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WK2 - New battery type and location

84K views 176 replies 73 participants last post by  billt 
#1 ·
THE 2011 GRAND CHEROKEE USES ABSORBENT GLASS MAT (AGM) BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

An AGM battery is a sealed unit that uses special relief valves to vent vapors from the battery. The electrolyte is stored in sponge like separators consisting of matted glass filters. This suspension increases the efficiency of the charging and discharging rate of the battery. Continuous under and overcharging is detrimental to this type of battery, therefore; voltage and current regulation are critical.

Typical battery chargers ARE NOT SUITABLE as the voltage and current regulation ranges of typical battery chargers are unsafe for AGM batteries.

THE BATTERY FOR THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE IS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND REMOTE JUMP-START POSTS ARE LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD TO ASSIST IN JUMP STARTING

--WK2Jeeps.com
 
#88 ·
Also, as has been previously noted, the JGC is not unique at all with this battery placement...
 
#89 ·
Yep, not new. Mercedes has been doing it since the early 90's. My E430 has a big ol' group 49 lead acid under the back seat. It's vented to the outside with a small tube. With the W211 chassis in 2003 they started using AGM's.
 
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#95 ·
My 2001 BMW 740i has its battery located just aft of the right rear wheel, accessible via a hatch in the trunk.

Helps with better weight distribution, and that leads to better handling.

I'm not concerned at all with the location under the passenger seat in the WK2.


Sent from my iPhone using JeepGarage
 
#101 ·
Watching that video... it didn't surprise me in the least to see the GC handle the way it did. I've had that impression of it from the moment I first drove one. It has all of the handling manners of a Mississippi River barge.

We don't have moose around here but we do have one of the largest whitetail deer populations in the country, so the ability to avoid them is a serious one.
 
#102 · (Edited)
I remember watching that video back in early 2013 when I was looking. I even showed it to my dealer, he was not impressed and just kept repeating jeep is the most awarded SUV ever lol. I guess jeep corporate was not pleased either and took it seriously and fixed the handling problem. the 2014+ is below after the fix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fs5M8GuvcU
 
#103 ·
I remember watching that video back in early 2013 when I was looking. I even showed it to my dealer, he was not impressed and just kept repeating jeep is the most awarded SUV ever lol. I guess jeep corporate was not pleased either and took it seriously and fixed the handling problem. the 2014+ is below after the fix.
I'm still not impressed with the steering feel and reaction and hope I never have to put it to the test. It feels like my early build 14 would still have the 11-13 characteristics shown in the previous video.
 
#111 ·
Just raise the hood (to get rid of the heat sink!) and keep it on a battery tender......

We live in central TX and it gets pretty warm in our garage, especially when you bring a hot car into it.

First thing I always do is raise the hood on the vehicle then plug the Battery Tender into the battery pigtail (supplied by BT). I use a BT on all the vehicles (including the motorcycle) and never a problem in 12 years. The oldest battery was 5 years old and still tested out strong.

And, as another poster stated, you just bring the seat forward and tilt it up. Note that the battery is quite heavy and having two people makes it easier to remove....:thumbsup:
 
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#121 ·
And I thought I was the only one that raised the hood when I get home. I attach my Optimate6 aautomatic charger to the remote battery posts. I worry that all the things that use voltage may deplete the battery.
 
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#112 · (Edited)
Factory battery for the diesel is an H8 with 85Ah and 800 CCA.

Ooops! Sorry, didn't get your motor at first......

Factory Battery for the V6 in the APAC market is an H7 75Ah and 800 CCA. Part # BP0H7800AA
 
#119 ·
I gotta say, I much prefer fuses in that box than under the dash or even on the side of the dash. Very convenient. Now for the battery inside, I like that it's always clean and dry at least. Hopefully it lasts 8 yrs like my last VW diesel battery. Whenever it dies I'll replace with OEM.
 
#128 ·
I think it's for cold rather than heat. Down here in Oz, our Jeep batteries come installed perfectly nude. I'm amazed that there is so much concern over heat on batteries. I'm an old fart now and have more or less worked on cars here in Australia most of my life and I have never heard or read of anyone having an issue with too much heat on the battery. Provided the batteries are kept topped up with distilled water (old style batteries), they last a good few years even in our long +40°C(104°F) summers.

Another thing, those wanting to put their batteries on chargers overnight, should ensure the charger is designed specifically for AGM batteries. Old charges may not fully charge the battery or may even cause damage.
 
#127 ·
For me I think a better solution would be to install an evaporative cooler in my garage. It would involve more work and expense. But the results would be better overall than screwing around opening and closing hoods every time I go somewhere. Evaporative coolers in garages are quite common out here, and they do help reduce temperatures quite well, as well as add some much needed humidity.
 
#129 ·
actually if you google it, heat is worse on a battery. if the manufacturers eliminiated that blanket they could save millions of dollars and they did that by moving it to under the seat. automakers in the 70s eliminiated the rear window handles and saved millions as per a old friend from Pontiac who was an engineer for them and an auto tech instructor on the side
 
#130 ·
actually if you google it, heat is worse on a battery.
Very true. I know from first hand experience. Back in Chicago batteries had no problem surviving 5 or 6 sub zero winters before failing. At least if you bought a high capacity one with a lot of cold cranking amps.

Out here in the desert Southwest, I've NEVER had a battery survive more than 2 full Summers before dying. And it doesn't matter what kind you buy. I've tried them all.
 
#141 ·
I have an Optima M400 charger that has settings for an OPTIMA AGM starting battery then another setting for other flooded and non Optima AGM batteries. Any idea which setting is safest for the Jeep AGM battery?

It appears that Optima and a few others are slightly different than other brand AGMs and they have a different charging profile.

Which is best when I put the Jeep on a charger?Marine Battery Charger | Motorcycle Battery Charger | OPTIMABATTERIES
 
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