Jeep Cherokee no start no key fob detected. do this!!

Alright guys, so you’re sitting in your Jeep Cherokee, ready to head out, and you press that start button and… nothing. Just a message saying “No Key Fob Detected” staring back at you. I know it’s frustrating, but here’s the thing – before you panic and call a tow truck or start looking up dealership numbers, there’s a really simple trick you need to try. I’m talking about holding your key fob directly against the push button start. Now, I’m not gonna lie to you, it doesn’t always work on the first try. Sometimes you gotta be persistent with it. But basically, this method has saved me and a lot of other people from expensive towing bills and dealership visits. Let me walk you through exactly what’s going on and how to fix this problem.

The Quick Fix That Actually Works

So your Jeep won’t start and you’re getting that “No Key Fob Detected” message. The first thing you’re gonna wanna do is take your key fob and hold it directly onto that push button start. And I mean directly – like pressing it right up against the button itself.

Now here’s what happened with mine. I shut off my Cherokee to demonstrate this, and even though the key fob was right there in the vehicle, it was saying no key fob detected. The thing is, this method doesn’t always work on the first try. You might need to try it multiple times, and that’s totally normal. Don’t get discouraged.

I had to keep trying with mine, and you can see in real-world situations, it might take you five, six, maybe even ten attempts. But it does work. The key is to be patient with it. Keep that fob pressed right up against the button and keep trying. When it finally works, you’ll hear the engine fire right up like nothing was ever wrong.

Why This Happens in the First Place

Alright, so let’s talk about what’s actually causing this problem. The most common reason you’re getting this “No Key Fob Detected” error is because the battery in your key fob is dying or dead. The fob uses a CR2032 battery – that’s just a regular coin-style lithium battery – and when the voltage drops below about 2.5 volts, the signal gets too weak for your Cherokee to pick it up reliably.

Now, this issue seems to be particularly common on 2022 through 2024 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee models. There’s some kind of glitch or sensitivity issue with the keyless entry system on these newer models. Basically, even when the battery isn’t completely dead, these vehicles can be really finicky about detecting the fob.

Other things that can cause this problem include cold weather – the batteries just don’t work as well when it’s freezing out. Signal interference from metal objects or other electronics can mess with it too. And sometimes, you might be dealing with a bigger issue like a faulty body control module or antenna, but we’ll get to that later.

Replacing Your Key Fob Battery

If the trick of holding the fob against the button works but you’re having to do it every time you start your Jeep, you need to replace that battery. This is super easy and cheap – we’re talking about a $3 to $10 part that you can pick up at any auto parts store, Walmart, or Amazon.

Here’s what you’re gonna do. Take your key fob and look for the seam where the two halves come together. You can use a small flathead screwdriver or even just a quarter to pop it open. Just slide it into that seam and give it a little twist. The fob should pop open pretty easily – don’t force it or you might break the clips.

Once it’s open, you’ll see that CR2032 battery sitting right there. Pop out the old one and take note of which way it’s oriented – the positive side (the one with writing on it) usually faces up, but double-check before you remove it. Then slide in your new battery the same way the old one came out.

Snap the fob back together, making sure it closes completely. If it’s not fully closed, you can get poor contact with the battery and you’ll still have problems. Give it a good press all around the edges to make sure those clips are seated.

Resyncing Your Key Fob

After you replace the battery, sometimes you need to resync the key fob with your vehicle. Now, the thing is, different model years have slightly different procedures, but I’m gonna give you the method that works for most Cherokees.

Get inside your vehicle and close all the doors. This is important – the doors need to be closed for this to work. Then you’re gonna turn the ignition to the “ON” position without starting the engine. If you’ve got a push-button start, just press it once without your foot on the brake. Then turn it back to “OFF.” You need to do this really quick – turn it on and off ten times within about ten seconds.

Some of the newer models have a different method. You press and hold the lock and unlock buttons on the fob at the same time for about five seconds. You should see your vehicle lights flash or hear the horn beep, which means it’s recognized the fob.

Test it out by pressing any button on the fob from outside the vehicle. Your lights should flash or you should hear something from the vehicle. If nothing happens, try the resync procedure again. Sometimes it takes a couple attempts to get it right.

When There’s Bigger Problems

Alright, so you’ve tried holding the fob against the button, you’ve replaced the battery, you’ve done the resync procedure, and you’re still getting that “No Key Fob Detected” message. At this point, we’re looking at potentially bigger issues that are probably gonna need professional help.

One common problem is the body control module, or BCM. This is basically the computer that handles all your keyless entry and starting functions. If it’s not communicating properly, you’ll get error codes like U0140 – that’s a “Lost Communication with Body Control Module” code. You can check for this yourself if you’ve got an OBD2 scanner. Just plug it in and see what codes pop up.

The antenna that picks up the signal from your key fob can fail too. It’s usually located near the center console or under the steering column. If that antenna goes bad, your vehicle won’t detect the fob no matter what you do. This is something that typically needs replacement at a dealership because it requires programming and special tools.

There’s also been some software issues with certain model years. Some 2022-2023 Cherokees had a recall related to the Uconnect 5 system and BCM programming. If you’ve got one of these model years, check with your dealership to see if there are any software updates or recalls that apply to your vehicle.

Real quick, here’s what these bigger repairs are gonna cost you if you need them. A replacement key fob runs about $150-300, and you’ll probably pay another $50-100 for programming at the dealership. If you need BCM or antenna work, you’re looking at $400-900 for parts and another $150-300 in labor. That’s why it’s worth trying all the simple fixes first – you could save yourself a huge bill.

One more thing – make sure your vehicle’s 12-volt battery is in good shape. If your main battery is weak, it can cause all kinds of weird electrical issues, including problems with the keyless entry system. Get it tested at any auto parts store – they’ll usually do it for free. If the battery is more than 3-4 years old and showing low voltage, replacing it might solve your key fob issues.

Flat Rate Mechanic

Jeep Cherokee no start no key fob detected. do this!!

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