If you’re stranded with a dead Jeep Wrangler
key fob, you can start your vehicle by pressing the top corner of the fob directly against the ignition button. Voila! Your Wrangler should roar to life—and there are more key fob tricks where that came from! As cars get more advanced, it can be easy to take your key fob for granted. 99% of the time, you hop into your car, press the start button, and carry on with your day. But did you know that the engineers at Jeep
added some secret functions to your Wrangler’s key fob? Here to unlock the magic of your Jeep’s key fob is Jerry
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. We’ll show you how to check your key fob’s battery level, reset it to factory settings, and quickly and easily program your new fob! How to start a Jeep Wrangler when your key fob battery is dead
If you enter your car and press the ignition button, only to be greeted by the dreaded “Key Fob Not Detected” message, don’t panic! Whether your fob recently took a dive into a puddle or you accidentally left it outside at sub-zero temperatures, there’s a way to start your Wrangler with a dead fob battery.
Press and hold the brake pedal, like you normally would when you start the car.
Turn your key fob so that the top corner is facing the ignition button. You can tell that it’s the top corner because it’s right next to the silver button that releases the mechanical key.
Push the key fob directly into the ignition button. And that’s all there is to it! Even if your fob battery is dead, your Wrangler should still start up with no problem. If you’re more of a visual learner, check out this excellent video tutorial
.
Even though you don’t need the fob to be functioning properly, it certainly is an inconvenience to do everything manually! As soon as you can, be sure to replace your Wrangler fob battery with a brand-new CR2032 battery.
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Start earning nowHidden Jeep Wrangler key fob tricks
Alright, now that your car is up and running, what are some other tricks that you can learn with your Wrangler key fob? Jerry has done a little digging, and we’re ready to walk you through the best ones. Let’s get started!
Jeep Wrangler key fob basics: unlock, lock, and remote start
Before we get to the fancy stuff, let’s start with the essentials. You’ve probably already got the hang of these functions, but we’ll give you a quick tutorial just in case:
To unlock your Jeep Wrangler, press the “unlock” symbol on your key fob. One press unlocks the driver’s seat, and two quick presses will open up the rest of the doors! Your Wrangler’s key fob should work from a distance of about 66 feet.
To lock your Jeep Wrangler, just push the “lock” symbol on the key fob. This time, one press will lock all of the Jeep’s doors.
To start your Wrangler remotely, press and release the “remote start” button twice (hint: it looks like a circular arrow). The remote start function isn’t available on all Wranglers, but you should be able to install an aftermarket mod
that’ll allow you to start the vehicle from a distance.
How to check your key fob’s battery level
What’s the best way to avoid being stranded with a dead battery? Easy—just change the battery before it dies! Thankfully you can check the battery level in your key fob by inserting the key into the ignition and pressing the start button. If the Wrangler doesn’t fire up, you’ll know it’s time for a battery replacement.
How to program your Jeep Wrangler key fob
Before you can get started with your Wrangler key fob, you’ll need to program it! Thankfully, with a little help from your vehicle’s VIN, the programming process isn’t too bad.
The easiest way to program your Wrangler key fob is to go to the Jeep website
, head over to the owner’s tab, and enter your Jeep’s VIN. They’ll give you a step-by-step guide to programming your key fob. Alternatively, you could check out this site
for a full guide to programming your key fob. It’s slightly more challenging, but you’ll have no problem if you take it slowly! Whichever path you choose, it’s crucial to ensure that your Wrangler fob is charged before trying to program it. Just plug it into a USB charging cable, wait for your fob to reach full capacity, and you should be good to go.
How to reset your Jeep Wrangler key fob
If your key fob is having trouble following commands, and you’ve already checked the battery, it might be time to reset the fob. To do this, just press and hold the lock button for three seconds. Your personal information will be wiped from the fob, which will allow it to run smoother.
How to restore your key fob to factory settings
Still no luck? The next step is to restore the fob to its default settings.
First, turn off the engine and remove the key from the Wrangler’s ignition. Next, pry open the key fob cover (a flathead screwdriver comes in handy here). Finally, press and hold all of the fob’s buttons at the same time until it beeps three times. Once you’ve heard the beep, you’ll know that the fob is back to factory settings!
How to erase your Jeep Wrangler key fob
If you’ve tried these tricks, and your fob is still acting up, we’ve got one more last resort option. But be warned, it’s not an easy one!
Start by turning off your key fob and opening the cover. Next, remove the fob’s battery (or batteries, depending on how old your fob is). Finally, use a thin screwdriver to pry open the circuit board. Use a thin knife or wire brush to clean the board and clear any residual data.
Once you’ve reassembled the key fob, test it out. If it’s working, congrats—you’re a technological genius! If not, no problem—you can head to a nearby Jeep dealership
for a repair or replacement. Did you find this article helpful?
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