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Infamous "key not detected" problem.

160K views 52 replies 36 participants last post by  omnupe 
#1 ·
I thought I'd start a new thread since ALL the research I've done on this know one indicates this feedback. I got the key not detected on both of my key fobs last week and couldn't start my Jeep. I called the dealer and they informed me to pull out the remote start switch and insert the key fob manually and turn it to start it. That worked. I read countless threads and replys where the key fob wasn't detected and people were having there Jeeps towed. I'm not certain but know one mentions to pull out the remote switch to start it manually.

Am I missing something or is this new info? I haven't had a chance to read all of my owners manual yet but I assume that info is in there? I am going to keep a plastic trim removing tool and a thin towel in my Jeep at all times in case this happens again in the future.
 
#3 ·
It just pops out....not a biggie. When it says key not detected I take the fob out of my pocket.....seems to do the trick in a few seconds. Key not detected is intermittent. There is a TSB regarding it. Again you can just pop the cover off the ignition or just leave it off....you can use your finger to push to start too with cover off.....did that with a rental Durango.
 
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#4 · (Edited)
Happened to me too many times, any reason for this? Another annoying issue is false tire pressure alarm. It starts flashing for some time even when pressure is OK. Disappears after by itself. Never happened to any other cars of mine with pressure monitors.
 
#5 ·
There is a TSB that addresses this AND dealers are replacing FOBs too. Don't know about your tire pressure false warnings...
 
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#7 ·
The problem isn't with the fob transmitter.....the problem is with the keyless part where the jeep fails to detect it in the area that it is in. So pressing unlock will unlock it but keyless feature will still fail to work. Been there, done that.
 
#9 ·
i had this issue at the beginning too. Took out the battery and reseated it and i don't remember having the issue again. Maybe the dealer applied the TSB the last time i brought it in.. who knows.
 
#11 ·
Took mine in Friday to stealer and they had to order a part. Service "Manager", uh hum, didn't know what part. Says it wasn't the fobs and says it wasn't the TSB reflash. I asked if it was the WIN module and he said no but didn't know what part. I hope not but I have a glass half empty feeling here. We'll see next week.
 
#13 ·
I had this problem when my 2011 GC Laredo X had only 10000K on it (About 3 months in service). I had it in for service for a defective Oil Pressure Sensor and the tech brought out the "Key Not Detected" solution in the codes. The problem was resolved by replacing the battery in the fob. Seems Chrysler put old batteries in their fobs for new vehicles.
 
#14 · (Edited)
TSB helped for a week or so then didn't. On the second try dealer replaced a fob and so far works great again.... I asked the dealer if it could be just the battery in the fob....but they just replaced the fob instead.... Still loving my Summit!!!
 
#16 ·
When this happened to my jeep, and I put the fob in the jeep to manually start it the key got locked in the jeep. My WIN went out. I made a post about it on this site. The dealership had to take the key fob apart while stuck in the ignition to get the fob out. They replaced my Wireless Ignition Nodule and both key fobs and all has been well since. Unfortunately I had to have my jeep towed in since the jeep thought someone was trying to steal it and wet into lockdown mode.
 
#17 · (Edited)
So my key fob issues are still not fixed after 3 trips to dealer. First trip: Diagnose it. Order new "receiver". Second trip: New receiver installed but they couldn't get it to work. New receiver ordered again. 3rd trip: New reciever in still can't get it to work. Then they tried new key fobs. Still not working.

I leave GC with them today and get a call that goes something like this: "Dealer: Did you unhook and remove the black box antenna that is hooked up in the rear? Me: Uh no I didn't. Dealer: We see you modified the back of your trunk area and installed some sort of rack. Me: No I didn't modify anything. I removed the spare tire and rear cover for more space so I could put my apparel rack in for more room which I use for work. I didn't touch any black box or antenna. Plus the GC was working fine in my driveway then all of a sudden I got the key fob not detected message then brought it in to have you fix it. Why would I remove a black box then bring it back to you 3 times to fix I asked? Plus it was working the first couple weeks after I bought the vehicle now it's not working. I didn't unhook and remove anything and now it's not working so your diagnosis of some black box missing must be incorrect."

