“Battery of Uconnect Box Is Temporarily Low”. What’s This?

Uconnect is a service for connected vehicles that are featured in modern Dodge, Chrysler, FIAT, Jeep, Wagoneer, and Ram vehicles. This platform offers advanced connectivity, communication, navigation, and entertainment services that owners of such makes can use to enhance their driving experience.

Battery of Uconnect box is temporarily low message highlights

• Common reasons:low TBM battery, low 12V battery
• How to fix:run the car for some time, have the TBM battery replaced, check the 12V battery
• Possible consequences:connectivity features in your Uconnect may not work
• Priority level:Low
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$50-$300

What Is Vehicle Telematics?

Your car's telematics offers a digital framework of all the aspects of a vehicle's use by utilizing cloud, GPS, and onboard diagnostics (OBD) or controller area network (CAN-BUS) technologies. For example; speed, fuel usage, location, faults, maintenance, etc.

The data collected via telematics is known as telemetry data. The benefits of such data include improved fuel economy, timely diagnoses, automated maintenance processes, improved safety, enhanced performance, and so on. The advanced capabilities of vehicle telematics are listed below:

• Reporting capabilities
• Automated and configurable notifications/alerts
• Compliance parameters
• Real-time artificial intelligence (AI) integration
• Visualization-enabled interactive dashboards
• Wireless reception of vehicle software updates/upgrades from the manufacturers
• Fleet management software

Uconnect is a service that applies the telematics technologies listed above. And we'll be dealing with some of them in resolving the system's box battery issue. Before that, read a description of the platform below.

What Is Uconnect?

Uconnect is an innovative in-vehicle service that lets you stay connected with the functionalities and capabilities we mentioned in the introduction and under "vehicle telematics". The downside is that you'd have to subscribe to its services and pay for special options like map updates.

You can disable some Uconnect options, especially when you don't need them. But you won't be taking complete advantage of your car's infotainment functionalities if you don't utilize this service. It's like a highly-sophisticated replacement for the traditional car radio.

Apart from all the merits mentioned, the remote start option enabled by the SiriusXM Guardian feature via your smartphone is also worth noting. You'll be able to cool your car's cabin down before entering it. We can't also forget about the regular updates to the service's maps. Some other special features are listed below.

• SOS call for emergencies
• Smartphone and smartwatch apps
• Alexa AI system
• Security alerts
• SiriusXM Guardian customer service

How To Activate Uconnect on Your Car

You can check your vehicle owner's manual for details about this procedure. Although a quick way is to follow the activation steps below to get started and take your driving experience to a new level.

Step 1: Push the assist button on your rearview mirror.

Step 2: Tap on "activate" on your touchscreen.

Step 3: Select "customer care" on the screen.

Step 4: Converse with the agent that will attend to you and put you through the setup process.

Note: The activation steps may vary depending on the vehicle's make and model. This is when you'd have to make do with the vehicle owner's manual.

Telematics Box Module (TBM) Description

Telematics box modules serve as wireless gateways to vehicles that are equipped with telematics systems. In other words, they provide an interface for remote communication via wireless connectivity, GPS satellite positioning, CAN communication, and so on. Their services include the ones mentioned earlier about telematics tech.

TBMs are typically situated at the back of your dashboard, a storage compartment, the vehicle's center, the back stowage, or the trunk. This module will become a significant part of smart car usage and fleet operations sooner or later.

How To Resolve the Issue of a Temporarily Low Uconnect Box Battery

What do you do when you get a popup message that reads any of the statements below?

• "Battery of Uconnect box is temporarily low, SOS call and related functions may be unavailable."

• "Battery of Uconnect box requires service. HELP Call and related functions may be unavailable. Please visit an authorized dealer."

Either of these error messages means that the TBM's backup battery is drained because you've not run your car for a long period. Do the following when this Uconnect issue happens:

Step 1: Make configuration and scan reports.

