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Jeep Grand Cherokee L > Battery Discharge Issue

Asif1984

Member
They will remain lit for about 2 ours after shutoff and doors closed. According to Jeep, it is normal.
I thought this is one that is draining...I will check today after 2 hours, cause pretty sure yesterday I checked many times, but can't remember if I had done it after 2 hours..
 

Asif1984

Member
Like some of the others I too have been following along on this thread with this being my first post on this forum. So thank you for the information to those of you who have come on here to discuss your problems.

I had the battery drain problem starting right before Christmas. Took it in, recalls were taken care of and the car was "updated". Nothing was found as far as a draw on the batteries according to dealer.

Anyways, was told the vehicle was done and ready for me to pick up. So I went to pick up the GCL after hours and once again it was dead. Luckily I had not turned in the rental car yet. So a note was written on the envelope and with keys inside and put in the drop box. Dealership called the following week and stated they hooked up their scan tool and once again found nothing. They charged the battery and checked again overnight. Battery voltage was with in normal range. So I return again to pick it up. This time it works but not for long...

Then on 1-12 I had the GCL towed to the dealership this time as not even a jumpstart would get going. Service dept. calls me and says they were able to located the source of the draw on the batter. It's the lift gate module! Says it needs replaced and the part is on order with arrival in 4-10 days. 10 days later in a minivan, bc apparently the rental has to be a Chrysler product according to Enterprise, the dealer calls and says all is good and I can pick up my GCL.

So, on 1-21 I pick it up and I notice once I'm close to home that the touch screen is flickering and then occasionally goes black and then will turn back on all with no input. Now today in addition to the flickering and blackouts the touch screen will not play any sound other than a random blip of whatever station you're on. This includes CarPlay, satellite, FM/AM Radio and even bluetooth from my phone.

I'm losing faith in this vehicle. We're not even going to take it on our road trip to Florida bc I don't trust it which is frustrating bc that was part of the reason for the GCL to fit the whole family.
Any updates yet?
 

bpatch85

New member
Any updates yet?
Dealership has the vehicle and according the service writer the tech is working with Star to troubleshoot the problem before Star will release a new radio unit. That was on Friday mid day.

I'm hoping to hear from the dealership this morning with an update that the part is ordered but I know how this works. Hope is just delayed disappointment...

My other problem I am having is Enterprise Rent a car is a pain in the ass. They met me at the dealership with a Chrysler 300. Nice car but I can't fit everyone in it. It's to small and with the weather that's coming this week the car is going to be useless as its rear wheel drive. I have asked for an SUV since that is what I am supposed to be driving but they just blow me off and never call me back after saying they will work on finding me an SUV.
 

MikeC

New member
Hello - I'm a new user! Sooo happy to be here......... I've been following this thread since January 2 when we first woke up to a dead battery in our GCL that we've had since early November. I was able to recharge the battery off an electric charger only (efforts to jump it from another vehicle wouldn't work). The car ran fine for the next four days. I brought it to the dealer on Tuesday, January 4th, just to have the battery looked at and also address two outstanding recalls. I mentioned the rear latch module being a potential culprit for the battery (why else would it die if it was so new?), but they said they would have to keep it overnight if I wanted them to research it further than the battery, itself. The advisor told me the recall software updates might solve any potential battery issue as they often address multiple bugs. The battery was otherwise perfect, according to them.

The battery died again in my driveway two days later on January 6th. I charged it again for about 90 mins until I could drive it back to the dealer. I cited this forum again, and the potential rear lift gate module. They gave me a GC loaner and sent me on my way, stating that they probably would not have an answer the same day.

I called them the following day for an update and was told it had died yet again with a brand new battery. At this point, they believe it is.... wait for it.... the rear lift gate module. They have it on order as of 1/7, but it is backordered, and they have no idea when it will be available. I was told it could be up to a month, possibly. I promptly sent the service advisor an email with a link to this forum thread. Worth noting that It was initially suggested that they give me the car back with the new battery the same day, but the person who wrote me up decided they would keep it overnight and test it the following morning, which turned out to be a great idea.

For now, we're waiting on them to get back to us with an ETA. Nothing to do except keep making payments.

Other notable glitches and things worth mentioning.....
1) I also have had the Check Rear Seat message on almost every instance of turning the vehicle off that I can remember since we bought it. We, like others, assumed it was a safety message related to kids being left in the car. I mentioned this to the dealer on Friday as well. Again, they don't know what it means but it's being looked into.
2) Probably unrelated, but about 2-3 weeks after we got the car, my wife and I both tried to remote start it from our fobs. She had started it and a few seconds later I did the same, unknowingly. When we got inside the SERV 4WD system light was on the dash. Panic set in but after getting to our next stop, we turned the car off, and when we restarted about 30 minutes later it cleared. It hasn't come on since, and that was about six weeks ago.
3) The service advisor stated that since the vehicle is so new, repairs like this have to be consulted on with Jeep before they can be performed. As such, repairs will take longer since Jeep approves any and all work being done on the vehicle. Seems reasonable, but why would Jeep just tell them to replace a battery that tested fine 48 hours earlier without further investigation? And then give it back to me when I had already been in that same week?
4) The Jeep App. Does anyone use this on their phones? Why didn't it alert us to the battery going down or tell us to schedule service? Seems kind of useless if you go to start your car from your phone, all systems are "ok", the car doesn't start because it's dead, and the app doesn't even notify you....

