First start in months

[capnbackflip]

My LJ has been sitting for a few months since I've been using a small Honda as a daily. I finally got some of the work done on the jeep (new power steering lines and pump) and a new battery and it started right up!

Before taking the jeep out for a ride, are there any steps I should take to ensure a safe trip? I planned on an oil change and getting new gas in it as soon as possible, although it seems drivable as it is, as long as the cloud of exhaust it was pumping out isn't a permanent addition.

 

[rasband]

I would drive it around for an hour and then just plan to send it

 

[Trashwrencher]

Just a few months? I'd just make sure all the fluids were there and drive it. Maybe let it idle to operating temp while making sure there are no drips, but then it'll most likely be GTG.

 

[jjvw]

get in and drive it

 

[macleanflood]

Maybe plug the battery into a charger overnight. Check the terminals for corrosion and all of the above stuff about checking fluids.

-Mac

 

[capnbackflip]

Maybe plug the battery into a charger overnight. Check the terminals for corrosion and all of the above stuff about checking fluids.

-Mac

This may have been the right move. I figured since it was a brand new battery I didn't need to charge it overnight, but woke up this morning to it completely dead. No crank at all, just the classic bad battery symptoms. I tried putting it on the charger for half an hour and getting a jump, but neither worked. Still no crank before leaving for work today.

 

[Powers145]

This may have been the right move. I figured since it was a brand new battery I didn't need to charge it overnight, but woke up this morning to it completely dead. No crank at all, just the classic bad battery symptoms. I tried putting it on the charger for half an hour and getting a jump, but neither worked. Still no crank before leaving for work today.

you may have a parasitic drain on the system somewhere.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

30 minutes on a charger isn't even close to being enough for a dead battery. And be sure to use a true battery charger, not a trickle charger, to charge overnight.

Not to mention the TJ's alternator can't charge a dead battery after being jump started. In fact few modern alternators can. Those days are over for most cars and all TJs. Alternators used to be self-excited which means they generate their own exciter field the alternator requires to work. Like generators. But few modern alternators are self-excited now which means they require (!) 12 volts from the battery so they can generate power.

Jump start a TJ with a flat/dead battery and the engine will die within several minutes after removing the jump start battery. My wife's Grand Cherokee battery died and I had to jump start it 3-4 times on the way to the battery shop which was less than 5 miles away.

 

[capnbackflip]

30 minutes on a charger isn't even close to being enough for a dead battery. Use a true charger, not a trickle charger, to charge overnight.

Not to mention the TJ's alternator can't charge a dead battery after being jump started. In fact few modern alternators can. Those days are over for most cars and all TJs.

I figured the new battery I put in would have been fresh enough that it would have just started this morning. I'll put it on the charger for a few hours when I get back from work today. Given that the battery is literally two days old, should I return it?

 

[macleanflood]

Given that the battery is literally two days old, should I return it?

Good charger might bring it back...give it a chance. If I'm away from my Jeep for more than a couple of days I plug mine into a trickle charger...but then I also have a bunch of parasitic draws...USB ports mostly.

-Mac

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I figured the new battery I put in would have been fresh enough that it would have just started this morning. I'll put it on the charger for a few hours when I get back from work today. Given that the battery is literally two days old, should I return it?

You said it was completely dead, a few hours won't be enough. Charge it overnight tonight. New batteries can sit on the shelves for months and go dead. It needs a solid overnight charge.

 

[capnbackflip]

You said it was completely dead, a few hours won't be enough. Charge it overnight tonight. New batteries can sit on the shelves for months and go dead. It needs a solid overnight charge.

Will do Jerry, I'll leave it on as soon as I get back. Probably didn't help that our temperatures dropped below 25 last night.

 

[capnbackflip]

Had it on the 8AMP charger since about 4PM last night, granted everything was a little frosty when I checked on it this morning. No luck at all, can't even hear the relay click like last time for the starter. Just completely dead. Time to return the battery?

 

[rasband]

Time to return the battery?

I would, yes.

 

[macleanflood]

Probably. What brand?

Might want to charge the replacement overnight as well.

Not sure if you're using an intelligent charger or not...good ones know when to stop nuking the battery and start trickle charging.

-Mac

 

[capnbackflip]

Probably. What brand?

Might want to charge the replacement overnight as well.

Not sure if you're using an intelligent charger or not...good ones know when to stop nuking the battery and start trickle charging.

-Mac

Battery is from a big box auto store, charger is microprocessor controlled from harbor freight. Neither particularly great but the battery has a multi year warranty so it should be fine to return and swap.

 

[TNHEADDUCK]

Why did you replace the original battery? I would venture to say you have a draw on your electrical system that is pulling your battery down, you can check for a draw with a voltmeter or test light hooked between the ground post and the ground/negative cable of course you have to have a charged battery for this. I would unhook the ground cable from the battery and then charge it up for 24/48 hours on a good charger. JM2C.

 

[capnbackflip]

Why did you replace the original battery? I would venture to say you have a draw on your electrical system that is pulling your battery down, you can check for a draw with a voltmeter or test light hooked between the ground post and the ground/negative cable of course you have to have a charged battery for this. I would unhook the ground cable from the battery and then charge it up for 24/48 hours on a good charger. JM2C.

The power steering system was leaking on me for a while so I let the car sit while I was troubleshooting. With all the changes I made it was a few months with no driving so I assumed the battery died from having such a low voltage that it needed replacement. I still have the original and could put that on the charger in the garage where it’s warmer. I never really had any charging issues when it was my daily last year but there could definitely be a draw somewhere.

 

[CreepinDeth]

My Jeep, well.....actually my son's Jeep when he turns 16 sits in my driveway in Chicago weather.

Since it sits, I have a 15W solar charger on it to keep the battery maintained.
I have 5 battery tenders on 2 classic cars, and 3 motorcycles, so I'm using Solar on my exterior parked toys.

Since I have so many batteries to maintain, I bought an analyzer to check them periodically.
Anyone whom has a car that sits, these are a good investment.......besides a tender, and charger.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z67MMGC/?tag=wranglerorg-20
If I was going on a long trip, I'd do a battery analysis a week in advance, and pull it and recharge fully as need be.
Check all fluids, check tire pressures esp, and let it run for a good 20 mins past operating temperature.
See if any codes are thrown, this way you've got a few days to remedy VS last ditch effort spazzin

 

[capnbackflip]

My Jeep, well.....actually my son's Jeep when he turns 16 sits in my driveway in Chicago weather.

Since it sits, I have a 15W solar charger on it to keep the battery maintained.
I have 5 battery tenders on 2 classic cars, and 3 motorcycles, so I'm using Solar on my exterior parked toys.

Since I have so many batteries to maintain, I bought an analyzer to check them periodically.
Anyone whom has a car that sits, these are a good investment.......besides a tender, and charger.
[URL]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z67MMGC/?tag=wranglerorg-20[/URL]

If I was going on a long trip, I'd do a battery analysis a week in advance, and pull it and recharge fully as need be.
Check all fluids, check tire pressures esp, and let it run for a good 20 mins past operating temperature.
See if any codes are thrown, this way you've got a few days to remedy VS last ditch effort spazzin

What kind of solar charger are you using? That seems like a great solution for me.