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Battery dead after sitting for the weekend

51K views 60 replies 36 participants last post by  Topic63 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey everyone,

Has anyone else had an issue where their 2018 Jeep compass battery is completely dead after sitting for two days or the weekend? I mean, slow to the point the doors won't even unlock. I have an appointment to take it to the dealer AGAIN for this reoccurring problem, and I was just curious if it was a common problem.

The only thing I have done to the electric vehicle wise changes the dome lights to LED; I'm sure that wouldn't cause an issue.
 
#3 ·
I've had two incidents where the car radio did not turn off after I got out of the car and set the alarm. In both cases, the radio immediately turned off when I opened the door again, but it had been on for more than an hour when it happened the first time. If it had happened when I'd parked for the night rather than during a brief stop while shopping, it could have easily killed the battery. Could be what's happening with yours.

FWIW, Jeep service found no issues when I had them check it out. Still, it's worth having them check the car over just to get the problem logged. If it keeps happening and they can't resolve it, getting it documented might be invaluable if you want to push for a lemon law buyback or a more expensive repair (if it happens again, I'm going to push them to replace the computer and the UConnect system).
 
#4 ·
Haven't had your exact issues but these things are becoming well known for electrical issues so just document everything well and get your dealer to work with you.

They have weak, bargain bin batteries in them to start with, doesn't take much to kill them off. I had a defective BCM replaced last spring and things got better for mine when left a couple of days at a time, I think (we barely ever leave it sitting for that long).
 
#5 ·
Hey everyone,

Has anyone else had an issue where their 2018 Jeep compass battery is completely dead after sitting for 2 days or the weekend? I mean dead to the point the doors won't even unlock. I have an appointment to take it to the dealer AGAIN for this reoccurring problem and I was just curious if it was a common problem.

The only thing I have done to the vehicle electric wise was change the dome lights to LED; I'm sure that wouldn't cause an issue.
Hi bullard120,

We regret to hear about this happening with your Compass! If you would like additional support with the handling team while your Jeep is in service, please feel free to send us a private message with your VIN and appointment details so we can escalate your concerns for further review.

Steph
Jeep Social Care Specialist
 
#6 ·
No problems here...I replaced 6 of the interior bulbs with LEDs and added 2 to the "Flags" in the hatch area and also added a LED to the bottom of each door that is connected to the interior lights and the Compass has sat for days with no battery issues.
 
#8 ·
Wow funny thing is my radio is now staying on after my dealer told me they "updated it". I noticed it the other day after I came outside to get something from my car. I got it to finally turn off after hitting the on off button like 8 times. I was worried my battery was going to die if it stayed on.
 
#9 ·
I hope your problem is easily solved. I'll post my story just in case that doesn't solve the problem. Around 200,000 my '08 Patriot (sister to the Compass) started running down the battery every few hours. It wrecked the original battery, wrecked a replacement battery, and wrecked the original alternator because it was constantly trying to recharge the drained battery. My dealer found a bad spot in the wiring harness directly below the battery. A new harness solved the problem. Cost about $1200 and I debated doing the repair due to the age/miles of the vehicle. I'm glad I got it fixed -- I got a couple more trouble-free years out of it.
 
#10 ·
Hey everyone,

Has anyone else had an issue where their 2018 Jeep compass battery is completely dead after sitting for 2 days or the weekend? I mean dead to the point the doors won't even unlock. I have an appointment to take it to the dealer AGAIN for this reoccurring problem and I was just curious if it was a common problem.

The only thing I have done to the vehicle electric wise was change the dome lights to LED; I'm sure that wouldn't cause an issue.
Hi Bullard 120....
My wife has a 2018, the only issue she had was the AC drain hose was clogged straight from the factory. One day she had at least 2 inches of water in her Compass. It was a mess, luckily the dealership in Princeton replaced the entire carpet, radio from water damage and the battery because it was weak. Of course they took out what caused the problem in the first place(Plug). Since than the compass has been a champ. I don't know how that happened in the first place?!
 
