So I go out to my garage this morning turn the key and click click click click. Another dead battery. Luckily I am still under warranty on it so I just took it in to AutoZone and got yet another. This battery lasted 1 year and 2 weeks...better than the 36 days one before it, lol. Anyone in hot weather areas have issues like this? Kirk, you burn through them? 301Doc? How about any of you in AZ?

*Edit*
I forgot to mention that I did have my alt tested last time and it was running fine. Some of you might remember that might have been the post where one guy said that I need to drive with lights on or Jeeps tend to overcharge batteries.

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My Rig:
2008 Jeep Wrangler JKU
OME HD lift
35" tires (thus far)
plus a ton of other things. J.E.E.P.

Your '02 KJ has a battery temp sensor which will not let the alternator charge the battery if very hot temps are sensed.Running with your lights on all the time will do the exact oppisite in a KJ in hot temps,it will kill your battery faster.Looks like it's time for a good battery like the Optima Red Top,they have a 3 year free replacement warrenty.

or maybe you just need a new battery temp sensor.

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Ron


"There are few problems in life the liberal application of duct tape can't solve."

where is the battery temp sensor? That the one that is under the batt?

I do want a optima and am planning on getting one soon.

_________________
My Rig:
2008 Jeep Wrangler JKU
OME HD lift
35" tires (thus far)
plus a ton of other things. J.E.E.P.

That would throw a code and the check engine light would turn on.

Check to see if your "new" batteries are actually recycled batteries. Sears got busted once on 20/20 (or was it 48 hours) for recycling old batteries as new. Reporter marked his old battery, went in to a few Sears stores and got a new battery. Later went back and found the marked battieres on the shelves being sold as new. Would Autozone do that? You never know.

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New KJ Gear - Desert Armor Flak

2004 Renegade Light Khaki - 4" JBA Lift - Rock Lizard Products: Komodo Dragon Rear Bumper, Prototype Winch-mount Front Bumper, Super Skink Sliders - All J's Super Tranny Skid II - 31" Firestone Destination AT's on Moab wheels - Cobra 75W CB w/ stock Antenna mod

[b]Retired, US Military

It would not surprise me, I actually wondered the same thing. Every battery that I have taken back though is buldging a little in the sides. I do not know if they would swap out the housing, probably would be too much of a hassle. Then again, perhaps they just do not recycle my batteries, lol.

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My Rig:
2008 Jeep Wrangler JKU
OME HD lift
35" tires (thus far)
plus a ton of other things. J.E.E.P.

I am on my 3rd in my KJ. When the wife bought the Jeep back in 02 I kept up on the maintenance myself, and did not notice any issues until around the 3rd year we owned it. That is when I replaced the OEM battery, which had split at the top and bulged out on the sides. Now I have had 2 more do the same thing, and they constantly leak out of the tops. I guess I am due for an Optima as well.

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Joey
02 KJ 4wd Ltd. (Spidertrax; Daystar 2.5"; 265's; Transgo)

Same year same problems. I wonder why. My OEM Bat lasted about 3 years also then I became a kid with a battery operated toy which eats bats for snacks. Wonder if the OPtima would be good options for us.

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My Rig:
2008 Jeep Wrangler JKU
OME HD lift
35" tires (thus far)
plus a ton of other things. J.E.E.P.

There is a definite issue with the Jeep design for at least the 02 year. It all started out with bad corrosion. I even swapped my alt thinking it was causing issues. I am not sure if Optima is the solution, or just a band aid.

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Joey
02 KJ 4wd Ltd. (Spidertrax; Daystar 2.5"; 265's; Transgo)

I would think there is, but does anyone know if there is an individual voltage reg? All of my batteries since this started looks like they are over charging.

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Joey
02 KJ 4wd Ltd. (Spidertrax; Daystar 2.5"; 265's; Transgo)

I think I've always gone through about a battery per year in nearly all the vehicles I've had here in AZ. Even my Optima lasted only about a year and a half. Such is life en el desierto.

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95 YJ 2.5" RE lift and 32's, Posi-Lock, 4.10's with a Tru-Trac up front, M8000 winch, CB, gear and what have you...
RIP: 02 KJ LE

I wonder if it is a environmental issue. Meaning that since I am in the extreme heat and MoJoe is in the extreme cold that is why we are getting the shaft. Just grasping at straws here.

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My Rig:
2008 Jeep Wrangler JKU
OME HD lift
35" tires (thus far)
plus a ton of other things. J.E.E.P.

Do you swap them out once they have died or do you swap them after a year and a half just to be safe?

_________________
My Rig:
2008 Jeep Wrangler JKU
OME HD lift
35" tires (thus far)
plus a ton of other things. J.E.E.P.

I can't speak for the extreme heat but as for the extreme cold i am still on the original battery up here in Canada. I live in Northern Alberta. It can get down to -40 for a few days each year. But i wouldn't consider this extreme compared to the NWT where they get down to -60 and worse.

Xodius,

There has always been inconvenient battery death involved. I can usually hear it struggling to start a good week before, though. Of course I try charging it, but mostly they just fail to last. Occasionally it's more sudden.

TL

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95 YJ 2.5" RE lift and 32's, Posi-Lock, 4.10's with a Tru-Trac up front, M8000 winch, CB, gear and what have you...
RIP: 02 KJ LE