Have you noticed a strange Jeep Compass warning light A with exclamation point appearing on your cluster? If that’s correct, you are in the right place because, in this article, there will be a lot to cover on this topic.
So, what are the potential causes for this A with a circle and exclamation point on the Jeep Compass? The reasons behind this problem can be a few, namely problems with the battery, electrical issues, extreme weather conditions, and incompatible engine/cabin temperatures.
Doing your research on a problem is always a good idea. This is why we are here to help you out with your trouble and explain everything in great detail on how to solve this problem in your Jeep. Knowing this will save you thousands of dollars.
There are countless mechanics out there that only want to rip you off. So, having your eyes open is a smart thing to do.
And by this, we mean learning more about the possibilities of what could be behind this problem. So, what are we going to learn today?
First, we are going to learn what the stop/start system is. Then we are going to elaborate more on the Jeep Compass warning light A with exclamation point.
And then we are going to cover the possible causes for the Jeep Compass A with circles and exclamation points and how to solve them.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the topic.
What Is A Stop/Start System?
Before we dive into more complex topics like the possible causes for the Jeep Compass A warning light, let’s first learn what is a stop/start system.
This is extremely crucial for you to understand the problem.
The stop/start is a system that is not something new in cars. This system debuted in vehicles 20 years ago and nowadays is getting more mainstream, mainly because of tighter emission laws.
This system saves you fuel and reduces the pollution that a vehicle releases into the atmosphere.
This system when active knows when the vehicle comes to a stop and shuts down the engine.
So, let’s say that you came to a halt at a stop light. The system is smart and knows that the car is stopped and the stop/start system will stop the ignition and also the fuel delivery, shutting the engine down in the process.
Whenever you apply pressure on the throttle the system will know that you need to move forward and the engine will be restarted.
A pretty ingenious system that saves you some fuel and also prevents excessive pollution. Namely, because the car can be stopped at a stop light for more than 1 minute in some cases.
And instead of the engine working and polluting, the car will simply turn off.
What Does Warning Light A with Exclamation Point Mean on Jeep Compass?
Now let’s take a look at the problems and learn what the A with the exclamation mark Jeep Compass means.
This capital A icon with an exclamation mark is closely connected to the stop/start system of your Jeep.
So, whenever there is a problem with this stop/start system, this light will illuminate the dash and notify you that you have a problem.
Besides the Jeep Compass A with an exclamation point, there can be a message in the center screen that will say “Stop/Start Unavailable Service Stop/Start System”.
This means that your stop/start system is out of business and will not work until you fix the problem that is causing this system to malfunction.
What is fortunate is that this problem will not prevent you from driving the vehicle. You will be able to use the vehicle completely normally but the message will be on the cluster until you solve the problem.
That’s why we strongly advise that you don’t ignore this message when you have a Jeep Compass A with an exclamation point and make sure that you fix the problem as soon as possible.
What is worth noting is that there can be several causes for this problem and in the following chapters we are going to cover them in great detail and learn more about what could be the root cause for this issue.
Resolve Jeep Compass Warning Light A with Exclamation Point: 8 Quick Fixes
Now let’s move on and learn more about the causes for the Jeep Compass dash light A with exclamation point and see more about what could be causing this problem in your Jeep.
Understanding the potential causes will make the diagnostics process a lot easier since you will be able to tell what could be the possible culprit for the problem.
So, without further ado, let’s learn the common culprits for this A with an exclamation point.
1. Faulty Battery
A bad battery can cause this problem when you get a warning light A on the cluster and a message to service your stop/start system.
For those who don’t know, we are talking about the auxiliary battery here. This battery is crucial when it comes to powering the systems in your car, including the ability to use the stop/start system.
If the battery life is bad, you will experience these issues appearing. Modern cars use stop/start technology using AGM or EFB batteries.
These batteries use more advanced technologies that make them perfect for usage in vehicles equipped with stop/start systems.
These batteries are also far more expensive compared to your regular lead acid car battery.
When it comes to this problem specifically, the first thing you want to do is to test the battery with a multimeter.
A multimeter is a device that will allow you to measure electric properties, like voltage, resistance, and continuity.
For this application, you need to learn how to measure voltage. A good battery should produce more than 12 volts. The factory spec is 12.6 volts.
So, if the battery produces less than this voltage, this is probably the culprit for the problem. You just replace the battery and the problem will go away.
