Stop Start disabled Jeep Cherokee , Compass , Grand Cherokee 

The acronym for Automatic Stop Start is pretty funny considering how many people hate it.

Omg!! Thank you so much. This continuous light has been driving me insane. I have taken it to several dealers and sadly to say these kids working as service managers do not have a clue. I finally read my Manuel cover to cover then turned to RU-vid and there you were. I did not know my compass (Bullet) had two batteries. I had learned how to work around the start stop on my own but then the light just decided to stay on one day. So Annoying!! Now this 60 year old woman can go in and school these kids on a thing or two. Lol thank you once again for saving my sanity ❤

Jeep should have this feature turned off by default, then push the button if you want it activated. Seems there should be simple wiring fix. Great video on how to work around it!

Enjoyed your video! I just hope the Jeep engineers research these sights and realize that NOBODY likes the Start/Stop feature on their Jeep!!!!! Give us a permanent fix Jeep!!!!!!!!

Most informative, I almost had an accident yesterday because of this feature. Thanks from down under.

God bless you! I did it with success. I HATE the start stop feature. I didnt mind it at first and now it drives me nuts. It slows you down, it prevents you from excelling and it almost caused an accident because it stopped and started to quickly and my car didnt work properly. I hate it.

I do not like the auto stop/start feature, but as I watched my wife slide her foot from the brake to the gas I noticed that she had her foot on the gas pedal and pressing down before the engine was half the idle RPM which means that the oil pressure was more than likely not at the proper oil pressure, which means additional internal engine wear and tear down the road. Since we discussed it she now does not try to accelerate until the RPM's are back to idle. She plays the lights and watches the cars in front to ease up on the brake to start the engine sooner to prepare for accelerating. We always forget to turn that feature off.

I've got such a muscle memory now and a habit to hit the button and don't even know it. That amber fault light would drive me nuts!!

Weird, my 2018 Grand Trailhawk with a Hemi doesn't have this "feature". Thank God. I almost got in a couple of accidents in a Jeep Compass rental I had in Florida. (Turning left and the engine had to start before it would move, almost got t-boned) Thanks for the video. I will use the manual at stops for all rentals.

To get rid of the indicator just drain the auxiliary battery and plug back in the cable to the fully drained auxiliary battery. How I figured this out: The main battery on my Jeep died. Not sure why. Shortly after (4 months) I bought a brand new 2016 Jeep Cherokee Latitude with only 6 miles on it. Took it to Jeep and they said one of the battery cells was bad. I said cool story bro please replace the battery. Thank you sir. So they replaced it with a new main battery. They put a Newman battery on and ever since I have not had the stop start feature work. Hallelujah!! Every time I stop the engine always stays on and there is no auto stop start indicator light showing. It’s been 3 years this way. I don’t have to hit that button. So how this happened is because that auxiliary battery is dead and it will not charge. Keeping the auxiliary battery this way (dead) has fixed the issue of not having to press that button each time to disable it.

It worked with my grand cherokee 2019. Thanks 👍🏻

this is just a dumb thing for any manufacturer to do. no matter what anyone says, engine lifespans are drastically shortened when they are constantly shutting off and turning on

Knowing this I will be able to work programming a plug that can be placed in between the sensor and the battery. I’m not a car expert but I am a code expert and I would love to work on this.

My parents are looking to buy a brand new Grand Cherokee, but HATE the ASS System. This will make them so happy!!!

Befrore you did the "fix" why is the message "Start/Stop Not Ready Battery charging" displayed?

Thank you so much...i couldnt even wait til sunlight, i went out at 1am & unhooked that wire. So glad i found this out in the first half of the first year of my lease & not the last half of the last year...

We have a 2016 Cherokee Limited. Love this vehicle! But hate the start/stop feature - especially in stop & go traffic at red lights with long backups. You can feel a slight body jiggle and a short delay everytime it auto-starts. We press the "A" button everytime we start the vehicle but worry about the button itself wearing out. Can the wires to the button be jumpered permanently?

Really wished Jeep gave us the option to turn the system on with push button instead of permanently on. Thanks for the info.

Thanks for the insight. I just unhooked the connector and success.

