My first KJ problem

[tan's2002kjlimited]

Yesterday morning all was good in the world.
Left home for work as usual in my new (to me) KJ.
Came out in the afternoon and it wouldn't start.
After 10 minutes of a jump got it started and left, with the
battery light on I thought I'll stop by the Firestone shop
that's on the way home. About 2 minutes from leaving work
every light in the dash, radio, odometer, tachometer,
and speedometer lit up like a Christmas tree!
RPM's raced to 2500, bells chiming, I thought the thing was going to
implode with me in it. At that point Firestone was forgotten as I wheeled
straight to the Jeep dealer. I pulled right in and the sevice writer
says "looks like you need a new battery."
I have never had a vehicle act like that from a shot battery, and
I was an auto mech for 10 years, back in the day.
Then he tells me they'll be happy to install a new one for $130.00+tax.
I asked him if a new battery would solve the problem, and he said
more than likely. I then asked him if he would jump it for me, which
he did. I then promptly drove home grabbed the 10mm's I was going
to need, drove to Walmart and bought a new battery for $55.00+tax.
Changed it right there in the parking lot, and waited longer in line
for the core charge refund than it took to change the battery itself.
Seems to have taken care of the problem though.

Oh, and the battery I replaced was a "Mopar" with a July 06 date code.
But without a receipt, the dealer wouldn't do anything.

 

[deknight]

Wow! I didn't realize a faulty battery could do all that. I'm glad to hear you fixed it.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Ive never seen a bad battery do that either.. I have seen a dead battery make the jeep hard to start and get to run since the computer needs to relearn..

May want to check the alternator out..

 

[Atrus]

I'd be leery and get the alternator checked. From my GM experiences, the dash lighting up like a tree is a sign of a failing charging system. In those, the ABS and traction control lights come on as the computer shuts those systems down to conserve electricity.

I'd get the alternator tested to ensure you don't kill your new battery.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Dead batteries do that to the Liberty. Be happy your tailgate didn't start erratically unlocking / glass opening.

 

[MoladoGuy]

Or your horns begin to go nuts and honk forcing you to quickly unhook the horns to stop the annoying sound blaring in the airport parking lot late at night after coming back from Vegas (last year).

I think mine needs replacement and I may do it this weekend. 80,000 on it and I pull some power with the amp, truck horns, electronic crap and roof lights.

What type of battery did you buy at WalMart?

 

[Dave]

A friends GC started flashing like someone was playing with the key fob. I don't know if the dash lights were flashing though. Turned out to be the battery was going bad.

You could take it to Autozone and they will check the charging system free. Or you could get one of those $15 testers that you plug into the 12 volt outlet. It's not as good as what the garages use but it will give you the alternator output volts and battery holding volts.

Dave

 

[offrovering]

batteries in these newer cars (all sorts of electrics) will do things like this nowadays, specially larger cars/trucks

i would check alternator too, be sure you have good charge to batt