#11 ·
Just got my Compass battery replaced only after a year and 2 months on the road. RDC said battery not covered in Warranty but managed to sell me a new battery said to be covered for 6 years. What a joke...OEM battery carries a warranty for just a year and new battery 6 years!
 
#12 ·
Any car company puts the cheapest battery on the planet in the car from the factory just to get it out the door. Had a Chevy Cobalt that I couldn't get started half the winter the first year of ownership due to poor CCA rating. In Michigan, if you don't swap out for something better thats your problem.
 
#14 ·
mikeexelby said:
Any car company puts the cheapest battery on the planet in the car from the factory just to get it out the door. Had a Chevy Cobalt that I couldn't get started half the winter the first year of ownership due to poor CCA rating. In Michigan, if you don't swap out for something better thats your problem.
This is totally true. It is sometimes a hard-sell with the wife tho to explain why the brand new car needs a new battery right away!

There are some shim solutions. One of the easiest things I have done in the past for marginal batteries in cars that don't drive every day is to throw on a permanently mounted on-board automatic battery charger, such as this: https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SC1300-Automatic-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B07894CFCR

It works especially well in the winter, where marginal batteries give the most trouble. A battery with a trickle charger on it keeping it topped off will resist freezing much, much better than a battery without. I have helped people in northern MN with big V8 engines that don't understand why their car won't start in the winter... "they have a block heater", sure, but the battery chemistry doesn't do its thing properly at 20 below and the battery gets none of the heat from the block heater. I put an onboard automatic trickle charger on, boom, no more problems with cold morning start.

For 4 cylinders like this I don't even bother with the aftermarket block or water heater anymore, thats a lot of pissing around cutting into heater hose creating new points for leaks someday, and draws a lot of juice running up the electric bill. Makes your heater/defrost work faster and thats nice but its not really worth it. With the 0W synthetic oil a little four cylinder needs only one thing to be pretty sure its going to start in the cold: a charged battery. The trickle charger does that, and its pretty cheap and way easier to install and barely costs you anything in electricity.

The only annoying thing about it with the compass is most of us have a second battery with the ESS system, so you need to either find space for two chargers or spend a few more dollars on a dual bank charger.

Still, this simple mod will
1) Allow you to get your money's worth out of the original batteries,
2) help with cold winter starts,
3) extend the life of better batteries you buy for the car someday when the originals no longer perform even in warm conditions,
4) possibly help extend the life of the car's electronics, as things can get pretty fussy when their input voltage is too low.

I slid by the first two winters, but by the end of the second winter I was regularly popping my hood and throwing my charger on overnight when the forecast called for extreme negative temps. Its going to be a necessity this winter to have it streamlined so I can just plug it in easily at night like people do with block heaters.

I might cheat a little because I already have two automatic chargers that are not meant to be left under the hood (two of these: https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SC1319-Automatic-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B0756Q88J5 ) so I might just grab some heavy gauge speaker wire and use like a 4 pin trailer connector out my hood or grill for the two batteries so I don't need to pop the hood every night. Thats just me being cheap though and there are some cons to doing it that way. The regular on-board route would be the ideal.
 
#16 ·
Only issue I have had is when getting in and out of the truck, my knee hits the light switch and turns it on. Not sure if the car turns off after a bit and not willing to try. Will read the manual and see.

My 2011 Grand Cherokee battery went for 8 yrs/100K miles before it failed...but when it went it open circuited and the car went totally crazy even after a jump. Replaced it and everything was OK thankfully.

Baja-D
 
#17 ·
Baja-D said:
Only issue I have had is when getting in and out of the truck, my knee hits the light switch and turns it on. Not sure if the car turns off after a bit and not willing to try.
Here I thought I was the only one this happened to! I bang the switch with my knee and then I look at where it is and think "how the heck did I do that?!" but it happens!