Thank a for the tip man! Much appreciated! I hate that thing. I live in South Florida and the ac is always a on and that start stop kicks back on after a few seconds every time. It must ware out the battery and starter.

I bought the ‘Smart Stop/Start’ for $125..... I know it’s $125 but, no touching the button, no unplugging anything, no trying to get to know something a bit better, no turning my wheel.... now, all I have to do is get into my Jeep and drive it like I want it to be. I live in TX and just got home from work and it’s 10am in the morning and it’s already 90° outside, nothing like getting blasted in the face by hot air at every stop light.

The government mandated this stop/start crap! To save gas& reduce emissions! Jeep has done a 100% better job with a dash button to disable than most other manufacturers

My stop/start on 2019 jeep cherokee overland 4x4 2.0 liter engine. Keeps telling me "Battery is charging". Has not worked in 2 or 3 months. I believe it save me gas in city driving may 2 or 3 m.p.g.

Is there a way to lengthen the time stopped before activation?? We drove a new 2019 that didn't seem to go into that mode as fast, made me wonder if there is a way to adjust time frames that system waits before shutting off that car. It HAS to add wear and tear to the start motor! What a lousy feature for every one involved.

My start/stop feature didn't work when i purchased my 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited in 2023. I thought it had been disabled by the previous owner. My battery died a year later and i found out i had a main battery and auxiliary battery. After they were replaced the start/stop feature works just fine. And the remote start on the key fob has started working again.

Beware that sensor is used in Battery Management Systems (48V). Your battery will age more quickly and you'll have a very expensive battery to replace by shortening the life, not to mention there are other implications that disabling part of the BMS will have on the 48V systems. Algorithms rely on this input not just for Start/Stop but for other decisions being made in that electrical system.

Great tip, If I unhook the sensor cable on my Compass, will I ever need to replace that small battery again? Thank You

I just bought a start/stop eliminator that plugs in line and remembers the last setting so, once you turn off the vehicle, the start stop is off unless you push the button to turn it back on. Disclaimer, you will have to dismantle your dash.

I use to push the button everytime i got in and after a while i got the warning light on the dash anyway. What do you think happened there. Said to svc start stop

Hey Brandon, Does the 2021 Limited model have the same issue? When I bought mine, it was disabled default, should I activate it?

I unplugged the hood scencer on my 2015 jeep Cherokee trail hawk. And I only get the warning message every so often. Not every time.

What about disconnect IBS,u said that IT is used monitor the battery and i read is ibs also used to charged battery with appropiate voltage.how do u respond to this?

I hate pushing the button. I rather unplug the sensor. Thanks!

Hello thanks for great video..does 2016 Jeep Cherokee has auxiliary battery or only the sensor ?

My 2018 JGC Altitude just needed a jump due to me leaving a reading light on. AAA driver told me the battery should be replaced, but which battery was he referring to, the main or the baby battery? Thanks!

I always wondered how much it shortens the life of the starter.

There has to be a way to hack the reset on the start stock button. Why can’t you make it stay in an on and off state forever

Auto /Stop /Start is the absolute worst feature car companies ever installed. I'd rather pay the extra gas than dealing with this crap every single day. Love it when it stops and won't turn back on leaving me stranded in a drive through like it did a few weeks ago.

I tried this on my 2019 Jeep Compass after the start/stop feature left me stranded at a stop light with a stalled engine. The only issue that I have is the check engine light came on also. I don't mind the disable icon but I don't like the check engine light on. I ended up using the hood sensor disable method.

Great video! I am wondering if there is a way to disable the auto brake when wheeling with my 18' Renegade TH. I sometimes like to open the door while the vehicle is running to check my ground clearance. This auto locks the parking brake which is a huge pain. Thanks.