2. Loose/Corroded Terminals
Loose or corroded battery terminals can also cause problems such as this. So, what are the terminals?
For those who don’t know, battery terminals are the two posts on the battery where you attach the wires.
There are two, one for the positive wire and one for the ground wire. The red one is the power, while the black one is the ground wire.
If these wires are loose and not properly secured to the terminals, you will experience problems like in this case.
This is why we recommend that you grab a 10 mm wrench tighten the wires up to spec and make sure that they don’t move around.
Also, there can be rust development where the terminals corrode. When this happens, you will notice deposits on the terminals and wires.
In this situation, proper cleaning of the wires with a steel brush and also cleaning the terminals with sandpaper to remove the rust is needed.
Once you do that, you can reattach the wires to the terminals and tighten everything back together.
3. Bad Ground Connection
A bad ground connection can also cause a problem like in this case. So, what is a ground connection, and why is it so important?
Well, a ground connection is the connection between the battery and the chassis of the car. If you know about electrical systems, you know that everything should be properly grounded.
So, the black negative wire from the battery is connected to the chassis of the vehicle. In some cases, this wire can rust out where it is connected to the chassis and simply fall off or not make a good connection.
Whenever this happens, there can be some electrical gremlins in your vehicle. So, checking this wire is important and making sure that everything is properly grounded.
4. Parasitic Loss
Parasitic loss is another common cause of battery drainage and strange problems like the warning light with the letter A and an exclamation point.
So, what is a parasitic loss? A parasitic loss is a situation where some of the components are draining the power from the system.
This means that something is constantly emptying the car battery. So, why is this happening?
Well, the problem can be found in some faulty accessory, or possibly if you installed something like an aftermarket stereo or some new speakers.
If you don’t wire up everything properly, there can be problems like in this case. This is why we don’t recommend these jobs for beginners.
5. Bad Alternator
A bad alternator can also cause problems like these. So, what is an alternator, and what does this component do?
An alternator is a component that creates an electrical current. This current is then charging the car battery.
So, if the alternator is not performing as it should, this component can cause the battery not to charge properly. And in this situation, you will have a problem with the auto stop/start system.
A good alternator should produce between 13.5 and 14.5 volts at the battery terminal while the car is running. If the voltage is below this, the alternator could be one of the possible causes.
6. Weather Conditions
Weather conditions can also make this stop/start system malfunction. Cars do not like extreme weather.
So, in extreme hot or cold conditions, there can be malfunctions of this kind. This is not something surprising because the electrical system does not always deal well with extreme temperatures.
But as the weather gets to normal, the problem should go away.
7. Engine/Cabin Temperature
A difference between the engine and cabin temperature can also cause the stop/start system to malfunction.
For example, if the engine temperature is too low, the system will become disabled.
Another case is the situation where there is not enough airstream from the radiator to cool the engine off. To save the engine, the computer will turn off this system so the cooling system works.
And also there is a situation where the cabin departure does not reach or if it exceeds the optimal range. When the temperatures get up to the optimal range, the system will resume working.
8. Other Possible Causes
There are other possible causes for this problem with the warning light A and these are the following:
- Loose Gas Cap
- Bad Solar Sensor
- HVAC Module Malfunction
- Door Is Open
- Unfastened Seat Belt
- Climbing On A High Slope
- Overloaded Ventilation
- Bad Battery Sensor
- Bad MAF Sensor
These are very less likely to be the possible cause of the problem. But in some cases, they can indeed cause a problem like this
How to Fix the Jeep Compass Warning Light A?
Fixing this problem will require some troubleshooting. Namely, the battery has to be checked, as well as the alternator.
For this purpose, you will need a multimeter. This is a device that will allow you to measure the voltage that the battery and alternator are outputting.
Using this tool is very simple and any beginner can do it. In the video that we attached, you can see how this process is done. The instructions are pretty much the same for any car out there.
Just follow the instructions and you will diagnose whether the alternator or the battery is causing this problem.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered quite a bit regarding the Jeep Compass warning light A with an exclamation point.
First, we learned what the stop/start system is and how this system works in your car. Then, we elaborated on the Jeep Compass dash light A with exclamation point.
We covered the prime causes of this problem, as well as how to troubleshoot the issue.
Is it difficult?
Well, not quite, you can easily diagnose this problem with the help of a multimeter. Usually, it’s either the battery or the alternator that is causing this issue to develop in your Jeep.
Also, replacing the battery is not that expensive.
