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"A" Warning light

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#41 ·
Just disconnecting the aux battery will leave you with warnings in your dash about the stop/start system not available and the A warning light will always be on. If you get the smartstop device, all that will do is allow you to manually turn off the stop/start function with the switch on the centre console, and the setting will be remembered next time you start the vehicle. Currently, if you turn off the feature, when you turn off the vehicle and the next time you start it, the stop/start feature is turned back on.

A couple of people have installed the device, so hopefully one of them can comment on how it is working.
 
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#42 ·
Peter, if one disconnects the battery cable to the aux battery that battery will eventually be drained completely.
If one installs the smartstop unit the aux battery will continue to be charged, and working and wont have a need to drain the large battery.
I think I will install the smartstop.
 
#43 ·
LittleLily said:
Peter, if one disconnects the battery cable to the aux battery that battery will eventually be drained completely.
If one installs the smartstop unit the aux battery will continue to be charged, and working and wont have a need to drain the large battery.
I think I will install the smartstop.
Click to expand...
The aux battery is eventually going to go bad because it'll never be used if you install the smart stop start device. The van only uses the aux battery to run accessories while the engine is off during an ESS event. When it goes bad, it becomes a parasitic drain to the main battery whenever the engine isn't running. This eventually causes the main battery to prematurely fail - especially if the van isn't driven daily. IMO disconnecting the aux battery is the better choice because it prevents that from happening.

A dealership would rather see this than a 3rd party device connected to your van when you get it serviced. The only thing the dealership will see that you probably haven't seen is another DTC which is P00FD (Battery B State Of Charge Performance). This is the only DTC stored when the aux battery is disconnected.

Our van still has the original batteries. The dealership determined the aux battery went bad last October, and told me a replacement wouldn't be covered under the CPO extended warranty. After doing some research to learn how the electrical system works on this van, I decided that disconnecting the aux battery myself was the best option. It's been running fine since then. The only noticeable difference is the Stop/Start Unavailable message shown at startups and the warning light.

The two batteries are effectively wired together in a parallel circuit most of the time. The only time they are electrically separated is during an ESS event.
 
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#44 ·
freddief73 said:
The aux battery is eventually going to go bad because it'll never be used if you install the smart stop start device. The van only uses the aux battery to run accessories while the engine is off during an ESS event. When it goes bad, it becomes a parasitic drain to the main battery whenever the engine isn't running. This eventually causes the main battery to prematurely fail - especially if the van isn't driven daily. IMO disconnecting the aux battery is the better choice because it prevents that from happening.

A dealership would rather see this than a 3rd party device connected to your van when you get it serviced. The only thing the dealership will see that you probably haven't seen is another DTC which is P00FD (Battery B State Of Charge Performance). This is the only DTC stored when the aux battery is disconnected.

Our van still has the original batteries. The dealership determined the aux battery went bad last October, and told me a replacement wouldn't be covered under the CPO extended warranty. After doing some research to learn how the electrical system works on this van, I decided that disconnecting the aux battery myself was the best option. It's been running fine since then. The only noticeable difference is the Stop/Start Unavailable message shown at startups and the warning light.

The two batteries are effectively wired together in a parallel circuit most of the time. The only time they are electrically separated is during an ESS event.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the post! I’m having the same issue with the aux battery draining the main one. I’m in a lease that is up in a couple months and I’m trying to avoid spending the cash to replace both batteries. I’m thinking of just disconnecting the top terminals off the aux and calling it a day.
 
#45 ·
Squinn914 said:
Thanks for the post! I’m having the same issue with the aux battery draining the main one. I’m in a lease that is up in a couple months and I’m trying to avoid spending the cash to replace both batteries. I’m thinking of just disconnecting the top terminals off the aux and calling it a day.
Click to expand...
You would have to review your lease paperwork, but I thought while you were in a lease you need to perform the required maintenance and any repairs, so I would assume you need to replace the battery(s) which don't work or when you turn it in at the end of the lease you'll be charged. Hopefully someone else with more lease experience will confirm.

If your van is still covered by the 3yr/36K warranty the batteries should be covered.
 
#46 ·
I recently installed the SmartStartStop device, which you can revert back to stock easily, and IMO it was worth every penny. Only time will tell when the AUX battery dies. If that happens I will consider relocating it to a different location, so at least it won't get cooked by the engine compartment temps.

G.
 
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#47 ·
thclimer said:
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.
Click to expand...
I had this issue about two months ago...the aux battery went out, and killed the main battery. I had to replace both. Unfortunately, two months later, I am starting to get the same warning again. The car has shut down on me while at a stop light twice now. I had to put in park, and restart the car, to get it working again. I have a service appointment today, so hopefully its an easy fix, but this vehicle has been nothing but problems.
 
