09-04-2024, 10:07 AM
Last week, my battery died in the middle of a grocery store parking lot. Fun times, right? Luckily, I had my trusty portable jump starter in the trunk, but I know not everyone finds jump-starting a Jeep Grand Cherokee as straightforward as other vehicles. The battery placement and some quirks can make it tricky if you’re not familiar with how things work.
First, it’s good to know that the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s main battery is located in the passenger-side fender well, not in plain view like most cars. When you pop the hood, look to the right side near the windshield washer reservoir, and you’ll see a small access panel—that’s where the battery is hiding. The good news is, you don’t need to access the full battery to jump-start it.
Instead, Jeep provides dedicated jump-start terminals under the hood. You’ll find a positive terminal covered with a red plastic cap on the right side, near the fuse box. The negative terminal is a metal stud farther back, attached to the frame. So, you can jump-start the car without dealing with the battery directly.
If you’re using a portable jump starter (which I highly recommend keeping in your trunk—it’s saved me more than once), connect the red clamp to the positive terminal and the black clamp to the negative stud. If you’re using jumper cables from another car, follow the same steps: red to positive, black to negative. Make sure the other car is running or your jump starter is fully charged and powered on.
After a few minutes of letting the power flow, go ahead and try starting your Jeep. It should fire up, but if it doesn’t, double-check your connections and ensure there’s enough juice from the jump starter or the other vehicle. Once it’s running, let it idle for a few minutes to build up some charge.
When you’re done, remove the jumper cables or portable jump starter—always disconnect the black clamp first, then the red. Be careful when disconnecting to avoid sparks or touching any metal surfaces.
It’s also a good idea to keep the engine running for at least 15-20 minutes after a jump to give the alternator time to charge the battery. Take a short drive or let it idle to make sure you don’t end up stuck again. If your battery keeps dying, though, it’s probably time to get it checked or replaced. A portable jump starter is a lifesaver in these situations, and I highly recommend investing in one.
That’s how I’ve managed to keep things rolling when the battery gives up. Anyone else have jump-start tips or tricks for the Jeep Grand Cherokee? What’s worked for you?
First, it’s good to know that the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s main battery is located in the passenger-side fender well, not in plain view like most cars. When you pop the hood, look to the right side near the windshield washer reservoir, and you’ll see a small access panel—that’s where the battery is hiding. The good news is, you don’t need to access the full battery to jump-start it.
Instead, Jeep provides dedicated jump-start terminals under the hood. You’ll find a positive terminal covered with a red plastic cap on the right side, near the fuse box. The negative terminal is a metal stud farther back, attached to the frame. So, you can jump-start the car without dealing with the battery directly.
If you’re using a portable jump starter (which I highly recommend keeping in your trunk—it’s saved me more than once), connect the red clamp to the positive terminal and the black clamp to the negative stud. If you’re using jumper cables from another car, follow the same steps: red to positive, black to negative. Make sure the other car is running or your jump starter is fully charged and powered on.
After a few minutes of letting the power flow, go ahead and try starting your Jeep. It should fire up, but if it doesn’t, double-check your connections and ensure there’s enough juice from the jump starter or the other vehicle. Once it’s running, let it idle for a few minutes to build up some charge.
When you’re done, remove the jumper cables or portable jump starter—always disconnect the black clamp first, then the red. Be careful when disconnecting to avoid sparks or touching any metal surfaces.
It’s also a good idea to keep the engine running for at least 15-20 minutes after a jump to give the alternator time to charge the battery. Take a short drive or let it idle to make sure you don’t end up stuck again. If your battery keeps dying, though, it’s probably time to get it checked or replaced. A portable jump starter is a lifesaver in these situations, and I highly recommend investing in one.
That’s how I’ve managed to keep things rolling when the battery gives up. Anyone else have jump-start tips or tricks for the Jeep Grand Cherokee? What’s worked for you?