What Are The Causes Of Jeep Wrangler Remote Start Not Working?

Remote starting your Jeep Wrangler is a huge convenience, especially when you need to warm the car during cold weather or cool it down during the summer. Unfortunately, issues may arise that may cause the remote start not to work properly.

So, what are the causes of the Jeep Wrangler remote start not working? There are many reasons for this – the most common are 

• The hood, swing gate, or doors are open
• The hazards are on
• The battery is low
• The car is not in Park
• The engine light is on
• It might also be that the keyfob or the remote start system is faulty

The list is long. So read on to learn the possible causes  and what you can do to solve them.

A Table Of The Common Causes Of Jeep Wrangler Remote Start Not Working

The table below highlights the most common cause of Jeep Wrangler remote start not working and their fixes. 

Issue	Solution
Gear selector not in PARK	Move the gear selector to the Park position and check for obstructions
The doors are open	Close and latch all doors. Install any removable doors
The hood is open	Close the hood securely. Check the hood pin and replace it if necessary
The Swing gate is open	Close and latch the swing gate, removing any obstructions
Hazard lights are on	Turn off the hazard lights
Low battery	Clean and tighten the battery terminals. Recharge or replace the battery if the voltage is low
Pushed panic button	Release stuck buttons on the remote and replace faulty fobs
Malfunction Indicator Lamp is illuminated	Diagnose and resolve the underlying issue causing the check engine light
Remote start disabled from the previous event	Start the car normally, let it run for a few minutes, then try remote start again
The ignition isn’t in the STOP/OFF position	Place the ignition in the “off” or “stop” position and remove the key fob
Low fuel level	Fill the gas tank to at least 1/4 tank or, ideally, 1/2 full

How Do You Fix Jeep Wrangler Remote Start Not Working?

Here is a rundown of the possible cause of the Jeep Wrangler remote start not working and their solutions:

1. The Gear Selector Is Not In PARK

For the remote start to engage, the vehicle must be fully secured. The gear shift must be in the park position so the vehicle does not roll away unexpectedly when you start it remotely.

Solution

Move the gear selector to the Park position. Check that the gear selector is fully engaged in Park. There may be an obstruction preventing it from latching properly.

2. The Doors Are Open

All doors must be shut for security reasons before you try to activate the remote start. This ensures no unauthorized person enters the vehicle when you start your Jeep remotely, protecting your belongings.

Solution

• Shut and securely latch all doors. 
• Confirm all doors are fully closed by pushing on each door handle to verify it will not open. 
• Check for obstructions preventing doors from fully closing or latching. Also, all the removable doors must be installed.

3. The Hood Is Open

Remote start won’t engage when the hood is open to avoid accidentally activating parts beneath the hood that someone may be working on. This helps prevent injuries and damage. There is a pin that gets pressed when it is closed.

Solution

• Close the hood and ensure the hood latches engage securely. 
• Verify the pin isn’t broken. They are two prongs on the right side under the hood that get pressed when you close it. 
• If broken or faulty, replace it. All you need is to pop the side snaps and pull it out.

4. The Swing Gate Is Open

With the swing gate or the tailgate open, it’s possible for someone to access the vehicle’s cargo area, defeating the security of remote starting the vehicle. 

Also, it’s possible that exhaust fumes could fill the cargo area, which is a safety hazard. So, there is a safety switch that prevents you from remotely starting your wrangler when it is open. 

Solution

• Close the swing gate completely. Make sure it latches securely. 
• Look for any obstructions that may be preventing the gate from fully closing or latching and remove them. 
• If the latch mechanism is faulty, repair or replace the mechanism. It’s easy if you follow the provided instructions in the manual.

5. The Hazard Lights Are On

With the hazard lights on, the vehicle thinks your vehicle has become a potential hazard for other road users preventing remote start as a safety precaution. The hazard lights need to be off to allow remote start.

Solution

Turn off the hazard lights. Check that the hazard light switch is functioning properly and not stuck in the on position.