#48 ·
freddief73 said:
The aux battery is eventually going to go bad because it'll never be used if you install the smart stop start device. The van only uses the aux battery to run accessories while the engine is off during an ESS event. When it goes bad, it becomes a parasitic drain to the main battery whenever the engine isn't running. This eventually causes the main battery to prematurely fail - especially if the van isn't driven daily. IMO disconnecting the aux battery is the better choice because it prevents that from happening.

A dealership would rather see this than a 3rd party device connected to your van when you get it serviced. The only thing the dealership will see that you probably haven't seen is another DTC which is P00FD (Battery B State Of Charge Performance). This is the only DTC stored when the aux battery is disconnected.

Our van still has the original batteries. The dealership determined the aux battery went bad last October, and told me a replacement wouldn't be covered under the CPO extended warranty. After doing some research to learn how the electrical system works on this van, I decided that disconnecting the aux battery myself was the best option. It's been running fine since then. The only noticeable difference is the Stop/Start Unavailable message shown at startups and the warning light.

The two batteries are effectively wired together in a parallel circuit most of the time. The only time they are electrically separated is during an ESS event.
Click to expand...
Hello freddief73,

As per what you said above, the only time they are electrically separated is during an ESS event, so if I disconnect the cable to the negative terminal of the aux battery, it would show the "Stop/Start Unavailable message" (which I am OK with as anyways I used to disable it every time I get in the car) BUT would it have ANY OTHER NEGATIVE EFFECT on the system, i.e. Main battery drain (I don't have AC or anything else running when the car is turned off though)?
The only worry I have is that right now I have the "Stop/Start Unavailable message" and corresponding "A" sign on the the dash (so I guess the ESS system is engaged but not working as car doesn't shut off at the signal) so would it eventually drain my Main battery as well or not....
Can I disable it by pressing the "A" button below the UConnect screen to every time like I used to when there was no message on the dash OR should I just disconnect the cable to the negative terminal of the aux battery?

Thanks in advance.
 
#49 ·
chintanspecial said:
Hello freddief73,

As per what you said above, the only time they are electrically separated is during an ESS event, so if I disconnect the cable to the negative terminal of the aux battery, it would show the "Stop/Start Unavailable message" (which I am OK with as anyways I used to disable it every time I get in the car) BUT would it have ANY OTHER NEGATIVE EFFECT on the system, i.e. Main battery drain (I don't have AC or anything else running when the car is turned off though)?
The only worry I have is that right now I have the "Stop/Start Unavailable message" and corresponding "A" sign on the the dash (so I guess the ESS system is engaged but not working as car doesn't shut off at the signal) so would it eventually drain my Main battery as well or not....
Can I disable it by pressing the "A" button below the UConnect screen to every time like I used to when there was no message on the dash OR should I just disconnect the cable to the negative terminal of the aux battery?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
As long as both batteries remain connected, the possibility is always there for one battery to drain the other. It doesn't matter whether or not the warning light is on or how much you do/don't use ESS. Disconnecting the negative cable from the aux battery prevents this from happening. Aside from the aforementioned ESS warning, there are no other disadvantages to doing so. Everything else still works fine including remote start. ESS is already permanently disabled with the aux battery disconnected so pushing the button to disable it gas no effect.
 
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#50 ·
freddief73 said:
As long as both batteries remain connected, the possibility is always there for one battery to drain the other. It doesn't matter whether or not the warning light is on or how much you do/don't use ESS. Disconnecting the negative cable from the aux battery prevents this from happening. Aside from the aforementioned ESS warning, there are no other disadvantages to doing so. Everything else still works fine including remote start. ESS is already permanently disabled with the aux battery disconnected so pushing the button to disable it gas no effect.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much freddief73. I disconnected the negative cable from the aux battery, secured it with velcro strap, covered the metal part with electrical tape and car is running fine with any issues (knock on the wood). Planning to get the main battery checked after some time to see how it's doing in terms of the charge (last time it was a 60%).
 
#52 ·
Rduncan said:
I have an A in the circle followed by a ! And an alarm sound is on an won’t go off, even when the van is not on. I’m sure that alarm sound is draining the battery
Click to expand...
That will most likely be a bad AUX battery. It can also ruin the main battery. If your out of warranty go to an auto parts store and have both batteries load tested. Make sure to disconnect the battery wires before testing. Other wise the test will not be accurate.
 
#53 ·
I had this problem recently. I went to Autozone, purchased the replacement AUX14 battery for $100, and after installing it (and making sure the batteries were both disconnected during the process) the warning indicator no longer appears. Installing it was straightforward. I watched a youtube video on the process. I don't usually do much to my car myself.
 
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