[heynowbuddy]

Thought I would share an issue I had and the resolution.

A yellow start/stop icon with an excalamtion to the right appeared in my cluster display. Text warning said "Start/Stop Unavailable". I was worried because I couldn't find this icon in the manual.

Took to dealer, and they told me it was an early indication of a failing battery. They replaced both batteries (under warranty) and I was on my way.

Fixed the issue.

 

[Longtimemopar]

Thought I would share an issue I had and the resolution.

A yellow start/stop icon with an excalamtion to the right appeared in my cluster display. Text warning said "Start/Stop Unavailable". I was worried because I couldn't find this icon in the manual.

Took to dealer, and they told me it was an early indication of a failing battery. They replaced both batteries (under warranty) and I was on my way.

Fixed the issue.

"A yellow start/stop icon with an excalamtion to the right appeared in my cluster display. Text warning said "Start/Stop Unavailable". I was worried because I couldn't find this icon in the manual."

Is this different than what others have experienced? This was not in the regular ESS status menu? @heynowbuddy, can you give more info on your Pacifica: new or used, manufacture date, etc.

 

[catboy]

We don't have ESS, but just dealt with a failing battery. In our experience, when the car battery is dying, it acts like a petulant teenager, hurting all sorts of insults at you. That's perhaps an extreme analogy, but we had everything from "service shifter" to "reverse baking unavailable" to messages about the doors and kick sensors (and we don't even have kick sensors). It would even kill the lights on the shifter, leaving the selected gear dim, making it a bit of a guessing game to shift from memory and hope you were not in drive when you wanted reverse - use the information center screen to help in this scenario.

Replacing the battery is easy, or as easy as anything is to do under the hood (where one has to remove three components or cross braces to just get at something!) As we are out of warranty, we got ours at Costco and it took about 30 minutes or less to do.

 

[Longtimemopar]

We don't have ESS, but just dealt with a failing battery. In our experience, when the car battery is dying, it acts like a petulant teenager, hurting all sorts of insults at you. That's perhaps an extreme analogy, but we had everything from "service shifter" to "reverse baking unavailable" to messages about the doors and kick sensors (and we don't even have kick sensors). It would even kill the lights on the shifter, leaving the selected gear dim, making it a bit of a guessing game to shift from memory and hope you were not in drive when you wanted reverse - use the information center screen to help in this scenario.

Replacing the battery is easy, or as easy as anything is to do under the hood (where one has to remove three components or cross braces to just get at something!) As we are out of warranty, we got ours at Costco and it took about 30 minutes or less to do.

Good to hear that it was easy to do and I hope everything is back to normal. What battery did you get and approximately how much was it? You are over 36,000 miles and did not get an extended warranty?

 

[catboy]

Yes, there's a good tutorial on battery replacement here on the site: https://www.pacificaforums.com/forum/401-electronics/39868-battery-replacement-procedure-2.html#post524364

The battery size for the Pacifica is H7 but also referred to as L4 and 94R it seems. There are different batteries for the gas with and without ESS. I think ours was around $150. You don't need an EGR battery unless you have ESS. My guide to purchasing (aside from the size) was to not buy off-brand batteries, and because batteries go bad over time, was to go for the freshest battery I could find (they will have month/date stickers). For us, Costco was the best on these fronts, although they don't install.

Why no extended warranty? We should have purchased an unlimited mileage plan but just never did. I've heard that one never makes up the purchase price of an extended warranty, but with this car, we just might. Too many things are just not right. I guess we also hoped that we would be successful with our NCDS dispute case, but we were not.

 

[heynowbuddy]

"A yellow start/stop icon with an excalamtion to the right appeared in my cluster display. Text warning said "Start/Stop Unavailable". I was worried because I couldn't find this icon in the manual."

Is this different than what others have experienced? This was not in the regular ESS status menu? @heynowbuddy, can you give more info on your Pacifica: new or used, manufacture date, etc.

The warning was in the cluster, on the left side. Not sure what the "regular ESS status menu" is that you mention, but this was a warning icon that remained while operating the vehicle.
Production was April 2017. Bought new.

 

[zldavis]

I am having the same problem which just started two days ago. I wonder if it's the same issue.

 

[Longtimemopar]

I am having the same problem which just started two days ago. I wonder if it's the same issue.

Get your battery/charging system checked out ASAP.

 

[dustin]

I own 2017 pacifica gas with ESS.
one day while driving, let off gas and wife pushed ess disable at same time... car immediately stalled and made strange noise. started back up and start/stop unavailable came up on dash display as notification. this wasn’t too upsetting as I wasn’t a fan anyhow, so I decided to leave it alone for the time being. went to start van today and interior lights began to flash and doors will not work and vehicle will not start. I’ve tried all key fob techniques, checked battery connection, fuses, etc. This led me to jump the vehicle in order to get systems working as normal. Let it charge for a while and shut it down. Battery did not hold charge and Van died again (within about 15 min).

My opinion on this troubling issue soo many are having in multiple forums with ESS vehicles is the ESS Aux battery is not suitable for the dual battery control module to balance them out. It is being strained within the system and lead batteries can only handle so much ups and downs. The Van throws different ess malfunctions to drivers when Aux battery is going to ****. Replacing it with a matching output 12v lithium battery may due the trick as they are capable of handling many more ups and downs and voltage changes without damage.

Factory mopar motorcycle battery takes ****, then dual battery system kicks in to balance them out for time being until it can’t take the abuse... the other battery is like a leach sucking the life out of it! Not sure if lithium battery for AUX ess will do it, but so far haven’t found any tried proven fixes as noone wants to void warrantees.

Any battery changes will most likely void warranties, so be advised and do your research. I feel as the factory has failed in development of this system as changing batteries out with mopar is just a bandaid!

