[RICARDOOOO]

Hi all, Minnesotan here. Have this Jeep Renegade 2019 Trailhawk with 97800 milages. Never runs into any engine-related issues and has just changed the oil & oil filter. The car ran fine this afternoon, and I left it outside at -15 degrees for three hours. Then the car won't start. I heard the cranking, but the engine just won't run. I had a passerby jump my battery for 2 min still won't start. The computer also started going crazy after several attempts to start the car and gave me several warnings on coolant, ABS, etc. Any clue what might be the problem here? I need this car to run an errand on Saturday, so I have to get some help quickly here...

 

[RICARDOOOO]

Just a follow-up, the battery seems fine, it was on 11v when I checked.,,

 

[RICARDOOOO]

Did some more research just now. It might be a battery problem. I did the jump start with a passerby, but the person just quit 2 minutes later, so it may not take enough time to take effect. I will try to jump it again today to see how it works...In the meantime, please share your thoughts! never owned a jeep before and had no idea what to do with it

 

[rsanges]

Use a battery pack jump starter. Do not use another running vehicle to jump-start a Renegade. Many cases have been reported of our computers being scrambled by attempted jump starts from other vehicles.

 

[georgef]

Just a follow-up, the battery seems fine, it was on 11v when I checked.,,

11 volts is considered nearly dead, a good battery should check slightly over 12 volts.

 

[rsanges]

...and voltage is a really poor way of assessing a vehicle's battery condition.

 

[JeepCares]

Did some more research just now. It might be a battery problem. I did the jump start with a passerby, but the person just quit 2 minutes later, so it may not take enough time to take effect. I will try to jump it again today to see how it works...In the meantime, please share your thoughts! never owned a jeep before and had no idea what to do with it

Hi there.

If you continue to experience concerns, we'd suggest getting in touch with your preferred Jeep dealership for a proper diagnosis. If you need support while there, let us know.

Kate
Jeep Cares

 

[Trailhawk15]

I had the same happen to mine i got a jump box and it started just fine.

I would advise to not have anyone jump start you or we jump start the computers are very touchy in the Renny's.

 

[RICARDOOOO]

Hi all, thanks so much for the advice, I think it’s probably the battery issue. I just ordered a jump start battery we will see how it goes this afternoon. It’s so cold here my friend’s Infiniti also failed to start this morning…will keep you all posted

 

[RICARDOOOO]

...and voltage is a really poor way of assessing a vehicle's battery condition.

Got it…I know I sounded pretty ignorant but this is rly my first jeep…thx for the advice!

 

[georgef]

...and voltage is a really poor way of assessing a vehicle's battery condition.

Agreed, they should at least have the battery load tested (after fully charging it).

 

[RICARDOOOO]

Alright update, have a battery start up don’t work at all…do need the car urgently tmr to have to get a towing to service it for the day

 

[RICARDOOOO]

I suspect the battery is basically dead. When I connect it with jump start battery it can crank but when I disconnect it just won’t do anything.

 

[RICARDOOOO]

The issue is solved! Turns out the battery totally failed, thank god it’s not sth like a starter problem or alternator issue!

 

[[email protected]]

I am glad it was just your battery. I have a 2018 Lattitude 4x4 that stops running every winter-requires spark plugs to be changed and since it is a wearable item, it costs $600 each time. I have had them changed 4 times since I bought it new. Jeep could not tell me what was causing this, so this winter I took it to a certified mechanic. There is a bulleting if you drive in a cold climate you need an 1/8 inch weep hole in the muffler. Without the weep hole, the condensation from the motor was icing up my catalytic converter, and also placing water in the oil which was causing the plugs to gunk up. Since the weep hole was drilled in December, I haven't had any issues. I have been going back and forth with jeep not following a service bulletin and wanting a return on money from them since they were aware of the bulletin but did not do anything about it. Will update any more problems.

 

[leydernmartyn]

Probably the battery. When there is not enough power the computer gives random error messages.

