Changing the battery in your Jeep key fob should be a simple task, right? You pop open the case, swap out the old battery for a fresh one, and you’re good to go. But what if it doesn’t work? Many Jeep owners have encountered a frustrating issue: replacing the key fob battery, only to find that the fob still doesn’t function correctly. You might even try multiple new batteries, scratching your head as to why the old, weak battery seems to work while the new ones don’t.
The Mystery of the Non-Working New Battery
Imagine this: you diligently replace your Jeep key fob battery. You might even use the correct type and ensure proper polarity. Yet, the fob stubbornly refuses to operate. You press the buttons, but your Jeep remains unresponsive. Frustratingly, if you re-insert the old, seemingly dead battery, the fob might just spring back to life, albeit weakly. What’s going on?
This exact scenario has baffled many Jeep owners. They’ve tried various new batteries, all to no avail. The consistent factor is the old battery, however weak, still managing to get the fob to function, while the brand-new ones fail.
The Solution: The Fob-on-Start-Button Trick
The solution, surprisingly, might not be intuitive and is often undocumented. It involves using your Jeep key fob in a way you might only consider when the battery is completely dead: the fob-on-start-button method.
Here’s how it works:
- Enter your Jeep: Get inside your vehicle as you normally would.
- Position the Fob: Instead of pressing the start button with your finger, place the key fob directly against the start button.
- Press to Start: Push the start button while the fob is in contact with it. This is the emergency start procedure for when your key fob battery is depleted.
By starting your Jeep using this method with the new battery installed, you might find that suddenly, all the key fob functions are restored. Remote start, locking and unlocking doors, panic button – everything should begin working normally again.
Why Does This Happen? Potential Undocumented Processes
The reason behind this peculiar behavior likely lies in some internal process within the Jeep’s system or the key fob itself. It’s speculated that there might be a memory function that tracks the key fob battery level. When you install a new battery, the system might not immediately recognize the change in power level.
By using the fob-on-start-button method, you could be essentially “resetting” or recalibrating the system to acknowledge the new battery. This forces the vehicle to recognize the key fob with its newly installed power source.
Dealer Inexperience and Costly “Solutions”
Interestingly, even Jeep dealership staff may not be fully aware of this simple fix. Anecdotal evidence suggests that dealers might immediately jump to suggesting costly solutions like a new key fob, battery replacements at inflated prices, or key fob reprogramming – none of which might be necessary.
This situation highlights a growing frustration among vehicle owners: being pushed towards expensive services for basic maintenance issues that could be resolved with a little-known trick or procedure.
Key Fob Battery Life and Conclusion
While older Chrysler key fobs might have enjoyed battery life spans of many years, newer Jeep key fobs seem to require battery changes more frequently, sometimes as often as every 1-2 years. Factors like remote start usage can contribute to quicker battery drain.
In conclusion, if you’ve changed your Jeep key fob battery and it’s not working, don’t panic and don’t rush to the dealership just yet. Try the fob-on-start-button method. This simple trick might be the undocumented solution to get your key fob working perfectly with its new battery and save you unnecessary time and expense.