Mine does turn the headlights off on its own after about 10-15 minutes, I am pretty sure. I think it does it if I leave a map light on too, but not 100% positive about that.
 
#19 ·
Dear,

I had a issue with Betteries. I did not drive car for a day and by evening ignition was not happening. I called for Mopar 24X7. I got the technician. He did jump start and said kept engine on for 45 minutes. i did but then again not able to turn on car. So i called mopar service again. got the technician again, he started and i reach to service station. They declared bettery as died and it was one and half year i bought jeep so there is no warranty but they discounted me on new bettery. it was very sudden and never gave hint that bettery is dying.

all the way did not expect bettery to die soon in 1 and half year but service remain at utmost level to keep me comfortable.
 
#25 ·
Hi Andy9381,
We're sorry to hear about this. If you need any assistance while working with your dealer, please send us a PM.
Alex
JeepCares
 
#24 · (Edited)
they system is trying to charge two batteries at the same time and as stated these aren't the greatest batteries. Also, these batteries/charging system doesn't like short trips and cool/colder weather. Ours probably won't make the winter, no Start/Stop for the past 2 months "system charging" and showing 14.4v charging while running. for this past week the battery is holding at 12.15v in the AM. i chatted with with Jeep customer service yesterday and i may pay the diagnostic fee, if even that. the compass is 1 year 10 months with 11,250 miles. seems odd for the extra charge unless ya'll are over the 3/36 warranty?
 
#35 ·
finally had a chance to bring it in for the ESS not working. dealer tested batteries and aux. failed. replaced it with a new one BBAUX101-AA ($110) at no cost/under warranty. so far so good, it only took a few start cycles for it to activate. i'm happy, but the wifes not, lol, she has to get in the habit of turning it off again. glad it wasn't the IBM module or worse, because we have only 4 months left on factory warranty. i didn't see any major change with the charging voltage, still around 14.2v - 14.4v. the main battery seems holding a better AM reading at 12.42v
Land vehicle Vehicle Car Gauge Speedometer
Land vehicle Vehicle Car Gauge Speedometer
Land vehicle Vehicle Car Speedometer Gauge
 
#27 ·
Hey everyone,

Has anyone else had an issue where their 2018 Jeep compass battery is completely dead after sitting for 2 days or the weekend? I mean dead to the point the doors won't even unlock. I have an appointment to take it to the dealer AGAIN for this reoccurring problem and I was just curious if it was a common problem.

The only thing I have done to the vehicle electric wise was change the dome lights to LED; I'm sure that wouldn't cause an issue.
Yes, I have exactly the same problem. And the replacement battery that Pep Boys and Auto Zone computers systems suggest do not fit.
 
#28 ·
Hey everyone,

Has anyone else had an issue where their 2018 Jeep compass battery is completely dead after sitting for 2 days or the weekend? I mean dead to the point the doors won't even unlock. I have an appointment to take it to the dealer AGAIN for this reoccurring problem and I was just curious if it was a common problem.

The only thing I have done to the vehicle electric wise was change the dome lights to LED; I'm sure that wouldn't cause an issue.
Yes Ive been having this issue off and on for about a year and half. I thought it was the battery so I had that replaced. It just recently started doing it on a consistent basis. If it sits for a day, i have to get it jumped. I just dropped it to the dealership today and hopefully they can fix this issue.
 
#31 ·
Please keep us updated on your dealer visit. If additional assistance is needed, our team can connect you with a Case Specialist to assist. We are available via PM.
Alex
Jeep Cares
 
#30 ·
Is your ignition stuck on? I had a situation where even though I turned off the engine and removed the key the vehicle's computer stayed up. My clue was that after it was off and parked for awhile, if I opened a door the interior lights came on but only stayed on for a few seconds then dimmed out. Normally it stays on for maybe a minute or more. That indicated that the computer hadn't shut down.
 
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