Need advice on 97 TJ?

Question

Hi folks. I have a 97 Sahara AT with 70K miles. I don't drive it that often, once a month. I put in a new battery last year but I need to recharge it every month. Last month, the battery went dead completely (won't take recharge) and I replace another one. I drove the Jeep 3 weeks ago and it was dead again. I figure the battery was drain for not driving it too often but this time it seems different. I can't get the Jeep to stay on, once I jump start it and if I let go the gas, it will die. When I press on the gas, instead of the normal gas noise (roaring sound), I hear high pitch sound as I press on the gas (the sound go higher as I press deeper on the gas pedal). I am letting the charger to charge the battery over night to see what happen. If that doesn't work, I plan to tow it to the dealer but like some advice before I do that. Here are my questions:

How long battery normally last if I don't drive the Jeep?
Why won't the Jeep stay on when I let go the gas?
Does it mean the alternator or the battery is bad and that is why the Jeep won't stay on? Thanks in advance.

David C. Moller · Accepted Answer

Well, for #2, I'd say the alternator is shot, which would also explainwhy the battery is always in need of a charge, and eventually ends upcompletely trashed. That should also fix #1.Dave

Lynn · Answer

Thanks for the reply.  I was thinking the same thing when the battery wentthe first time.  However, when I brought it to wal-mart to buy the newbattery, they gave me a check on the recharging system and told me it isgood.  I thought that meant my alternator is good.  Will the dealer do abetter job to determine if I have a good alternator or good?  Also, does thatmean when the battery and/or alternator is shot, the jeep will not keeprunning even I am able to start the jeep?  Thanks."David C. Moller" wrote:

David C. Moller · Answer

Hmmmm if they checked the 'recharging system', I would think they would have checked the alternator, too. Maybe someone else here has a second opinion on this particular problem? Believe me, I've been known to be wrong hehehehe. Not sure on the dealer... there are good ones and bad ones. And ya, basically the battery is used to start the vehicle, then the alternator takes over. If the alternator isn't functioning properly, the vehicle starts drawing current from the battery while running, and eventually the battery will go dead. Once you have a dead battery and a malfunctioning alternator, the vehicle won't keep running no matter how many times you get it jump started.

Dave

Lynn · Answer

Thanks for the reply and information.  Now it make sense to me.  This morning Icheck the charger and it said it is completely charge.  I remove the charger andthe Jeep start up right away.  Took it for a spin and it drives just fine.  Iguess if the alternator is bad, in a few days, the Jeep would be dead again.  AmIgetting this right?  Thanks."David C. Moller" wrote:

HarryS · Answer

You may want to buy a trickle charger and keep on when the tj is not in use.It will keep the battery fresh and will extend it's life.

L.W.(ßill) · Answer

Hi Lynn,     That short could be anywhere, from a bad diode as you suspect, inthe alternator, or in your un switched areas of your electronics, towhat I'm betting is an internal short in the battery itself.        God Bless America, ßill O|||||||Omailto:      wrote:

Jazzman · Answer

Maybe your just not driving it far enough to charge the battery....everthink of that.  So the trickle charger is a great idea.Mike98 TJ pms

David C. Moller · Answer

Yups, you're getting it right. Bill (LW) had some good possiblesuspects in his response, too.Dave

Lynn · Answer

Thanks for all the advice and suggestion.  I check the battery and alternatorwith ameter.  It seems the battery is reading at 11V and when the jeep is running, thealternator is giving a reading of 13V.  I guess the alternator is working fine. I tookthe Jeep on the highway for 45 minutes and I will leave the jeep sitting in thegaragefor the next 4 days.  I will check the battery next week, hopefully it is justnotcharge and drive enough.  I will look into getting the battery buddy for theJeep.Once again, thanks for all the help."David C. Moller" wrote:

L.W.(ßill) · Answer

Then the alternator is not connected to the battery via thesolenoid.         God Bless America, ßill O|||||||Omailto:      wrote:

Mike Romain · Answer

You have a broken, loose or extremely dirty main battery cable.

Likely the small red one off the battery where it bolts to the power distribution box. That is where the alternator feed hooks up.

The alternator feed also has a fuse link wire on it right at that bolt. If that has blown, you will get the readings you are seeing.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Lynn wrote:

Need advice on 97 TJ?

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