These Are the Secret Jeep Renegade Key Fob Tricks You Need to Know

Whether you’re looking for your Jeep Renegade’s hidden metal key or you want to reprogram your fob, Jerry has all your key fob’s secrets in this guide.
Written by Sarah Gray
Your Jeep Renegade’s key fob has secrets—a hidden key for when the fob’s battery dies, programmable options for locking and unlocking doors, and more. This guide gives you all the goods on your Renegade’s fob.
  • Whether your Jeep Renegade has a passive entry system or a standard keyless entry, your car key fob has a lot of secrets you may not know about.
  • You can customize your key fob functions via the settings on your infotainment system.
  • Even when your key fob has a dead battery, you can still unlock and start your Renegade.
  • If your Renegade key fob fails, head to the service center at your local Jeep dealership for troubleshooting or a new key. 

How to enable Jeep Renegade key fob tricks

With the Jeep Renegade, you have a few customizable key fob programming options when it comes to things like locking and unlocking your vehicle. 
To program your fob:
  • Access your Renegade’s UConnect infotainment system
  • Navigate to the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
  • Select “Settings” from the menu, then select “Doors and Locks”
From this menu, you can program your fob to open just the driver’s side door or all doors and the liftgate with the first press of the unlock button on the fob or upon approach with a passive entry system or “Keyless Enter-N-Go.” 
You can also enable or disable horn sounds and flashing lights when locking the doors with the key fob.

Jeep Renegade key fob hidden features

Your key fob also allows you to enter your car and run it in ACC or accessory mode. To do this, enter your Jeep Renegade with the fob, then press the Start button once without pressing on the brake. 
Here are some of the things your fob will let you do while your Jeep Renegade is in accessory mode:
  • Raise and lower your windows
  • Open and close your sunroof (if equipped)
  • Engage the windshield wipers and washers
  • Lock and unlock the doors and liftgate
  • Access the infotainment system and listen to music
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Jeep Renegade key fob basics: remote start, unlock, and lock

Your Renegade’s key fob has quite a few features you’re probably familiar with, but to be on the safe side, we’ll run through a refresher here. 
These are the basics of operating your Renegade’s key fob:
  • If your vehicle has remote engine start: You’ll see a button with “x2” surrounded by a curving arrow on your remote key fob. To activate it, simply press it twice while you’re within 300 feet of your Renegade. You’ll hear the horn sound and your turn signals will flash as the engines fires up. Your Renegade’s engine will continue running for 15 minutes, then shut off if you don’t enter the vehicle to engage the engine.
  • To unlock your Renegade without a passive entry system: Press the button with the image of an unlocked padlock on it. Factory settings allow this to open just the driver’s door, and a double-tap will open all doors and the liftgate. You can also reprogram this to open all doors and the liftgate on the first tap.
  • To unlock your Jeep Renegade with a passive entry system: Approach the vehicle. Once the Renegade senses your fob is near, it will unlock the driver’s door, or you can program it to open all doors and the liftgate.  
  • To lock your Jeep: Press the lock button with the image of a locked padlock on it. You can program this to sound the horn and flash your turn signals on one or two taps, or not at all in your EVIC.
  • To sound your alarm (or turn it off): Simply press the panic button on your key fob.
For more guidance on how you can use your Jeep Renegade’s key fob, take a look at your owner’s manual.

How to find the hidden key in your Jeep Renegade key fob

If you realize your Jeep Renegade key fob’s battery is dead: Just slide the mechanical latch on the back of your key fob sideways, and your hidden physical key will pop out.
Be aware: You’re about to set your car’s alarm off—but that’s the only way to get into your car when your fob’s dead. Insert the key into the keyhole on the driver’s side door and turn it to unlock your Jeep. Your door will open and your alarm will go off, but you can silence the alarm by starting your Renegade.

How to start a Jeep Renegade when your key fob battery is dead

Starting your Jeep Renegade with a dead key fob is easy: You do it the same way you would if your fob was active, but instead of pressing your Renegade’s Start/Stop button with your finger, you press it with the top end of your fob (the end near the lock/unlock buttons). 
This allows the ignition switch to detect the chip inside your fob. So just press the top of the fob against the ignition switch, press the brake, and then press the ignition, and voila! You’re off!
When it’s time for a battery replacement: Your key fob uses a CR2032 battery. Just use a flathead screwdriver to gently open the key fob and swap out the battery.
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