 

[RICARDOOOO]

I am glad it was just your battery. I have a 2018 Lattitude 4x4 that stops running every winter-requires spark plugs to be changed and since it is a wearable item, it costs $600 each time. I have had them changed 4 times since I bought it new. Jeep could not tell me what was causing this, so this winter I took it to a certified mechanic. There is a bulleting if you drive in a cold climate you need an 1/8 inch weep hole in the muffler. Without the weep hole, the condensation from the motor was icing up my catalytic converter, and also placing water in the oil which was causing the plugs to gunk up. Since the weep hole was drilled in December, I haven't had any issues. I have been going back and forth with jeep not following a service bulletin and wanting a return on money from them since they were aware of the bulletin but did not do anything about it. Will update any more problems.

I feel your frustration man, actually, just after the battery change, my car had another crank with no start and this time, ofc it's the frozen muffler! It's just annoying how the two problems kind of come together for me because of the freezing temperature in the Midwest. Even the tow truck guy was like "hey it's you again." Luckily they didn't charge me that crazy amount bc of some local discount.

 

[IronMike3406]

I am glad it was just your battery. I have a 2018 Latitude 4x4 that stops running every winter-requires spark plugs to be changed and since it is a wearable item, it costs $600 each time. I have had them changed 4 times since I bought it new. Jeep could not tell me what was causing this, so this winter I took it to a certified mechanic. There is a bulletin if you drive in a cold climate you need an 1/8 inch weep hole in the muffler. Without the weep hole, the condensation from the motor was icing up my catalytic converter, and also placing water in the oil which was causing the plugs to gunk up. Since the weep hole was drilled in December, I haven't had any issues. I have been going back and forth with jeep not following a service bulletin and wanting a return on money from them since they were aware of the bulletin but did not do anything about it. Will update any more problems.

Why are you spending $600 dollars for 4 spark plugs ???? Even if you replaced the Plugs and Coils, Spark Plug with NGK LZFR5CI-11 $12 x 4 = $48 and Coils are NGK 49132 U5364 $31 x 4 = $124 ! All in all you would be out of pocket $175 in parts and even if you paid a dealer at $100 hour or shop there is less than 1 hours worth of labor to replace them. I just couldn't fathom paying someone $600 a year for something anyone with a little bit of mechanical knowledge could do for way less.

 

[jm.artis]

I am glad it was just your battery. I have a 2018 Lattitude 4x4 that stops running every winter-requires spark plugs to be changed and since it is a wearable item, it costs $600 each time. I have had them changed 4 times since I bought it new. Jeep could not tell me what was causing this, so this winter I took it to a certified mechanic. There is a bulleting if you drive in a cold climate you need an 1/8 inch weep hole in the muffler. Without the weep hole, the condensation from the motor was icing up my catalytic converter, and also placing water in the oil which was causing the plugs to gunk up. Since the weep hole was drilled in December, I haven't had any issues. I have been going back and forth with jeep not following a service bulletin and wanting a return on money from them since they were aware of the bulletin but did not do anything about it. Will update any more problems.

Bingo. This feed just made me figure out that's exactly what been occurring with our 2019 Renegade Trailhawk and explains everything. We live in northern WI so no strangers to frigid weather. Found the latest FCA service bulletin, #09-004-20 which supersedes the 2018 and includes 2019 & 2020 Renegades/Fiat 500X's, essentially the same platform. What do you think occurs when a turbocharger is trying to pump against a plugged exhaust system...
When it faults out I have to disconnect the battery for 3 days to reset the modules. Has occurred 4 times, twice inside 2 months this year. Its unseasonably warm at the moment in the mid to uppers 30's. When I got it going again this morning, the exhaust like sucking and blowing a Slurpee through a straw. I took her out for some air, and was blowing condensation like a steam train when I'd get on it. No weep holes, and it went to the dealer winter 2020 for this same thing. Its going back tomorrow and I'm going ride their you-know-whats. If this situation causes a failure of either my turbocharger or catalytic converter, its on them. This should have been a recall...