Experiencing a “Jeep Not Detecting Key Fob” message can be incredibly frustrating, especially when your keyless entry and remote start suddenly stop working. One Jeep Grand Cherokee owner faced this exact issue, leading to multiple trips to the dealership and a series of perplexing diagnoses before finally uncovering the root cause. Let’s delve into their experience, which might shed light on similar problems you could be facing with your Jeep.
The owner’s ordeal began with the dreaded “key fob not detected” message appearing on their dashboard. Initially, their remote start system had been working perfectly fine, used multiple times daily. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, after washing and cleaning their Grand Cherokee, the key fob issue arose. This prompted the first of three visits to the dealership, each promising a solution but initially falling short.
The first dealership visit focused on diagnosis, leading to the order of a new “receiver”. However, the second visit, with the new receiver installed, proved unsuccessful. Frustratingly, the technicians couldn’t get it to work and ordered yet another receiver. The third visit mirrored the second – a new receiver, but the key fob detection problem persisted. In a puzzling turn, the dealership then tried new key fobs, but even those failed to resolve the issue.
Just when hope seemed to dwindle, the dealership contacted the owner with a surprising question, inquiring about a “black box antenna” and modifications to the rear trunk area. The dealer suggested a missing black box antenna was the culprit, possibly removed due to modifications. The owner, however, clarified they had made no such modifications, only removing the spare tire and rear cover for work-related space, assuring them no antenna or black box had been touched. They reasonably questioned why they would remove such a component and then bring the vehicle in for repair three times.
Despite the owner’s denial of any antenna removal, the dealership insisted on ordering a “black box/antenna” they believed was missing. Skeptical yet wanting a resolution, the owner awaited the next step. The mystery deepened as the owner recalled using the remote start throughout the day the issue began, and the vehicle had been in sight all day, making theft of any component highly improbable. They also mentioned seeing a seemingly unrelated, taped-off wire with a small connector under the rear trim, assumed to be a pre-wire for a trailer hitch, further adding to the confusion.
The story, however, takes a positive turn. Upon picking up their Grand Cherokee after this latest service, everything was finally working. It turned out the dealership’s hunch about the “missing” component wasn’t entirely unfounded. They had replaced both the “antenna-passive entry” and the “receiver-passive entry”. Apparently, the “antenna-passive entry,” the very “little black box” they had inquired about, was indeed missing. This was perplexing because nothing had been intentionally removed, and the system had functioned correctly for weeks after purchasing the vehicle. In addition to the key fob issue resolution, the navigation unit was also replaced, a separate issue detailed elsewhere.
This experience highlights the complexities of diagnosing “Jeep not detecting key fob” problems. While receiver issues are a possible cause, as initially suspected, this case underscores the importance of checking the “antenna-passive entry” as well. Even seemingly unrelated components, or in this case, a mysteriously missing antenna, can be the hidden culprit behind key fob detection failures. If you’re facing a similar “Jeep key fob not detected” message, this story serves as a reminder to explore all possibilities and communicate thoroughly with your service technician, ensuring they investigate beyond the most obvious potential causes.
