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Battery Saver Mode


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2018 Dodge Journey Crossroad with 3.6l engine. Battery saver mode keeps coming on. At first (about a year ago) it was about once a week. After a couple times I replaced the battery because it was about 5 years old. It kept happening and I just dealt with it. About a month ago it started happening more often, almost every drive. I took it to a dealer and they said the battery was bad because it was after market, then test drove it and said it “started sputtering” so changed the alternator. Any time it’s come on for me it never ran any different, just kicked off the radio, so I think the dealer was just throwing parts at it. I picked it up right before closing, and it made it 2 minutes down the road before coming back on. Any ideas what it can be? I don’t trust the dealer since they didn’t fix it the first time. It seems to only come on with the AC running (I drove to work with no AC and it didn’t come on, drove home 80% of the way with no AC and no issues, I turned on the AC and within a minute battery saver mode came on). I’m thinking it might be the battery sensor on the negative terminal, but I don’t want to just keep throwing money at it. 

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so did you replace the battery a second time since the dealership said it was bad? since the alt was replaced with an OEM alt I assume? is the battery is still reading good of bad?you might have a parasite draw draining the battery,, is it sputtering when you drive it? you don't mention the miles on the speedo 

Edited by 2late4u
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It’s got 55k miles. The battery was replaced last week with the alternator at the dealership. It does not sputter at all, drives/accelerates normally. Once I park and it sits for a few minutes, battery saver mode does not come on unless I turn the AC on. The terminals in the engine bay (since the battery is up on the wheel well) read 12.71 volts with the car off, 14.3 volts with it running measured with a multimeter. The OBD2 reader says the volts is 14 with vehicle running, drops to 13.65 with the AC on max speed and coldest temp setting. It usually doesn't pop up “battery saver mode” on the first drive of the day. Sitting in the garage with it running AC on max it didn’t show “battery saver mode”. I had to drive around for 10 minutes with the AC this time for it to come on, code reader did not pop any codes, OBD2 reader said battery was at 13.77 volts. The other day I went to work and it didn’t come on, I went to lunch and drove for 30 seconds before Battery Saver Mode came on. So I’m not sure if it’s something with it being hotter outside that kicks it on or not.

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Once I shut it off, wait 20 seconds then restart it the battery saver mode is not on. Unless I have the ac on then it shows up about 30 seconds after starting

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The voltage outputs seem about right. The hvac circ fan and rad elect fan will drop charging voltage at bit when running.

 

Maybe try unplugging and repluggng amperage sensor on battery negative terminal.  It’s seems like a phantom low reading . So wiring diagram with pin out for ecm, then search every part of battery monitoring circuit. Looking for a bad connection.  Electrical specialist shop much better at this type of thing than traditional mechanics.  

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2016 DJ

3.6 L

62te transmission 

 

I worked on my battery with the car on the ground. With tire on.

 

To access the negative terminal Battery sensor. Go through the engine bay.

Remove the air intake system.

Including the air filter box.

 

Before you do this, disconnect the negative battery terminal at the stud on the strut tower.

 

 

 

There is latch on the connector, you have to release 

by sliding it back.

Then wiggling and tugging on the connector. Go easy.

The wires are short.

 

Check  if the sensor is fully

seated on the terminal. It should be.

 

Check it out. Clean every contact part there is.

 

Picture is from where the air filter box sits. On the 2 studs

in foreground.

IMG_20230905_185621.thumb.jpg.344c19edb16bb6cbcf92bbe93a2a6969.jpg

 

In this picture, my battery sensor is only half seated on the battery terminal.

The negative cable is hitting the battery hold down.

 

image.thumb.jpg.7df3872fe17aacb23fa38b779c051019.jpg

 

You can reach the positive terminal. With the tire turned inward.  It is tight. There is a plastic access panel you remove.

image.thumb.jpg.b09e508d7c2852f0e47e0e52a3098a41.jpg

 

 

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22 hours ago, Journey18 said:

It’s got 55k miles. The battery was replaced last week with the alternator at the dealership. It does not sputter at all, drives/accelerates normally. Once I park and it sits for a few minutes, battery saver mode does not come on unless I turn the AC on. The terminals in the engine bay (since the battery is up on the wheel well) read 12.71 volts with the car off, 14.3 volts with it running measured with a multimeter. The OBD2 reader says the volts is 14 with vehicle running, drops to 13.65 with the AC on max speed and coldest temp setting. It usually doesn't pop up “battery saver mode” on the first drive of the day. Sitting in the garage with it running AC on max it didn’t show “battery saver mode”. I had to drive around for 10 minutes with the AC this time for it to come on, code reader did not pop any codes, OBD2 reader said battery was at 13.77 volts. The other day I went to work and it didn’t come on, I went to lunch and drove for 30 seconds before Battery Saver Mode came on. So I’m not sure if it’s something with it being hotter outside that kicks it on or not.

Is there not a code stored?  I have mentioned this before but the last time my battery light came on (actually the last 2 times) it was a high voltage warning code.

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Sorry I'm having a power issue as well my 2014 dodge journey 3.6 all lights on dash came on a battery saver shut car down completely drained no power I hooked up starter box last night just touched the connection and power restored was able to move it to driveway and did something chuck volts to batter was like 3 volts took nagitve off disconnected power to alt and stop drain too meter to power post on alt and to power on battery and its grounded is there any other test I should do or just pay the 500 for a new alt I don't want to be wrong and be out 500 buck thank you for any input and sorry about bump on this page but thought I could get the help I needed here thax

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