So that was that and dealer said they need to order this black box/antenna they said is missing. I honestly think there nuts. I seriously doubt anyone stole it. The day it went bad I had the GC in my sight all day. I was using the remote start all day many times then late that afternoon after I washed and cleaned it I was trying to start it to pull it in the garage, then got the key fob error message. And, at that time, I hadn't removed any of the spare tire I was talking about not that it matters anyway. I removed all that a couple weeks after all this started. I will say I did see a wire with a small connector just under the trim in the back that I assumed was a pre-wire for a trailer hitch. This wire was just taped back and not hooked up. It was not behind the bumper where the dealer said the antenna should be but was under the trim where the floorboard was.

Edit: Follow up-Picked GC up today. All works now. Maybe there not nuts but I can't figure this out. They replaced the "antenna-passive entry" and "receiver-passive entry". Apparently the antenna-passive entry, little black box I mention above was missing. Strange. My remote start and keyless entry system worked fine for a couple weeks. Nothing was ever removed. They also repleced my Nav unit. More on that on Nav thread.
 
#19 · (Edited)
Ok new update. Idiot alert idiot alert. I'm such a stupid idiot. The antenna is fastened to the spare tire trim under the floor board. When I removed the spare tire, floor board and large piece of plastic trim that surrounds the spare tire for my apparel rack the passive entry antenna disconnected. I had no idea. I didn't unhook it. When I removed this huge piece of trim I didn't see any wires so when I pulled the trim out it disconnected the harness. So later on when I saw the wire I thought it was for something else like a pre-wire for a hitch. Duh. :eek:

Needless to say I put the dealer through 3 trips of trying to fix this thing. So when they called me today asking about modifying the back sure enough they were right. However, they didn't say the antenna was fastened on the large trim surrounding the spare tire. I could have easily looked and found it. So sitting and just thinking about the entire ordeal and wondering where this black box was I just had a hunch to look on the trim. Sure enough there it was. It blended in like a hunter in the woods with camo gear on.

I feel obligated to call the dealer and tell them how bad I screwed up. I feel even worse because I sat there face to face telling the service manager there must have never been a black box (antenna) ever installed from the factory. They never challenged me.
 
#24 ·
Ya mine started acting up .. not opening the doors .. and when the doors open and I try to start it gives me the message. But now something new .. while driving it tells me --"key has been removed from car" it is very funny in a sad way .... Off to the dealer on Monday.
 
#26 ·
ya ... it is weird got the message key has left the car... I stopped the car, turned off ... remote locked and unlocked the car and then turned back on as I had just pulled it out of the driveway ... and all ok.

Just seems that I had no issues then all of a sudden they just started happening and with more frequency. I will you all know what the dealer says ... probably will order me a new FOB.
 
#27 ·
Happened to me today for the first time in 14k miles.

Walked up to car, grabbed handle, unlocked as normal, pressed start button, "key not detected". Took it out of my pocked, pressed again, "key not detected". Repeated twice, "key not detected". Pressed it again, car tried to turn over for about 30 seconds, failed to start. Pressed start button again, engine turned over, RPMs to idle speed for a few seconds, car died. Tried one last time, turned over like normal, drove away.

Ran some errands, turned car off and on 6 times at various locations, no more issues.

Strange and disconcerting.
 
#28 ·
Hey Sydneyj gotta say thanks, this exact same thing happened to me, I put a electric break controller in my car and afterwards it didn't work, I'd ran a extra break wire back to the tow bar, as I was reading your post I recalled seeing the blue connector not connected and now I realised where it went, took 5 minutes to fix. Car is booked to go to dealer in 2 days to fix this issue.
 
#31 ·
It happened first time yesterday. Key was in and car was running and suddenly "key has left" warning sign popped up. Someone said there's TSB for this and does anyone know which TSB is for this problem? Thanks.
 
#32 ·
One tip I learned from my dealer is that sometimes the prongs that touch the actually battery get pushed down (when you are pushing any of the buttons on the fob) so open your fob, take the battery out and push the little prongs up so they make better contact with the battery.

When I start to get the message every now and again I just replace the battery and the issue goes away.
 
#33 ·
The issue I've seen with the key fobs is in the battery connection. On the older modles if you take apart the key take a look at the circuit board. There are four prongs that make contact with the battery itself. Bend the tabs upwards a bit and it should fix the issue. What is happening if the when the key was made the contact prongs are under one of the rubber buttons on the key fob. When the button is pressed over a period of time it flattens the prongs and the key looses power from the battery.
 
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