I have two batteries--a main battery and an auxiliary start / stop battery. I disconnected the ESS plug from the auxiliary battery. Can I just remove the auxiliary battery or does it do more than just power the ESS feature? Thanks

Awesome and very Informative video...thanks

I have a very old jeep that I use daily to go back and forth to the stores and train station. I do not like to take it on long trips for fear it will break down so when I was recently making a trip to Queens, I decided to rent a car. I ended up renting a Jeep Compass. Of course driving most of the way was on the LIE and not alot of traffic so it did not engage until I arrived in Queens. I thought there was something wrong with it and that I was going to get stuck. It was not until I dropped the car off the following day that I mentioned this issue to the person at the rental counter and he explained this was a fuel economy feature which could be turned off with a button. It would have been nice if he told me that when I picked up the car. I have panic attacks when I think I might get stuck and now that I know about it, I will be more prepared. I am glad there is a way to permanently disengage it, but Jeep should not force it on people to remember to turn it off everytime they start the car. I thank you for this video.

Thanks, also did my sons 2019 VW Jetta !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok. Mines needed an oil change it deactivated itself. After the oil change it has not corrected. How do i do away with the dash light and enable this feature again.

could have skipped the 1st 5min50sec to get to the point. thx it worked

I dont own one of these yet but soon ima get my wife a compass trailhawk in addition to our jlur so thanks for this video brother your always the first of bringing us awesome valuable info about our beloved Jeeps Side question what you think a compass trailhawk or cherokee trailhawk and whats the main difference other than the obvious difference as size and engine choices... extra extra

Unfortunately the battery plug disconnect method did not work as described above on my 2019 Compass Sport model. The check engine light came on after the change and I put the plug back in. It did go out shortly thereafter.

can the sensor for the seatbelt be disconnected or is it to difficult to get too or would it cause other issues? i'd check my Cherokee but it's below zero out there right now.

I believe I have this feature in my jeep Cherokee. I’m not sure how to work it but mines doesn’t come on at all 🤷🏼‍♀️ I don’t really know lol

So Jeep, does this gas savings device make up for the difference of the cost of a starter that wares out 4 times faster not to mention early engine ware every time the engine starts ( no oil flow or pressure at initial stat) lol

💥 And I’m here for just the opposite. I’m an old muscle car guy who drives his daughters Compass once in a while and loves the ESS feature. It makes no sense for the engine to be running while I’m stopped for a long time. Lately it does not seem to be working and I was wondering if I accidentally turned the feature off in the menu system somewhere. There is no button on her 2018 Trail Rated Compass dashboard

Just pushing the button would be easier than any of those ideas 🤣🤣 personally i paid $129.00 for a module that plugged in under my drivers seat in less than 60 seconds and it remembers the last setting as the default setting at start up i love it! Every time I start my Cherokee Trailhawk Elite the off light comes on the button automatically without any dash lights or any side effects and if i want it back on for some reason all I have to do is push the button again...basically where you have the button set at stays there even after turning the engine off and back on worth every penny..Google it

My JGC Summit has a option to just turn it off. I guess they didn't add it to the Cherokees. That sux...

Will doing this void the factory warranty?

If you start the vehicle and it's on a nose down gradient and then you back out and stop and your nose is nose up on a steep gradient to start system will disengage at my house I park in my driveway nose down which is a 30° down angle when I back out of my driveway there's an immediate Hill right behind it which is a 30 degree up angle that disables to start system for me at startup every time

I hate this feature on our Cherokee Trailhawk. I would put a little piece of black electrical tape over that trouble light to stop the annoyance.

When I turn off the Stop/Start feature by the button (in the console) it stays off even after a new start of the vehicle. I have a 2018 Compass.

Wouldn’t unplugging the intelligence sensor cause other harm to the battery?... *overheating, running a high voltage?

Thanks. Love my jeep. Hate that function.

You left out the easiest way to disable ESS for free is to simply set your HVAC to MAX A/C

Very informative Brandon

I know it been a year but could you plug something in the the sensor you unplugged to trick the thing? If so please tell! Thanks!

Not to mention it will wear out your starter quicker

Thank you for this. I wish I didn't need to disconnect something to disable this feature, but if it is not hurting anything else, I would prefer to deal with the additional chime/message when I start the car and the lit up A on the bottom right than turning it off every time.

Thanks for this. Would you know if this would affect the remote start feature? I drive a 2020 cherokke trailhawk elite. I've been told this sart/stop feature drains battery during extreme cold winter days. Is this true, my cars battery is completely drained and I'm trying to figure out what caused it.

