Gravel

G`day all ,,
I have just brought a
Grand Cherokee 1998 4.0 Auto for my daughter she tells me that every time she leaves the car for 10 minutes or so she has to push the UNLOCK button on the remote or the car stalls after 3 seconds , We live in a remote part of Australia and if the remote (Black door lock with 2 buttons ) gets broken or the battery goes flat she will be stuck ..

Any help would be great

Cheers
Rob
NSW Australia

RockyMtn96XJ

Can you give us a detailed "order of operations" for this issue?
Does the unlock button have to be pressed immediately after the jeep starts?

dave1123

Has she tried using the key in the door before trying to start it? My 2000 Grand will lock itself if all the other doors are locked and you take the keys out, then close the driver's door. I locked myself out by pulling the keys out just enough to stop the chime telling me I left the keys in it and closed the driver's door. When I came back, it was locked with the keys still hanging in the column. I had to call AAA it get in. Sucks.

There is a way to eliminate the immobilizer (alarm and security) on the earlier models, but IDK how. Mine has a chipped key that the SKIM module has to interrogate and verify as a valid key before it will stay running for more than 2 seconds. On the earlier models it won't stay running if the alarm is set because the immobilizer works with the alarm automatically. If her horns don't work, the alarm can be set without her knowing it is. On my 97 ZJ, there was a flashing LED on top of the dash when the alarm was set.

It could very well be the driver's door lock solenoid doesn't work so she can get in while the alarm is set.

Gravel

G`day ,,
to start the jeep you have to first push the UN~LOCK button on the remote then turn the key to start , If you dont press the UN~LOCK the Jeep Starts and stops 3 seconds later

Gravel

Hi Dave ,
The car has no chip in the Key ,, (Even has the Valet Keys (Just pressed steel ) But Still Have to Press the Unlock on the remote ,
The Jeep Dont lock its self if the doors are shut and the Key lock on the door wont Turn off the imobliser , Just a PIA as my daughter works at the local hospital some times night shift and wants to Put the key in and just get out of there ,(some shady people there at night ) And we dont have CCP here in OZ

Im wondwering If i can find some one with a snapon scanner that can get into the Body control module and turn off the Imobliser ,,,,

Rob NSW Australia

dave1123

So you're already inside the jeep at that point, right? Like I said, it sounds like the alarm is set, the driver's door doesn't lock, and the horns that are supposed to tell you it's set don't work. There is a way of grounding a particular wire in the door harness to eliminate the alarm, but you'll have to research that yourself. It has been discussed many times on this forum.

Gravel

Yep ,
Jeep unlocked sitting in the seat keys in the ignition , MUST Press UN~LOCK On the Key fob within 10 seconds before turning the key or it stalls in 3 seconds ,

dave1123

SO, that nails it. For whatever reason, the immobilizer is set for sure.

Spencer_P

Is it a factory key fob? Could be some form of a custom kill switch that only the person who set it up would know how to avoid.

Gravel

Factory ,,,, I have seen a few others are having the same drama ,,,

Roler

G'day backThat engine immobiliser feature is normal here in Oz.
I wish we could get rid of it but not that easy.
nothing abnormal, it's designed to shut everything off if not deactivated prior to starting.

She should see some security light up on the dash as well when it's active which disappears once you push unlock.

Gravel

There is a light on the dash ,, I have been told there is a VALET switch (Some where) so just the valet Key will start the Jeep ,, I have no idea where to look It is meant to be close to the drivers seat ,, do you have any ideas ,, Or do you know where the alarm box is as then i can trace the wires back to the set up and valet switch ,,
(THEN I CAN KILL IT WITH FIRE !)

Thanks Rob

Roler

Never heard of said valet switch. Maybe a grand Cherokee thing. It wouldn't work either, because you need the remote. There is no other way.

When my immobiliser played up ( not wanting to disarm at random times) it nearly drove me insane trying to find a solution. Read every thread, website, everything. No solution.
The feature is in the pcm and basically got activated the moment they rolled them of the boat here.
Even others tried US pcm's to no avail.

But is it really such an issue to push an unlock button before starting? It's similar to a remote unlocker, just need to progress and turn the key to start, or just push it again.

With a jeep, it would be the least of my worries, to be honest

dave1123

But like he originally said, what does she do if the remote finally packs up leaving her stranded with a vehicle that won't start? I would think there has to be a way to bypass that program in the Body Control Module.

Gravel

100% thats what this post is about my daughter getting stranded at work at 3am ,
Thanks
Rob