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Old 08-02-2014, 10:10 AM   #1
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09 Jeep Wrangler Battery Charger??

Hi All!!
We have a 2-door 2009 Jeep Wrangler which we just picked up with our motorhome after having the SMI Airforce One installed along with some other items. I originally wanted to do a auto-battery disconnect, but had
to wait for the parts to come in. The gentlemen at the service dept. said to do a battery charge instead....which seemed reasonable. After towing it 1 1/2 hours home I have found 2 indicator lights on the dash. One is ESP/BAS (Electronic Stability Program/Brake Assist System) and the other is a Car with 2 squiqqley lines under it (Traction Control). The jeep dis-engaged fine from the motor home and drove for about 1/2 mile to our house fine and is parked. We are worried we may have damage something leaving the battery connected the whole way home. Has anyone had this problem?? We have called the service department but they won't be back until Monday. We have also called jeep and they have no idea. Hoping someone may have come across this issue before!! Thanks!!
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Old 08-02-2014, 11:25 AM   #2
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Are you leaving the ignition in the ON or ACC position while towing? It should be OFF.

The only reason Jeep originally required the ignition in the ON or ACC position was to unlock the steering wheel. Since some time in 2008 Jeep no longer uses a locking steering wheel, so your 2009 definitely does not have one.
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Old 08-02-2014, 01:12 PM   #3
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We have it on ACC. We use to pull the fuses and put in the Brake Buddy. Thought since we were adding the SMI Airforce One we would go with a auto-disconnect so we didn't have to open the hood...just hook up. The guys at the service department said we should go with a battery charger rather than a disconnect...that charged from the coach so you don't have to worry about pulling fuses or dead batteries. Not sure if leaving the battery active has hurt it in some way.
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Old 08-02-2014, 01:21 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jomo1989 View Post
We have it on ACC. We use to pull the fuses and put in the Brake Buddy. Thought since we were adding the SMI Airforce One we would go with a auto-disconnect so we didn't have to open the hood...just hook up. The guys at the service department said we should go with a battery charger rather than a disconnect...that charged from the coach so you don't have to worry about pulling fuses or dead batteries. Not sure if leaving the battery active has hurt it in some way.
I don't know if this is the case with your 2009, but on my 2011 Wrangler I had an always hot 12 V receptacle in the center console that I could have used for a Brake Buddy with the ignition in the OFF position and the key removed. You might check yours. It would be on the front wall of the center console. Under normal conditions the Brake Buddy should not run the battery done even after days of driving without unhooking.
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Old 08-02-2014, 01:24 PM   #5
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Hi Bob...Our jeep must be one that was built in 2008...because the Jeep manual says to put the ignition to ACC and disconnect the battery. I found a way to pull the fuses rather than disconnect the battery everytime thru this forum, but have never tried this new way of keeping the battery charging.
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Old 08-02-2014, 02:09 PM   #6
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Hi Bob...Our jeep must be one that was built in 2008...because the Jeep manual says to put the ignition to ACC and disconnect the battery. I found a way to pull the fuses rather than disconnect the battery everytime thru this forum, but have never tried this new way of keeping the battery charging.
It actually took Jeep a few years to correct the manual. When I said 2008 I meant year model, not date of build. If yours is truly a year model 2009 (even if it was built in 2008), then it does not have a steering wheel lock.

You can test this if you have a fairly smooth garage floor by putting a couple of pieces of thin plywood under the front wheels. With the key out of the ignition, turn the steering wheel all the way to the left and right. Of course the same thing could be accomplished by lifting the front end using jack stands.
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Old 08-02-2014, 02:26 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jomo1989 View Post
Hi Bob...Our jeep must be one that was built in 2008...because the Jeep manual says to put the ignition to ACC and disconnect the battery. I found a way to pull the fuses rather than disconnect the battery everytime thru this forum, but have never tried this new way of keeping the battery charging.
The book on my 2014 Wrangler Unlimited says the same thing.

Jerry
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Old 08-02-2014, 02:27 PM   #8
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You should not have a steering wheel lock with an '09 Wrangler. They were removed somewhere in the '07-'08 model year.

If you don't have one, you don't need a charge line or a disconnect or anything for an AF1. Just turn the ignition off and you'll be fine.
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Old 08-02-2014, 07:02 PM   #9
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Thanks so much for your help and quick response! Just want to verify my procedure:

Put Jeep gearshift in Neutral,
Put transfer case in Neutral
Put gearshift in Park
Turn keys to off

Ready to Go?? Does that sound correct? Of course AF1 and Blue Ox hooked up by DH.

One more question please....did your air pressure go up after install of AF1?? Ours has gone from 75 to 135. We have a call in about this as well.

Thanks again everyone...my DH is running outside right now to check the steering lock!
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Old 08-02-2014, 07:13 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jomo1989 View Post
Thanks so much for your help and quick response! Just want to verify my procedure:

Put Jeep gearshift in Neutral,
Put transfer case in Neutral
Put gearshift in Park
Turn keys to off

Ready to Go?? Does that sound correct? Of course AF1 and Blue Ox hooked up by DH.
Yeah, that's about it. If you use the parking brake while connecting, remember to release it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jomo1989 View Post
One more question please....did your air pressure go up after install of AF1?? Ours has gone from 75 to 135. We have a call in about this as well.
Air brake pressure? Both sides or just one? I don't recall ours going up, but 75 is VERY low for a full aired up system. Maybe the installer fixed something you didn't know was broken.
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Old 08-02-2014, 07:25 PM   #11
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Thanks Flyingdiver! My husband says the wheel is not locking..so we will try doing it this new way.

Good to know about the air brake pressure...I wil check on the Winnebago forum what is normal. We are new to a DP..so air brakes are a learning process for us.

Thanks for everyone's help.
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Old 08-03-2014, 06:06 AM   #12
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This is the procedure I use:

Transfer case to Neutral
Transmission to Park
Key turned off and removed
Parking brake off

My aux. brake is a proportional braking system that uses the air from the coach. I do not know how yours might work.

With the correct wiring harness you should NOT have to disconnect the battery. The rear Jeep bulbs are powered from the coach. No need for a separate battery charger.

I have towed between 7000 and 8000 miles over the last year and a half without problems.
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