Anyway, long story short, this is my wife's first NEW vehicle in a very long time, and it is by far the most expensive vehicle we've ever bought. We're two payments into our term and it's fair to say it could be going better. We leased it with the intention to buy at the end, but I'll be hard-pressed to want to drive this anywhere without a bumper-to-bumper warranty to back me up. Holding out hope that they'll find the part quickly and this issue will be put behind us. I'm also trying to be sympathetic to dealerships on the receiving end of supply chain issues and Covid-related absences in their service departments. Hopefully this is over soon and we don't have more problems.
I’ve had my GCL for 2 months. After a month I started getting the SERV 4WD light periodically coming on. Then I started having my speedometer read 50mph while in park. Took my vehicle to dealer and was told they could not replicate the issues but they reset the 4WD. Had my vehicle back for a week and my car wouldn’t start. I was able to jump it to get it home and then had it towed to the dealer. I’m currently waiting for the dealer to get back to me with what they are gonna do about it. Of course the dealer doesn’t have any loaner vehicles for me, so I’m without a vehicle. The whole point of getting a new vehicle is to not have to worry about reliability issues…unless it’s a Jeep I guess.
 

hcl

Well-known member
They will remain lit for about 2 ours after shutoff and doors closed. According to Jeep, it is normal.
Is is it confirmed that this light is intentionally on for 2 hours after shutoff? If so, while I'm sure it's a minimal draw, what possible value does it have for 2 hours, especially with more important, battery dependent features? I'd like to think that all of the problems listed in this forum are component, software, or assembly related, rather than a bad design, where there's not an adequate source of power for all of its electrical features.
 

jeepgrady

Well-known member
I read a TSB whereas it states that it is normal for them to stay on for an extended period and that technicians shouldn't change anything.
 

Mzwy

Member
Is is it confirmed that this light is intentionally on for 2 hours after shutoff? If so, while I'm sure it's a minimal draw, what possible value does it have for 2 hours, especially with more important, battery dependent features? I'd like to think that all of the problems listed in this forum are component, software, or assembly related, rather than a bad design, where there's not an adequate source of power for all of its electrical features.
FWIW I found a forum someplace where people were discussing these USB ports on late model jeeps, can’t remember what models. The people said techs told them they are supposed to stay illuminated for a while and then they time out and turn off. I forget the explanation why they’re designed that way. They also said it’s an led backlight and so it’s a very minimal draw. I’ve watched mine and it goes from bright backlight then dim after a couple minutes then after about an hour give or take it’s off.
 

hcl

Well-known member
FWIW I found a forum someplace where people were discussing these USB ports on late model jeeps, can’t remember what models. The people said techs told them they are supposed to stay illuminated for a while and then they time out and turn off. I forget the explanation why they’re designed that way. They also said it’s an led backlight and so it’s a very minimal draw. I’ve watched mine and it goes from bright backlight then dim after a couple minutes then after about an hour give or take it’s off.
I guess it's some consolation that it's a minimal draw, but still needless, unless anyone can explain any possible purpose for it.
 

Mzwy

Member
Update, I got the latch and new battery about a month ago. No issues since then, knock on wood.
When all the stuff in the background that you can’t control finally shuts down after you turn the car off, the battery has rested at 12.7-12.8 volts consistently.

So now I wait for the next thing…..
 

Mzwy

Member
I guess it's some consolation that it's a minimal draw, but still needless, unless anyone can explain any possible purpose for it.
I think the port itself initially remains powered with the ignition off until it times out (backlight goes out too). You can charge or run a device that way without leaving the ignition on. Timeout keeps it from draining the battery too much if you leave it plugged in.
 

Asif1984

Member
Today got my vehicle back with a replaced latch...will update soon, dealer told everything is fine now, no draining, they checked. Let's see but I saw the check rear seat signal..
 

snickers104

New member
Well....the dreaded dead battery has happened to me. Called dealership and they said they already replaced the lift gate switch. Now talking about a bad battery. Have to take it to them for a 2 hour check....so frustrating.
 

Bawk20

New member
We have also had the real latch replaced 2 months ago and woke up today with a GCL that won't start. Interior electronics seemed to turn on ok but when I hit the button to start the brake pumped once and dash turned off except for 1 small red light in the bottom right corner.

Waiting on someone to come pick it up and take back to the dealer.....
 

Mzwy

Member
We have also had the real latch replaced 2 months ago and woke up today with a GCL that won't start. Interior electronics seemed to turn on ok but when I hit the button to start the brake pumped once and dash turned off except for 1 small red light in the bottom right corner.

Waiting on someone to come pick it up and take back to the dealer.....
Do you happen to know what part number they put in?
 

Mzwy

Member
I do not. It is back at our original dealer now and hoping they will take better care of me than the "local" dealer. If I can find out I will let you know
Thanks. Just curious to see if it’s the same latch that I got. When they replaced mine the p/n was listed on the invoice they gave me at the cashier’s desk.
I really hope I don’t have to go through it all again. Sorry to hear others are.
 
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