Replacing your 2012 Jeep key fob battery should be a straightforward task. You pop open the fob, swap out the old battery for a new one, and you’re good to go, right? Unfortunately, some Jeep owners, especially those with 2012 models, have discovered it’s not always that simple. You might find yourself scratching your head when a brand new battery doesn’t seem to bring your key fob back to life.
One Jeep owner experienced this exact frustration, cycling through seven different batteries, both new and used, only to find none of them working. Each time, putting the old, weak battery back in would restore functionality, albeit temporarily. This points to a peculiar issue beyond just a simple battery swap. The solution, surprisingly, wasn’t in trying more batteries or reprogramming. It was in how the key fob was used after the new battery was installed.
The key to getting a new key fob battery recognized in a 2012 Jeep, in this case, was to use the fob to start the vehicle directly – employing the “fob-on-start-button” method. This is the same procedure you’d use if your key fob battery was completely dead. After starting the Jeep using this method, all the key fob functions miraculously returned to normal.
This suggests there might be an undocumented process within the Jeep or the key fob itself that monitors battery levels. When a new battery is inserted, the system might not immediately register the change in power. It’s as if the system needs a reset or a confirmation that a new power source is present, triggered by the physical act of starting the car with the fob. Even dealership staff, according to the user, seemed unaware of this quirk, or at least didn’t officially acknowledge it. Instead of offering helpful advice, the dealer’s solution was to sell a new fob or offer reprogramming services at inflated prices – a common frustration for many car owners facing seemingly simple maintenance issues.
While solutions like reprogramming or buying a new fob might be suggested, it’s worth trying this start-button method first if you encounter issues after a 2012 Jeep Key Fob Battery Replacement. It could save you time and money and resolve the problem with a simple push of a button. It’s also worth noting that battery life in newer Jeep key fobs may be shorter compared to older models, potentially requiring more frequent battery replacements. This user observed their 2002 Chrysler fob battery lasting significantly longer than their 2012 Jeep’s, though feature differences like remote start could contribute to battery drain.
