[peterweb]

Did you have them check the main 12 V battery? When the Aux battery goes it often pulls down the main battery.

 

[thetruthkc]

Link here! You might want to follow the installation instructions on that page before ordering. It is not a simple plug-in.

Thanks! ordering!

I'm about 1000 miles into my 2020 (gas), no battery warning lights so far, but the ESS experience has been bad. Having to wait for the ESS to kick off/on can be downright dangerous when trying to enter into traffic on a right hand turn or crossing a roadway with no traffic light.

ESS also makes parking the car a terrible experience too. I'm checking mirrors or parking into my garage and off it goes! Some jarring on/off later and I'll be finally parked.

I wasn't too inconvenienced by pressing the button to disable every time, but at $130, it'll be worth it to me. Now, hopefully (crossing all my fingers and toes), the Chrysler won't need to go to the dealership too much so I don't have to remember to disconnect the device too many times.

 

[gMan1971]

Did you have them check the main 12 V battery? When the Aux battery goes it often pulls down the main battery.

Yes, they tested it without me telling them and the main 12V pack passed the tests. My Pacifica only has 609 miles...

@thetruthkc - Yes, I feel your pain. I've been in this kind of situations before, and waited 3 years before taking action... not this time. What people don't realize is that the ESS is not just an annoyance, its also a major safety hazard if you're caught with the engine OFF in a "SHTF" situation... 130 bucks removes that hazard... and I just purchased a vehicle with a window sticker MSRP price of 52k... I think I can spare 130 bucks...

Can't wait for that thing to arrive.

G.

 

[peterweb]

Having to wait for the ESS to kick off/on can be downright dangerous when trying to enter into traffic on a right hand turn or crossing a roadway with no traffic light.

This is something I am still getting used to. I have found that while waiting with the engine stopped, I can anticipate a changing traffic light, or a break in the traffic, as you note. When I anticipate the need to accelerate, I just momentarily lift my foot off the brake, ever so little, and the engine starts with foot still on the brake. It does not stop again until coming to the next stop point in my travels.

 

[gMan1971]

This is something I am still getting used to. I have found that while waiting with the engine stopped, I can anticipate a changing traffic light, or a break in the traffic, as you note. When I anticipate the need to accelerate, I just momentarily lift my foot off the brake, ever so little, and the engine starts with foot still on the brake. It does not stop again until coming to the next stop point in my travels.

I think the problem arises when you cannot anticipate the situation... this ESS is the same situation as being caught off guard while in neutral in a manual shift car.

G.

 

[Waldo]

Yes they did, tested both packs, only one dead, and it was a 200 dollar battery... hard to grasp such lawnmower battery is 200 bucks. Heck, I've seen equal sized Lithium Iron LiFePo AUX14 batteries for less than that, which would probably work a lot better too. But in the end its all moot point, since the StartStop thingy will allow me to keep this thing turned off forever, I just had it fixed so the van is 100% functional.

G.

AUX 14 batteries are readily available. O'Reilly has them for $108.

 

[thclimer]

Just disconnect the negative terminal from the aux battery. Then every time you get the "ESS not available" message tell yourself......Thank you I'm now going to have such a good day!....and when your driving and you see the warning light on the dash, its just another reminder how much better your day is going to be not to have deal with ESS.😁

 

[gMan1971]

Just disconnect the negative terminal from the aux battery. Then every time you get the "ESS not available" message tell yourself......Thank you I'm now going to have such a good day!....and when your driving and you see the warning light on the dash, its just another reminder how much better your day is going to be not to have deal with ESS.😁

LOL... might have to do that until the smartstartstop gets here... I can certainly tell is annoying as heck...

G.

 

[gMan1971]

Good news, the SmartStartStop device went in today, so it looks like no more worries about a weak auxiliary battery ever again. Highly recommended device, seeing the blue light under the A button come on, and without warning light on the dash, every time I start the van is priceless...

G.

 

[Waldo]

Do you still need the auxiliary battery to be functional even though you've fooled the system into believing you pressed the A button every time you start? Or can you unhook it?

 

[gMan1971]

Good question, and the short answers is I don't know. My educated guess, after seeing how the device works, is that it still needs to be present. Since the ESS disable blue button light takes less than a second to come on after you start the engine, so that would suggest the initial startup battery tests are still being performed under the hood.

I guess only time will tell how the AUX14 battery fares...