Stop/Start is best for the hybrid cars NOT a gas powered car with a standard alternator. Fiat is bringing down Jeep products peddling their failed POS engineering.

Thanks bro Jeep is Deferent other Vachal cars that very nic driver #

My old Jeep 2016 Cherokee had a setting to delay that system for different increments. I set it for 15 minutes. Traded it in for a 2019 Grand Cherokee and that setting is not there. 😕. I hate that feature and it’s a pain to keep hitting that button.

That's got to be extremely hard on the starter motor ! . and the battery

What do you do when the light comes on and you haven’t disconnected it

I have the same model you have there where is the aux battery?

Thank you! the stop and start feature was annoying me!!

What are your thoughts on the pros and cons of disconnecting the hood sensor on a 2018 Grand Cherokee? I'm hesitant to disconnect the battery sensor which seems like the best method otherwise, only because it could cost $300 every few years to replace it if it dies prematurely.

I was thinking of putting a jumper on the switch on the dash. That way it thinks you have pressed the button to turn off.

Does the stop start wear out the battery or starter sooner than normal? Thanks

you better cover that plug so crap cant get in it and cause a short

As a grand cherokee owner, i have figured out a way to not even have this stupid feature even on your jeep right from the factory, simply buy a grand cherokee with a HEMI, problem solved forever.

I have a 2018 Compass and i have had issues with the car not restarting after the automatic stop at a light. What a pain .

good Vid. How about if I put the shifter in Neutral while stopped? Will that disable the Stop Start?

No, I am not looking to purchase a Jeep or any SUV, for that matter, with a built-in annoyance feature we need to work around. The Compass also has an annoying habit of engaging its emergency brake whenever you put it in park. Ugh.

What a pain in the arse! We just rented a Compass and now I know that in my future there will be no Jeeps for me.

Jeep played the EPA as the city part of the test is 1/2 stopped! No gas is actually saved maybe a pint/mo!

Does doing this void your warranty???

It kills me they let you permanently turn park assist off but not stop start

2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Elite i bought a plug in module that remembers the last setting as the default setting at start up, when i start the engine the ESS off light automatically comes on and it doesn't effect anything else doesn't trigger any warning lights on the dash

I wish we can do this to our jls auto stop is annoying specally in winter when you have heat blasting on your hand and the jeep kills it self

Just hit the button. Keep it simple

Not sure why I waited 4 years to look this up, but I’ll disconnect that puppy tomorrow; the lag has nearly gotten me killed a couple of times, less than a mile from the house as that is usually my first stop/start opportunity. I’ll cut a small electrical tape disc and block the yellow dash light - out of sight, out of mind!

Does the little battery ever have to be replaced

Its on the wrangler too

so basically all options provide more inconvenience than start/stop itself))

Thank you

The Cherokee nation was the largest, and one of the most important tribes of eastern North America. They did not call themselves the Cherokee. They called themselves the Ani Chota, which means the people of Chota, their capital, or the Ani Yunwiya, which means "the main people". So Cherokee is a word the settlers called them. It is our word ... so stop complaining until there is a car called Ani Chota.

I'm sending this to my buddy

Buy a standard-shift Jeep Compass or Renegade and the ESS is not available. My solution!

Is there gonna be a bad side effects if i will this to my 2019 jeep cherokee?

Well Done!

Seriously this ESS function is the dumbest thing that FCA forces down any Jeep owner’s throat, and compounds the pain by not letting you just disable it. In a previous 2017 Grand Cherokee the ESS was a pain but at least the engine started up quickly. The 2.4 in a 2019 Compass takes a bit more to start up in a pinch so it gets super annoying at a stoplight. It’s about as stupid as the firmware running on the 9 speed A/T that can’t ever find what gear to stay in. Beloved Jeeps..... Not. These stupid things are poorly built and rebadged Fiats

Brandon, so I took my car to the dealership today and they said I needed to replace my auxiliary battery... I came across your video after looking it up on here . So I’m wondering if I don’t replace the auxiliary battery will that drain the main battery and cause issues?