Jeeps are exciting vehicles with tons of features, but unfortunately, they are not perfect and may present issues now and then.
A common error message that users get reads Aux Switches Temporarily Unavailable battery charging, which can make some of the features of your Jeep unavailable for a while.
Keen to know the culprits behind this common problem? They are wiring problems, a defective battery, alternator issues, and low temperatures. Some easy fixes our experts recommend for this problem include replacing the main battery, fixing bad wiring, and replacing your Jeep’s alternator.
This error means that the voltages on your Jeep’s battery are currently below the recommended 12.6 volts, and thus, they are at risk of receiving major damage.
Other reasons may include:
- The auxiliary battery may be dying.
- One of the batteries may not be fully charged or is unable to retain the charge (it could be the main or the auxiliary battery).
- The power of your auxiliary batter is currently being drained for some reason.
- An electrical problem is happening.
If you’re driving your Jeep and have encountered this error, don’t worry. We’ll guide you through potential fixes that you can use to solve the issue while also identifying some of the probable causes of it.
Be prepared to replace either the main or the auxiliary battery, as it may be necessary!
This message occurs in various Jeep vehicles. It mainly happens due to a problem with the auxiliary battery, but sometimes it may also pop up in your Jeep if the main battery is having some issues.
Your Jeep comes with two batteries:
- The “main” battery is large, and its main purpose is to power up the engine.
- The Jeep “auxiliary” battery is smaller, and it is used to power the electronic components and accessories of the Jeep.
That said, if your Jeep JL aux switches are not working, it probably is because of a problem related to the auxiliary battery. The message will pop up on your dashboard, saying, “Aux Switches Temporarily Unavailable Battery Charging.”
This error is also known to happen when people are driving, which can be a bit startling to some. As mentioned in the beginning, if this is your case, the voltage on your battery has dropped under 12v.
Jeeps have a feature called “Uconnect,” which also includes a safeguard or “protective” measure that will turn off all the non-essential electronic components and accessories if there’s a problem with the power or if it’s too low.
Other common symptoms of this error include slow rotation of the motor during certain occasions, which may cause the engine to not work properly at times.
There are multiple reasons why this error happens, and we’ve already mentioned some of them. It could be due to a faulty battery, whether auxiliary or main.
However, other factors may affect the functioning of your Jeep, and that may cause this message to pop up on your dashboard. Here are some of the most common causes of this error:
1. Low Temperatures
It’s typical for Jeeps to utilize more power during the colder seasons. A great part of the battery power is utilized for ignition, which could be the cause for the message to appear on your dashboard.
Still, if this is the cause, the message should not appear once the alternator powers up the battery. However, if the error notification persists, there may be something else, such as a faulty battery that needs to be replaced.
2. Defective Battery
Sometimes, the problem may be caused due to a problem with the battery, which could be worn out. That means that it is unable to retain the battery, and therefore, the alternator fails to keep it charged for it to comply with its functions.
If your battery is defective, you’ll have to replace it. You can confirm the current status of your Jeep’s battery if you do a load battery test.
It’s not uncommon for Jeep batteries to become defective, as they are intended to work for a certain period. An auxiliary battery is expected to work for about 3-5 years, but after that, it will start showing symptoms that something isn’t right.
A common question among people is: “Will the auxiliary battery drain the main battery?”
Yes. If you don’t replace your faulty battery, it will likely cause further damage to your main battery, and you may have to look for replacements for both in the long run.
If your battery is constantly draining and doesn’t work as intended, perhaps you may need to replace it.
3. Wiring Problem
If you’re constantly getting the Jeep Wrangler Aux Switches Temporarily Unavailable error notification on your vehicle, it may be due to a wiring problem.
If you have already conducted battery tests and have confirmed that your battery is okay, maybe you should check other aspects of your Jeep.
For instance, some of the most common problems related to wiring include the following:
- Shorts may be happening in the connector, which may cause certain parts of the Jeep to malfunction.
- Some of the electric components may have become corroded.
