A battery provides your vehicle with one of the key components it needs to operate; electricity.
We’re here to help you understand which battery your Jeep Wrangler needs because putting a smaller battery into your Wrangler will cause various issues while putting in a bigger one won’t do anything special.
Let’s see which battery your Jeep Wrangler needs and how you can get the best battery for the least money!
Important Battery Specifications to Know
A battery is comprised of 6 cells and each cell holds 2.1v. The entire battery, when it’s healthy and fully charged, holds 12.4v to 12.6v. That is the first specification you should know. Now, what is CCA, and why is it important?
CCA stands for cold-cranking amps and it’s the number that tells you how many amps a battery can supply when it’s 0 degrees outside. Of course, the higher the number the better, and the more power you’ll have reserved in your battery. You want at least the OEM number, and it wouldn’t hurt to go above that if you’ve done some modifications to your Jeep Wrangler that require electricity.
The next important specification you should know is the group size. The group size refers to the dimensions of a battery. You don’t want to stray away from the recommended size which you can find in your owner’s manual, or on top of the battery that’s already in your car.
Every battery manufacturer has their own way of ranking their batteries. What you need to know is that the price varies on warranty and power. For your daily driver, it’s a great idea to go with the most expensive battery, and if you plan to get rid of a car, you can save some money and purchase the least expensive one.
What Size Battery for Jeep Wrangler?
In terms of which battery exactly you should purchase, that is up to you. There are loads of batteries from various manufacturers, so just make sure that the manufacturer you’re buying from is well-known and well-respected.
However, you will need to follow a few guidelines, such as battery size, battery power (CCA), and battery type. So, let’s see which battery fits into a Jeep Wrangler!
Jeep Wrangler Battery Sizes
| Wrangler Model | Model Year | Size |
|---|---|---|
| JL | 2018 + | Group 48 (DIN H6) |
| JK | 2007 – 2010 2011 – 1018 | Group 34 Group 48 (DIN H6) |
| TJ | All Years | Group 34 |
| YJ | All Years | Group 58 |
| CJ | All Years | Group 55 |
JL Wrangler Battery Size
Jeep Wrangler JL has two batteries under the hood, the main one that’s used for starting the JL and another ESS/Auxiliary battery that powers everything else. – There are various kits sold that will replace both batteries.
Jeep Wrangler JL comes with two Group 48(DIN H6) batteries. However, a lot of JL owners have decided to replace the main battery with a Group 94 battery. With a Group 94 battery, you can choose to bypass/remove the smaller ESS battery, but you don’t have to.
Whatever rig you decide to run, just make sure that you get an AGM battery.
JK Wrangler Battery Size
Jeep Wrangler JKs from 2007 to 2010 utilize a Group 34 size battery, while you’ll find a Group 48(DIN H6) size battery under the hood of a Wrangler JK from 2011 to 2018. Make sure to get an AGM battery, especially if you plan to go off-roading.
TJ Wrangler Battery Size
Jeep Wrangler TJs have a size Group 34 battery for all years (1997-2006). While you can get away with a standard flooded battery, AGM batteries are highly recommended because they’re more resistant to vibrations, and they’re more durable.
CJ Wrangler Battery Size
The same with most other Jeep Wranglers, an AGM battery is highly recommended. In terms of battery size, Jeep Wrangler CJ (Civilian Jeep) has a Group 55 size battery for all model years.
YJ Wrangler Battery Size
Jeep Wrangler YJ, model years from 1987 to 1995 have a size Group 58 battery under the hood.
Wrangler Battery Size CCA
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t change the battery size unless it’s a common practice among other Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts.
In terms of CCA (cold cranking amps) look at the top of your old battery and purchase a new one that has the same or a higher CCA rating. If you live in cold climates, you have a winch connected to your Jeep, or something along those lines, purchase a battery with a higher CCA rating than the one recommended by the manufacturer.
Types of Batteries
There are a few types of batteries used in vehicles. However, the two most common ones are the standard, flooded batteries, and AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries. We are going to discuss those two only because other batteries are very rarely used in vehicles.
Standard Flooded Batteries
The standard batteries are filled with lead and acid. They are relatively inexpensive to manufacture, they’re rechargeable, and they’re readily available. All of those traits make them perfect for vehicles. However, these batteries aren’t as durable and they don’t offer much power. Mind you, they’re excellent for powering standard vehicles that aren’t modified in any way, that’s why they’re usually found in most vehicles that come off of the factory lines.
AGM Batteries
The AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries are becoming more popular as modern vehicles have more sensors. So, modern vehicles require more CCA (cold cranking amps) and that is what AGM can offer. They’re more powerful than standard flooded batteries, and they’re usually more durable. These batteries work the same as the flooded batteries, but the difference is that inside of AGM batteries there are glass mats that absorb and hold electrolytes.
Other Types of Batteries
Some other battery types are calcium batteries, deep cycle batteries, spiral coil batteries, and gel batteries. These batteries are rarely used in vehicles because they have a major drawback or they’re too powerful, and the excess power would be a waste of resources.
Check out this article on Jeep Wrangler Hemi Conversion Cost by Cory.
Save Money By Purchasing a New Battery
We have a quick tip for you before you go out and buy a new battery for your Jeep Wrangler.
Because batteries have lead inside of them, a valuable material, any time you bring your old battery while purchasing the new battery, they’ll give you a discount! Also, if you have a few batteries laying around, you can recycle them and earn a few extra bucks.
People Also Ask
Car batteries are a very simple purchase, but it’s always better to make sure that you’re buying the correct battery for your vehicle. Otherwise, you’re just wasting money. Well, we’re here to help! Here are the most common questions we get about car batteries, of course, don’t hesitate to give us a call if you still have any unanswered questions.
A bigger car battery is usually a bad idea because it could lead to fitment issues. However, a more powerful battery, a battery with more CCA (cold cranking amps) is better because it’ll help your car function more easily.
To check your car battery effectively, you’ll need a multimeter. Now, locate the battery and check your owner’s manual if you have trouble locating it. Set the multimeter to 12V or more and connect the probes to the plus and minus of the battery. If you have anything less than 12.4v-12.6v, you have a bad/uncharged battery.
Replacing a Jeep battery will cost you from $100 to $300. That’s how much batteries go for, from the worst ones to the best ones, and since most people can replace a battery themselves, you don’t need to pay a mechanic. If you can’t replace the battery yourself, ask your friends for help, some of them will know what to do.
Yes, you can upgrade your battery to a larger size. In terms of battery size, you can upgrade to a larger battery if it’ll fit into your vehicle. However, the size doesn’t matter as much as the battery power, which is measured in CCA. If you want a larger battery, look for a battery that will fit into your vehicle, and make sure it has more CCA than your original battery.
Who Worked on This?
Brian
Editor
A master of organization, Brian helps keep everything running smoothly for Your Jeep Guide.
No Jeep yet but we’re working on that!
Cory
Writer
Cory loves his XJ and frequently thrashes it through the hills. He’s constantly fixing something.
“What fenders?”
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