mine did it soon after I bought it. Took it to the dealer and they re-flashed the computer as well as a new key fob. They asked me to switch key fobs for a few weeks to see if they both went undetected at times.......the second one did not act up after a few weeks so I called and they ordered a new one.

 

That is one of the stranger things I have seen posted on here. Lucky it started or you could have been stuck.

 

Please try the search function. Similar issues have been discussed.

 

Replace the battery

In all such instances your first action should be to replace the key fob battery. I have had a number of false alarms, key not detected etc, and in ALL instances replacing the battery worked. There seems to be such a high drain on them the need to be replaced more often than other fob batteries

 

Thanks Pete1 I will certainly replace the batteries asap.

 

I found a different discussion that said to remove the IOD fuses and wait 5 minutes. I changed my fob battery, still car wouldn't start so I removed the IOD fuses (my car had 3 in the 6,7,8 positions) waited 5 minutes, reinserted and my car started. I have had no issues since

 

Thanks for your comments. They are quite helpful.

 

Went through the same thing. Dealer tried upgrading software to no avail and finally replaced the Passive Entry Module. It is located under the dash behind the glove box and is what senses the key fob in the vehicle and when you touch the door handles to unlock. Cleared the problem right up. This problem is starting to show itself quite often.

 

I have been having similar issues with my 2012 Laredo. Sometimes the key fobs won't work at all, won't unlock the door etc. Then sometimes I can get in and I can't get it to start - remote start, push button, or even manual key. Often times while driving the dash lights up like a Christmas tree and if I pull over and turn the truck off, it won't start again.

Any suggestions?

 

^^ Have you tried replacing the fob battery?

 

I just bought a 2014 Jeep GC Limited and have the similar issue, in order to unlock/remotestart/open hatch etc. i have to be pretty much touching the truck. When i first got it i could remote start from a pretty good distance, now with both keys its the same. i got 500 miles on it cleaned inside the remotes even though its like only 3 weeks old

This is the only place i saw people have been having the same issue ( i know this is an old post but its all i found and wanted to see if anyone with the 14's have had any problems)

 

Same issue. Stranded the family at the zoo. Was able to lock, unlock, remote start, remote start via uconnect app, but every time I tried to put it into run it would say key fob not present and not allow to start. In fiddling with it we exceeded the number of remote starts and it refused to remote start via fob or app until the vehicle was started with key again, which of coarse we couldn't do. Had both key fobs on us, hard to imagine they both went dead at the same time.

Called the dealership (ten minutes away), they made me call roadside assistance and have it towed to them. Can't look at it till Monday, so I guess we'll see.

2014 grand Cherokee limited eco diesel, had it about three months...

 

Had this happen once when I took it to the dealership for a trim issue they messed up. They had to start the vehicle with the key and in looking at the vehicle they forgot to attach the antenna wire that's located underneath the plastic trim piece where the tail gate lock is by the spare tire... I would say attempt to see if that piece has become disconnected as a troubleshooting step before jumping to the dealer... Unless it's under warranty!

 

Hi

I took my Grand Cherokee 2012 into the panel shop for some panel work on the rear of the car.

On collecting it, push to start wouldn't work. Holding down the start button gave the message "Damaged Key".

The other functions of the fob work fine - locking and unlocking the car with the remote works fine.
Is this still consistent with a disconnected antenna wire?

Do you have more details on this antenna wire? It's precise location.

Would very much prefer to reconnect it myself if I can avoid another trip to the panel shop.

Your help much appreciated.

 

+1 to changing the FOB battery. Mine did the same things and died pretty much a year after I got it, so I've set my calendar to replace the battery every year.

I do have push button start and keyless entry and go, so if you think about it, your remote is active 100% of the time ready for action...pretty draining on a little battery.

 

Don't know if this applies to the above problems, but the key fob is also a RFID device in the 2014 JGC. This from the manual:
"NOTE: In case the ignition switch does not change with
the push of a button, the RKE transmitter (Key Fob) may
have a low or dead battery. In this situation a back up
method can be used to operate the ignition switch. Put
the nose side (side opposite of the emergency key) of the
Key Fob against the ENGINE START/STOP button and
push to operate the ignition switch."

 

Yep. My 2011 JGC crapped itself at the dealer. Dealer replaced both keys and the starter module. Now I will be driving along with the key in the door pocket and get "key has left the vehicle". Doesn't matter if I wave the key directly over the starter, doesn't detect it. Jeep goes back next week for more warranty work - water pump shot and axle seal leaking.

 

I had this happen once with my 14. I walked up and door unlocked fine, got in an closed the door. Pushed the start button and got the no key fob detected. Waited a second and tried again, but no go. I got out closed the door and pushed the button on the handle and it locked and was able to get back in. Then it started.

 

Does anyone remember when you actually had to insert a key in the door handle and then in the ignition and actually turn them to get them to work? How inconvenient life was back then.... Why is it that so many technological advances are aimed at removing us from the simplest tasks but end up immersing us in endless amounts of time spent trying to figure out why they don't work as planned?

 

The good old days:

 

Is there anything you need to do after replacing the battery in the key fob? I just replaced the battery in my primary key after it appeared to be dead, but now the fob doesn't work anymore. Definitely have the battery installed properly...

 

No, it should work just fine. I've replaced a couple batteries. Take the FOB apart again and look for things amiss.

 

Or you got a bad battery.

 

Second time for my 14 jgc. First they hauled off. Said could nose the start button with fob or pull out ignition to get to a real switch?..not. Second nothing works as above. Can even remote start it in the car but goes off when you tap brakes or no fob found when trying to start. Gas cap trick did not work either. Now too many times and remote start won't work says I have to start the car to reset. Hmm. Lemon law on a hat trick

 

Not sure if it's the same issue, but it sounds related. The problems I've had with my battery dying overnight started with the vehicle saying "fob not detected". Once I jump started the vehicle it worked fine, so it seemed to be something with the electrical system not working right under low power.

After 5-6 times in the shop they finally believe they tracked it down to the body control module. They ordered a new one and they have no idea when they'll get it, but given that others have had problems related to the same module here I'm hopeful that's the real issue.

 

Just ran across this thread after having my 2013 Summit show key FOB not detected twice in one day. I will replace the battery today and hope it fixes it. I don't like the sounds of some of the other potential problems

 

I had the same problem this morning. I tried both fobs with the same results. Finally I locked the car from inside and closed the door, opened it using the key, and then both fobs started working. Hopefully this is a one time thing and I don't have to take my JGC to the dealer.

 

i removed the battery (new), lifted the 4 small prongs a bit with a butter knife for better contact, rotated the battery a bit, works better now

 

It happened again, went to the dealer while the problem was happening and they couldn't check it right away. The told me to come back in 2 days, by then the problem had fixed itself once again. The dealer scanned it and found nothing wrong, they told me to come back the next time this happened. Maybe next time they will take the time to check it right away. Feeling a little uneasy about the JGC experience, specially when the local dealer doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.