- Perhaps the wires that connect the battery to the alternator are now damaged and can’t make the aux battery work properly anymore.
If you’ve inspected your Jeep and have found a problem with the wires, maybe replacing them may do the trick. Any problem with your vehicle’s wiring will make the message pop up on your dashboard.
4. Faulty Alternator
Sometimes, neither the battery nor the wiring may be causing problems. It may be the alternator itself. The main function of this part is to charge the battery while you’re using your Jeep.
If your Jeep’s alternator is damaged, it won’t be able to charge the battery, and therefore, it will be completely drained way too quickly. Hence, you may need to replace it as soon as possible to prevent further damage from happening to your battery.
Once you have identified the cause of the problem, it’s time to work on fixing it. There are different ways to solve the issue based on the origin.
Here’s what you can do to get rid of this error message:
1. Replace the Auxiliary/Main Battery
Inspect both batteries and make sure that both are working as intended. If you haven’t found any damages, then you can move on to the next potential cause. We also recommend you charge both as soon as possible.
If once your batteries are fully charged you still face draining problems, maybe one of them is damaged. It likely is the aux battery rather than the main one, though.
Again, remember that batteries have an expected lifetime of between three and five years. If your battery is that age or is older than that, then you already have your answer: it is worn out and needs to be replaced before it provokes further damage to your Jeep.
Bear in mind that you’ll have to replace the battery by finding an appropriate model for the current Jeep model you’re using.
For instance, if you want a Jeep Gladiator auxiliary battery replacement, ensure it has the correct voltage and that you purchase from an authorized vendor.
Some options for a 12v battery include the following:
There are tons of other options you can choose. It’s all a matter of exploring your options until you find a battery that is appropriate for your Jeep.
2. Fix the Wires
As mentioned, sometimes the problem may not be caused by the battery itself but by the wires instead. You can confirm it if you inspect the wiring of your vehicle.
During your inspection, try to find signs of corrosion, disconnection, shorts, or broken chords. If you notice potential damages, maybe you’ll have to replace and fix the wires for your Jeep to start working as intended again.
While cutting and joining the cables again may work for a while, it is not recommended since it won’t assure you that the issue won’t happen again. It’s a temporary fix that may also cause further problems to your Jeep in the long run.
Replacing the wires as soon as possible is highly recommended if your Jeep JL aux battery is not charging. This way, you can take a break knowing that your battery is okay and that it is charging as it should.
3. Fix/Replace the Alternator
When it comes to the alternator, there can be two potential problems: either the serpentine belt is damaged, or the alternator itself is faulty and needs to be either fixed or replaced.
The serpentine belt is an essential part of the alternator, as thanks to the former, the latter receives power from the engine. Inspect the belt, and if you find any signs of damage, the best thing to do is replace it.
However, if you don’t find any issues with it and the problem persists, maybe you’re dealing with a faulty alternator.
Unless you have the necessary knowledge to fix or replace it, we highly recommend having a professional do it for you.
Conclusion
Many people look forward to owning a car, but it may be a challenging thing to do. You’ll have to care for it and ensure it is in a healthy condition.
You can take into account the following recommendations if you want to make sure your Jeep’s batteries are in optimal condition:
- Constantly check the health of your batteries and inspect the internal components to ensure everything (including the wires) is okay.
- If your battery is already older than three to five years, maybe it’s time to replace it.
- Whenever you charge the batteries, please do so while in battery-maintaining mode. We also recommend using a smart charger for it.
- It is recommended for Jeep owners to drive their cars daily, but sometimes that’s not possible. If that’s your case, please get a trickle charger and install it as soon as possible. If, once installed, a slow pulsating red light appears, your battery power may be under 75%.
It can be a bit worrying to receive an error message while driving. The aux switches temporarily unavailable battery charging error can be annoying, but it isn’t impossible to fix.
Ensure you inspect your Jeep periodically to prevent further damage in case something is wrong with one of the batteries.
Last update on 2025-09-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