Step 2: Check whether there's a TBM-related diagnostic trouble code (DTC) or not. If so, follow the necessary DTC repair process to troubleshoot the problem.

Step 3: Find out if there's a stored or active B1E21-16 error code (backup battery circuit voltage below threshold).

Step 4: Do a TBM electronic control unit (ECU) reset and clear any error code found. It should be a hard reset.

Step 5: Check the TBM part number and software version from the configuration report made earlier. Run an ECU detail report (See TBM part number and software level) if the TBM part number and software version is lower than these numbers: 56029921AG and 211388

A TBM upgrade for backup battery improvement is available. Accept the TBM wireless updates when the alert shows on your screen.

Step 6: In case of no B1E21-16 DTC or the TBM is equipped with the most recent update, then popup came because of lack of battery charge. Charge the TBM's battery by putting the ignition in the "on" position for 4 hours for the matter to be resolved.

Step 7: Don't swap out the radio or TBM if the problem can't be duplicated.

You should find everything you need to know about the Uconnect box battery warning message here. But you can always check online forum threads for tips if you have a Uconnect issue scenario that wasn't treated in this guide.

How To Reset Your Car's Uconnect

You may need to perform a Uconnect reset (hard or soft) when your telematics box module starts malfunctioning. For example; Bluetooth connection or navigation problems.

1) Precautions

You need to exercise caution when performing a Uconnect reset. This is because an incorrect procedure may cause a system package or setting to get erased. We'll elaborate on this possibility later.

Read the vehicle manual section about Uconnect troubleshooting for your specific car model before you begin the reset. It's advisable not to take risks if you don't think you can do a DIY procedure. Call an expert for the job in this case. DIY reset technicians should put the following possibilities into consideration:

The Procedure May Be Ineffective

Yes, the reset may not be successful due to your car's make, model, and year. For instance, the reset processes explained in this guide may not work for your vehicle. You'd have to find the reset procedure that works or just get your car to the dealership or an auto repairer.

Accidental Erasures of Upgrades May Occur

Using an incompatible procedure in resetting the Uconnect service may cause the unintentional deletion of certain packages or features. For example; software upgrades downloaded before, contact lists, personalization settings, smartphone Bluetooth pairing options, etc.

It doesn't matter how cautious you are with the guidelines. There are risks as long as the steps are not meant for your car type.

2) Soft Reset Guidelines

The soft reset procedure below is compatible with version 8.4 of Uconnect. And it can be used to resolve minor issues such as navigation, Bluetooth connection, etc.

Step 1: Turn your ignition to the "run" position.

Step 2: Leave the car in "park".

Step 3: Push and hold the volume button and tuner knob simultaneously for 10 to 20 seconds. The touchscreen will start loading.

Step 4: View the touchscreen display as it shows your car's brand name, goes dark, and then shows the brand name again. It's reinitializing at this point, so wait until the main Uconnect menu comes on.

Step 5: Test to see if the Uconnect service is working well. You shouldn't have to erase (hard reset) all the settings you've made just to resolve the system's problems.

3) Hard Reset Guidelines

The hard reset steps below should help you erase all the preset options that are saved to the Uconnect service.

Step 1: Push and hold the up and down temperature buttons at the same time for about 5 seconds. Do this until a menu pops up on the display.

Step 2: Navigate the menu options to reset factory settings.

Step 3: Wait for the Uconnect service to reload. It should take about half a minute. You can consider the hard reset completed after.

Conclusion

The fix we presented for your Uconnect box battery was gotten from an August 2022 vehicle technical service bulletin (TSB) published by STAR Online. The case number is S228A000016 with the issue title "Battery of Uconnect Box is Temporarily Low or Requires Service Message".

There was a similar TSB before that which came in January 2022. It is titled "Battery of Uconnect Box Is Temporarily Low Popup Message". This document with case number S2108000125 is less comprehensive than the one published in August 2022.