from the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). Also, the vehicle will not condition the HV battery (if needed and connected to a powered EVSE). If the HV battery is not able to condition itself and it becomes cold enough (or hot enough), the vehicle will not start until the HV battery’s cell temperatures are between -22°F (-30°C) and 122°F (50°C).

 If you do not disconnect the battery from the electrical system, check the battery charge every 30 days.
 Whenever you leave the vehicle stationary for two weeks or more, idle the vehicle for approximately five minutes, with the air conditioning system on and high fan speed. This will ensure proper lubrication of the system, thus minimizing the possibility of damage to the compressor when the vehicle is put back into operation.
 Plug in the vehicle when not using it whenever possible.

NOTE:
The hybrid has a feature of periodic wake-up that occurs every three weeks. This feature charges the 12 Volt battery from the HV battery. This will happen as long as the HV battery remains above the minimum state of charge.

CAUTION!
Before removal of the positive and negative terminals to the battery, wait at least a minute with ignition switch in the OFF position and close the driver’s door. When reconnecting the positive and negative terminals to the battery be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF position and the driver’s door is closed.

 

[UniSonBBS]

Thanks all.

Ill keep this is mind next time when I decide to park it unplugged for an extended period of time. I just didn't want to take up an EV spot for an extended trip and especially for a PHEV when EV's need that charge more than I do.

 

[Sheepish Lord]

Thanks all.

Ill keep this is mind next time when I decide to park it unplugged for an extended period of time. I just didn't want to take up an EV spot for an extended trip and especially for a PHEV when EV's need that charge more than I do.

I would have done the same so I guess it’s just the reality of this system.

 

[Mllcb42]

I would have done the same so I guess it’s just the reality of this system

It's more the reality of the crappy 12v batteries jeep uses

 

[Viajero]

12V battery problems are not uncommon with BEVs and PHEVs. Because the 12V battery doesn't have to start an engine, manufacturers think they can get away with a much lower capacity one. Most of the time they can, and it is cheaper, lighter weight, and more compact.

But, having a 12V battery strong enough to start an engine at -20 F means in any other conditions you have a big safety margin to handle any non-starter-related loads or "abuse" it might encounter. That's missing with a 4xe. Even more than before, it's good to always have a little jumper battery and keep it charged.

 

[Viajero]

 Whenever you leave the vehicle stationary for two weeks or more, idle the vehicle for approximately five minutes, with the air conditioning system on and high fan speed. This will ensure proper lubrication of the system, thus minimizing the possibility of damage to the compressor when the vehicle is put back into operation.

I noticed that one too. It sounds pretty clear, but also a little strange. Every car I've ever owned, I just stop using the A/C at some point in the fall and don't turn it on again for several months, and when it does get warm again I turn it on and it works fine all next summer, year after year. I wonder if there's something different about this system, or they're just being overly conservative?

 

[Mllcb42]

Because the 12V battery doesn't have to start an engine, manufacturers think they can get away with a much lower capacity one

The 4xe has the same capacity as the gas versions (who also have the same issues with batteries dying). They just use really poor quality batteries across the board.

 

[Viajero]

The 4xe has the same capacity as the gas versions

Given my past experience and reading, I didn't believe that at first, so I looked through the manuals, and couldn't find a battery rating, nor did the first couple battery shops I looked at list a battery for the GC 4xe. I lifted up the tire and checked out the battery. Sure enough, it looks like a full-sized battery. It would be sad indeed if it failed after sitting for just a week and a half. Although, I went back to the OP and read the thread again, and realized we never determined the 12V battery was the problem for sure. It was hypothesized and we went off on that tangent...

 

[Viajero]

While on the subject of batteries and airports, I should add that many airports have someone on staff just to handle that case. The one time I came home to a dead battery in the airport parking lot, I went back to the information desk just inside the terminal and told them. Within a few minutes a guy drove out with jumper cables and started it up. In any case, it's worth asking. Quick and convenient and he charged my battery but not my credit card. It was a free service.