In the meantime, perhaps someone who has had the SmartStartStop device installed for a while can chime and share their experience...

EDIT: Also keep in mind this is not a disable device, all it does is make whatever setting you had remain permanent. The ESS can still be enabled and work normally...

G.

 

[cleanbyHISblood]

My 2017 wouldn't start this morning. Jumped it tonight and runs, but with "A" indicator warning on. Might have to jump again in the morning, but at least I know what "could" be the issue when I try to get into the dealer tomorrow. Is this Aux Batt. something that my local battery/alternator guy could replace. He's great with electrical and his main business is rebuilding alternators, etc.

 

[thclimer]

My 2017 wouldn't start this morning. Jumped it tonight and runs, but with "A" indicator warning on. Might have to jump again in the morning, but at least I know what "could" be the issue when I try to get into the dealer tomorrow. Is this Aux Batt. something that my local battery/alternator guy could replace. He's great with electrical and his main business is rebuilding alternators, etc.

Replacing the Aux battery is just like replacing a single battery in a normal car.

Yours being a 2017 it would not surprise me that your main battery is failing as well as it is what is supplying the power when you are starting your Pacifica.

If you are outside of the 3 yr / 36K warranty it is much cheaper to replace them both yourself. You can search on this forum for the step by step instructions.

 

[Waldo]

Batteries Plus has both batteries. They install free, and take the old battery in lieu of a core charge. I've always had excellent service from our local branch.

 

[cleanbyHISblood]

Main battery was gone. All is fine for now........ My guy said the AUX Battery tested fine. This forum helped me tremendously by not taking it to a dealer that might "find" all kinds of issues.

 

[Dakotagypsy]

As "peterweb" indicated your aux battery does not have sufficient capacity to power your auxiliary electrical components (radio, HVAC fan, lights, etc.) if your van would shut off if the ESS activated so the ESS has been disabled.

Because your main battery and the auxiliary battery are electrically connected when the van is shut off the weaker battery will draw down the capacity of the stronger battery, which in your case is the main battery. Eventually your van will not start because the main battery has been compromised by the auxiliary battery.

Both the main and aux batteries in our Pacifica's are AGM types which do not like to have their energy level drawn down very low, doing so too many times reduces their capacity to store energy and they will need to be replaced.

Its unfortunate that the design of the ESS on the Pacifica seems to be very taxing on the main and aux batteries as there are many case of these batteries needing to be replaced on vans which are only 2-3 years old or less.

If you want to save your main battery you can disconnect the negative terminal of the aux battery. Doing so will deactivate the ESS and you get the message that it is not available and you will have the warning light on the dash like you now have but you will prevent the main battery from being further drained by the aux.

Both my batteries died in a little over 1 1/2 years. I just had them replaced yesterday. Covered under warranty but it took me two trips to the dealer to get it done. Still, since it was under warranty, it wasn't so bad.

 

[Dakotagypsy]

Yes, they tested it without me telling them and the main 12V pack passed the tests. My Pacifica only has 609 miles...

@thetruthkc - Yes, I feel your pain. I've been in this kind of situations before, and waited 3 years before taking action... not this time. What people don't realize is that the ESS is not just an annoyance, its also a major safety hazard if you're caught with the engine OFF in a "SHTF" situation... 130 bucks removes that hazard... and I just purchased a vehicle with a window sticker MSRP price of 52k... I think I can spare 130 bucks...

Can't wait for that thing to arrive.

G.

Why not just disconnect the negative terminal on the Aux battery? I just had both batteries replaced yesterday and I plan on doing that as soon as I get a chance.

 

[LittleLily]

Why not just disconnect the negative terminal on the Aux battery? I just had both batteries replaced yesterday and I plan on doing that as soon as I get a chance.

Good question, however if the auxiliary battery is not being charged because it was disconnected.
Does that little battery drain out and die sooner or later?
Will the van ever really need that little battery for any functions in the future?
I just disconnected my neg cable to it, our van has 66 miles on it.
Does this mean that I dont need the smart stop device now?
Lotta questions ??

 

[peterweb]

Does this mean that I dont need the smart stop device now?

This means you cannot use the stop/start system. The aux battery is what keeps all your fans, computers, radio, entertainment systems, etc, working while the engine is stopped. The main battery is used by the starter when it is called on to restart the engine.

 

[LittleLily]

Peter would it be better to buy a smartstop device or just disconnect the aux battery?