Replacing your key fob battery should be a straightforward task, right? You pop open the case, swap out the old battery for a fresh one, and you’re good to go. However, like many 2019 Jeep Cherokee owners, you might find yourself scratching your head when your newly replaced key fob battery doesn’t seem to work. You might even try multiple new batteries, only to be met with the same frustrating result. Don’t worry, you’re not alone, and there’s a surprisingly simple solution that dealerships themselves may not even readily offer.
Many Jeep Cherokee drivers have encountered a peculiar issue: after replacing the key fob battery, the fob refuses to function. You might press the buttons, but the doors remain locked, the remote start stays inactive, and panic sets in. It’s easy to assume you’ve bought a faulty battery or perhaps damaged the fob during the battery replacement process. The natural instinct is to try another new battery, and then another, hoping one will magically work. This was exactly the experience of one frustrated owner who went through seven different batteries, both new and used, with no success. Each time, reverting back to the original, weak battery miraculously restored functionality – albeit temporarily.
The unexpected fix? It turns out the solution is surprisingly simple and involves a procedure you might use when your key fob battery is actually dead. The trick is to use the “fob-on-start-button method” to start your Jeep Cherokee. This is the procedure you would typically employ when your key fob battery is completely drained: you press the key fob directly against the start button to initiate the ignition.
After performing this fob-on-start-button start with the new battery installed, the key fob mysteriously springs back to life! All functions, including remote start, locking, and unlocking, suddenly work as expected. This suggests a hidden process within the Jeep Cherokee’s system, or perhaps within the key fob itself. It seems that the vehicle or the fob doesn’t immediately recognize the new battery and its power level. There might be some sort of undocumented memory or system that tracks battery status, and simply inserting a new battery isn’t enough to reset this recognition.
This user’s experience highlights a potential knowledge gap even at the dealership level. When seeking help, the dealer’s initial response was less than helpful, offering costly solutions like a new key fob, overpriced batteries, or fob reprogramming – none of which are typically covered under warranty for routine battery replacement. This kind of experience can be incredibly frustrating, especially when dealing with what should be basic vehicle maintenance. It also echoes a growing concern across various manufacturers: pushing customers towards expensive services even for simple self-maintenance tasks.
It’s also worth noting the user’s observation about battery lifespan. Their older 2002 Chrysler key fob battery lasted approximately 8 years, while the newer Jeep Cherokee fob battery seems to last only 1-2 years. While the older fob lacked remote start, and the user consciously limited regular locking/unlocking with the newer Jeep fob to conserve battery, the disparity in battery life is significant. This could indicate a higher power draw from newer key fobs, especially those equipped with features like remote start, contributing to quicker battery depletion.
If you’re facing a non-functional key fob after a battery replacement on your 2019 Jeep Cherokee, try the fob-on-start-button method. It’s a simple, no-cost solution that might just save you a trip to the dealership and unnecessary expenses. This trick underscores the importance of community knowledge sharing amongst car owners and highlights that sometimes, the solutions are simpler than we expect, even if they remain undocumented in official manuals.