6. Battery Voltage Is Too Low

A sufficiently charged battery is required for the remote start system to function properly. Thus, a low-voltage battery cannot provide enough power to start the vehicle.

Solution

• Check the battery terminals are clean and tight. 
• Test the battery voltage using a multimeter – it should be above 11-12 volts. If low, recharge it. 
• If this repeats or you experience repeated jumps, replace the battery. 
• Also, check for electrical drains that may be discharging the battery. 

In that sense, 

1. You want to make sure the car is in park
2. All the doors closed and everything is turned off
3. Set the multimeter to amps
4. Remove the negative battery terminal and measure the amperage passing between the battery terminal and the connector. You should get 0-50mA. Anything above this will indicate you have a parasitic battery drain. 

7. The Panic Button Is Pushed Or Being Pressed

The panic button, if pressed, will prevent the remote start from functioning as a safety measure. This is to avoid accidentally leaving the panic alarm active after remote starting the vehicle.

Solution

Release any buttons on the remote that may be stuck and depressed again to ensure it is not stuck in the On position. Replace any faulty remote fobs that have stuck buttons, which you can get from a Jeep dealer or online stores.

8. The engine or Malfunction Indicator Lamp Is Illuminated

The malfunction indicator lamp, or check engine light, indicates an issue with the vehicle. That needs to be addressed before remote start can activate. It is meant to avoid unintentionally running vehicle systems that may be faulty.

Solution

Use an OBD scanner. It will show check engine light code to identify what caused it to light up. Once you identify the root cause, you can decide to DIY fix it or take it to a technician if it’s a more advanced issue. Once the underlying issue is resolved, the check engine light should turn off, allowing the remote start to function again.

9. Remote Start Is Disabled From the Previous Event

Jeep Wrangler remote start system allows you to have two attempts to press the remote start. Otherwise, you’re required to start it normally to reset the trials. If you don’t, your Jeep won’t start, no matter how many times you try. So, if previously it has been attempted twice, it would not work unless you reset it. 

Solution

Be certain this is not the issue by resetting the remote start. This requires you to start the normal way – insert the key and turn on the ignition. Allow the engine to run for a few minutes and turn it off. That should reset the remote start attempts. 

10. Ignition Isn’t STOP/OFF Position

For remote start to activate, the vehicle’s ignition must be in the “off” or “stop” position when you lock the vehicle and arm the alarm. This allows the system to register that the car is off and ready to be started remotely.

Solution

Ensure to put the vehicle’s ignition into the “off” or “stop” position, remove the key fob, lock the doors, and test the remote start function. 

11. Your Wrangler Is Low On Fuel

For the remote start feature to activate, your Jeep Wrangler must have at least 1⁄4 of the fuel, or approximately 3 gallons of gas remaining. This minimum fuel requirement ensures the engine has enough gas to run for the duration of the remote start session.

Solution

Fill your Jeep Wrangler’s gas tank to above 1⁄4 tank, or ideally, at least 1⁄2 full. The remote start system should function properly once you meet the minimum fuel requirement.

If you’re experiencing remote start issues with your Jeep Wrangler, you may also find our article on Cadillac SRX remote start not working helpful. This article provides insights into common problems and potential solutions for remote start issues in Cadillac SRX vehicles. Additionally, if you own a Volkswagen Tiguan and are facing remote start problems, you can refer to our article on Volkswagen Tiguan remote start not working.

FAQs

Here are some most common questions related to the topic:

Conclusion

When it comes to the Jeep Wrangler remote start not working, there are various potential causes that need to be addressed. These include ensuring the gear selector is in the PARK position, closing all doors and latching them securely, and closing the hood and swing gate. 

You may also need to rest the remote start after previous attempts and ensure you’ve enough fuel in the tank. By troubleshooting and resolving these issues, you can enjoy the convenience of a functioning remote start feature in your Jeep Wrangler.