Experiencing issues with your Jeep Cherokee not starting? You’re not alone. Many Jeep Cherokee owners encounter frustrating situations where their key fob seems to fail, leaving them stranded. One common suspect is the key fob battery. Let’s delve into a perplexing case and explore potential causes beyond just a simple battery swap.
One Jeep Cherokee owner recently shared their ordeal in a forum, highlighting an intermittent no-start problem despite using new key fobs and verifying battery voltage. They reported purchasing a new key fob after losing one, having it programmed, and initially everything seemed fine. Both the original and new fobs worked for keyless entry and starting. However, after a short trip, neither key fob would start the vehicle. The engine light was on, and the symptom resembled a dead battery – just a click. Boosting the Jeep resolved the issue temporarily, but the problem recurred with both the first and a second newly programmed key fob. Interestingly, the door locks still functioned via the fob, and the fob battery voltage was checked and found to be at 3.0V, seemingly healthy. This eliminates a simple dead key fob battery as the sole culprit.
This scenario suggests a more complex issue than just a low key fob battery. While a dying key fob battery can certainly cause starting problems, especially with remote start and keyless entry, the fact that boosting the vehicle temporarily fixes the issue points towards a potential electrical system problem within the Jeep Cherokee itself. It could be related to the car battery, the starter system, or even an issue with the vehicle’s computer system that is intermittently preventing the key fob signal from being properly recognized to initiate the start sequence.
If you’re facing similar “key fob battery” related starting problems with your Jeep Cherokee, don’t immediately assume the fob battery is the only issue. While replacing the key fob battery is a good first step and routine maintenance, especially if your key fob is older, consider investigating other potential causes, such as the car battery’s health and connections, the starter motor, and the vehicle’s overall electrical system. Consulting a qualified mechanic is advisable to diagnose and resolve intermittent starting problems accurately and prevent future inconvenient breakdowns.