 

[sethmeisterg]

I just started seeing this message today and I have a lifetime mopar service contract. Should I expect this to be covered or are they going to screw me and tell me the battery is a consumable and bill me the whole amount for their overpriced replacements? The van has 37900 miles so I'm JUST outside the original bumper to bumper warranty .

 

[SciTchr]

I just started seeing this message today and I have a lifetime mopar service contract. Should I expect this to be covered or are they going to screw me and tell me the battery is a consumable and bill me the whole amount for their overpriced replacements? The van has 37900 miles so I'm JUST outside the original bumper to bumper warranty .

Maybe you could get the batteries tested at a battery or auto parts store and consider replacing them yourself.

Batteries are not covered under my Mopar Lifetime Maximum Care warranty so I suspect the dealer will charge you for new batteries and related labor costs if that is the problem.

What year is your van? If you put your van info (year, trim, gas/hybrid, etc.) in the signature line of the UserCP it will show up at the bottom of each post.

 

[[email protected]]

Thanks!

Thought I would share an issue I had and the resolution.

A yellow start/stop icon with an excalamtion to the right appeared in my cluster display. Text warning said "Start/Stop Unavailable". I was worried because I couldn't find this icon in the manual.

Took to dealer, and they told me it was an early indication of a failing battery. They replaced both batteries (under warranty) and I was on my way.

Fixed the issue.

See, why didn't my service dept mention this? Instead he said he'd have to keep my car for 5 days to fully diagnose it.

 

[[email protected]]

Thanks!

Thought I would share an issue I had and the resolution.

A yellow start/stop icon with an excalamtion to the right appeared in my cluster display. Text warning said "Start/Stop Unavailable". I was worried because I couldn't find this icon in the manual.

Took to dealer, and they told me it was an early indication of a failing battery. They replaced both batteries (under warranty) and I was on my way.

Fixed the issue.

See, why didn't my service dept mention this? Instead he said he'd have to keep my car for 5 days to fully diagnose it.

 

[Waldo]

See, why didn't my service dept mention this? Instead he said he'd have to keep my car for 5 days to fully diagnose it.

Whoever told you that is a classic bullshi**er. There is no service that requires 5 days to "fully diagnose". Can you find a better dealer?

 

[citanic]

Another one that bites the dust.

 

[ChryslerCares]

See, why didn't my service dept mention this? Instead he said he'd have to keep my car for 5 days to fully diagnose it.

I just started seeing this message today and I have a lifetime mopar service contract. Should I expect this to be covered or are they going to screw me and tell me the battery is a consumable and bill me the whole amount for their overpriced replacements? The van has 37900 miles so I'm JUST outside the original bumper to bumper warranty .

Hi [email protected] and sethmeisterg,
We understand your concerns. We'd be happy to connect you with a Case Specialist if you plan to continue working with your dealers to address this. If so, please send us a private message.

Lydia
Chrysler Social Care Specialist

 

[gamidwife]

Add me to the list. Just driving down the road today and ding .. up popped the yellow start/stop icon with an exclamation point right next the the odometer. Only 15,000 miles on my 2017 no less. Glad this forum is here so I I have an idea of what it is. I think mine is still under warranty but it sure is a hassle to take the car in to get it serviced even though they are great about bringing me home and picking me up.

 

[ChryslerCares]

Add me to the list. Just driving down the road today and ding .. up popped the yellow start/stop icon with an exclamation point right next the the odometer. Only 15,000 miles on my 2017 no less. Glad this forum is here so I I have an idea of what it is. I think mine is still under warranty but it sure is a hassle to take the car in to get it serviced even though they are great about bringing me home and picking me up.

Hi gamidwife,
We're sorry to hear about your experience with your Pacifica. Should you need any additional assistance while working with your dealer to address this, please send us a private message.
Alex
Chrysler Cares

 

[Valkaru]

Made this list, but got to the 'fixed' list in a few days as well Mine is a 2018, I believe it was a former Avis rental van what I bought used for the local dealer and have put ˜12K on in less than a year. Last month I was almost home from a 135 mile drive (mostly highway) and stopping at the end of the highway ramp resulted in almost a bang as the entire van shutdown, not just the gentle engine stop of the past. I had to put the tranny in park and restart the car, and that pretty yellow warning came up. I drive a round a couple of days hoping the battery charge was an issue as the drive had been on a hot day with all A/C running, but no such luck. Called the dealer and set up an appointment in a few days, then dropped the van off. They ran an update on the software and the ride has been fine since then. I'm finally mostly used to the start/stop behavior, so much so that when I rent Chargers & Challengers without it I worry the engine is still running. Then I tap the gas and that rumbling Hemi reminds me I'm not in a minivan anymore

 

[Jimal]

Yes, there's a good tutorial on battery replacement here on the site: https://www.pacificaforums.com/forum/401-electronics/39868-battery-replacement-procedure-2.html#post524364

The battery size for the Pacifica is H7 but also referred to as L4 and 94R it seems. There are different batteries for the gas with and without ESS. I think ours was around $150. You don't need an EGR battery unless you have ESS. My guide to purchasing (aside from the size) was to not buy off-brand batteries, and because batteries go bad over time, was to go for the freshest battery I could find (they will have month/date stickers). For us, Costco was the best on these fronts, although they don't install.

Why no extended warranty? We should have purchased an unlimited mileage plan but just never did. I've heard that one never makes up the purchase price of an extended warranty, but with this car, we just might. Too many things are just not right. I guess we also hoped that we would be successful with our NCDS dispute case, but we were not.

If your Pacifica is equipped with ESS your main battery is an H6. If not, it is an H7. Just went through this last month.

The ESS battery will not fit if you put an H7 in.