Did you know that in the 2018 Jeep Wrangler there are two batteries? I only see one – let’s find out where the other one is at. Welcome back! My name is Brandon Haneline, your Jeep informant. If this is your first time here and you want to be smarter after this video, then you currently are, make sure you keep watching and don’t forget to subscribe with the Bell.
So, before we get started, I’d be interested to know how many of you actually knew that the 2018 Jeep Wrangler had two batteries, so let me know up here in the top right corner to cast your vote if you did or didn’t know.
Guys, the information that I’m going to be bringing you today is in all seriousness – this could be a hazard and a safety issue for anyone that is working on the 2018 or newer Jeep Wrangler JL body. Let me show you what I’m talking about.
As you can see, the negative battery cable is disconnected with the voltmeter negative lead attached to that. Also, the positive battery terminal is disconnected. So, let’s see if there’s any voltage on these two wires with it disconnected from the battery … Look at that, twelve point two volts!
Alright, this is where our problem lies. Most people don’t realize when they disconnect that battery, there’s still live voltage on it. So, if you’re working on an airbag or you’re working on the electrical system where the battery needs to be disconnected like the alternator or starter, you could short something out very easily.
So, if you’re like me, you want to know where the heck is this voltage coming from? I only see one battery, I gotta figure this out.
I’m thinking this right under this little area right here because I have searched this whole vehicle over and can’t find anything. I did trace the wires back and they kind of go up underneath areas, so this is why I’m taking this off.
Well, it’s not as easy as just two bolts, so it looks like we’re gonna take several screws off here to get this PDC out of the way. Then, we gotta take several more bolts off to get the PDC tray out of the way, then there’s another cover here … The Jeep is always, man, there is nobody gonna steal this battery if it’s down here anyway.
So, looks like there’s two more bolts there, let’s take those two out for the reveal of the battery. And ta-da, there you are, little guy, I’ve been looking for you.
Now that we know where it’s at, what is it for and how can we disconnect it some easier way than this?
So, what is this auxiliary battery for? It’s for the auto stop start – yes, that’s right. When you’re in a stop start event, all the accessories on the interior of the vehicle are run off of this small battery.
Now, the engine and the starter use a large battery, but the alternator does monitor both and charge both. There’s gotta be a better way to disable both batteries if you need to work on the vehicle, so let me show you which cables to disconnect.
If you look closely, there’s one dedicated negative battery terminal, and that one goes to the auxiliary battery. So, if you remove that, then you’re only disabling the auxiliary battery. Now once you have that one removed, you’re going to need to remove the other negative battery terminal to disable both batteries.
If you wanted to remove the positive terminal from the auxiliary battery, that’s that one there, guys. The purpose of this video is to keep you safe, I guarantee you so many people do not know that when you disconnect the positive and negative battery terminals only from the large battery, that the cables are still live and they have voltage on them, so share this with everyone you know on social media, wherever. Whoever’s got a Jeep Wrangler, share this video and let them know about it.
Okay, so I hope you have learned something today. I hope you’re smarter now than you were before when you started, and I hope you have a great day. You take care, guys, and we’ll see you next time.
What is the issue with the 2018 Jeep Wrangler having two batteries?
The issue with the 2018 Jeep Wrangler having two batteries is that when the main battery is disconnected, there is still live voltage on the cables, which could pose a hazard and safety issue for anyone working on the vehicle.
Where is the second battery located in the 2018 Jeep Wrangler?
The second battery in the 2018 Jeep Wrangler is located under the vehicle, specifically in the PDC (Power Distribution Center) tray area. It powers the auto stop-start feature and runs all the accessories on the interior of the vehicle during stop-start events.
How can both batteries in the 2018 Jeep Wrangler be safely disconnected?
To safely disconnect both batteries in the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, the dedicated negative battery terminal for the auxiliary battery should be removed first, followed by the removal of the other negative battery terminal to disable both batteries. It is important to share this information with others to ensure safety when working on the vehicle.