 

[hpwjr]

are all these precautions necessary if the vehicle is left plugged in or just if it’s left for a month unplugged? I’m leaving the country for almost four weeks but my 4xe will remain plugged in the whole time.

 

[Mllcb42]

It would be sad indeed if it failed after sitting for just a week and a half.

I don't think people appreciate how truly abysmal the factor 12v batteries are. It's not dying because it's too small or something like that. They die because of significant quality issues.

Replace it with the same size unit from a reputable supplier and the issues go away.

 

[Sheepish Lord]

For my own education, is there still a battery under the the passenger seat in the GC 4Xe or is the one in the spare tire location it these days?

 

[brnscofrnld]

For my own education, is there still a battery under the the passenger seat in the GC 4Xe or is the one in the spare tire location it these days?

Spare tire location

 

[Kolseth]

I just got back from going on vacation for a week and a half. It was left at the airport parking garage unplugged and exposed to the temps (10-30F). When we got back we jumped in and went to start it and it acted like the key wasn't with us. I proceeded to retrieve the key from my suitcase and brought it up front and attempted to start again with no luck. Then it started flashing to service night vision camera or something and some other messages including service charging system. After power cycling the vehicle a few times it started right up like nothing was wrong. Any ideas? Its been fine for days now. Is it 12v related?

Find the charging spots and park there. Then your Jeep will be fully charged when you return.

 

[avdog]

I just experienced a similar problem -- Left the car in the garage, for 6 days, plugged in to the home EVSE charger. Came back to a completely dead 12V battery -- measured it at 2.83 V. To me, that's not just dead, that's so dead the battery will likely need to be replaced entirely.

 

[C.sco]

I wish Jeep would handle the long-term parking battery drain issue the way my kia PHEV did. Here the way it worked in my kia:

When parked for around 2 days or less, it would use the HV battery to keep the 12v battery charged continuously. Then, depending on how much work it had to do to keep the 12v battery charged, after about 2 days it would make a decision: if it's not taking much to keep the 12v battery charged, then it would just keep doing that, OR if it was taking a lot of energy to keep the 12v battery charged, then it would disconnect the 12v battery altogether to keep it from committing suicide.

When I got back to my car after a 1-2 week trip, sometimes there was a message on the dash saying "12v was disconnected to prevent drain" or something like that, and sometimes I didn't get that message, but regardless, you know what ALWAYS happened when I pressed the start button the first time? The car fired right up.

Jeep really needs to take a page out of that book. We shouldn't have to do weird stuff like opening and closing the door a bunch of times to trigger a 12v recharge, and I shouldn't have to disconnect my battery lug every time I park at the airport for a week - the car should be smarter than that.

 

[Mllcb42]

I wish Jeep would handle the long-term parking battery drain issue the way my kia PHEV did. Here the way it worked in my kia:

When parked for around 2 days or less, it would use the HV battery to keep the 12v battery charge above 11vdc or so. Then, depending on how much work it had to do to keep the 12v battery charged, after about 2 days it would make a decision: if it's not taking much to keep the 12v battery charged, then it would just keep doing that, OR if it was taking a lot of energy to keep the 12v battery charged, then it would disconnect the 12v battery altogether.

When I got back to my car after a 1-2 week trip, sometimes there was a message on the dash saying "12v was disconnected to prevent drain" or something like that, and sometimes I didn't get that message, but you know what ALWAYS happened when I pressed the start button the first time? The car fired right up.

Jeep really needs to take a page out of that book. We shouldn't have to do weird stuff like opening and closing the door a bunch of times to trigger a 12v recharge, and I shouldn't have to disconnect my battery lug every time I park at the airport for a week - the car should be smarter than that.

How does the kia come back to life with the 12v battery disconnected? Is there a 3rd battery that closes the contacts the 12v and maintains volatile memory?


The biggest issue with the jeep is the 12v batteries fail. Theyre not just running down due to some phantom parasitic draw, the batteries are failing internally. When the battery is functioning properly, the management of it works fine.