FIXED: jeep grand cherokee remote start not working

If you are standing in your driveway freezing your butt off pressing the x2 button on your fob and nothing is happening, here is the short answer: Your Jeep Grand Cherokee is likely disabling remote start because of a safety trigger. Usually, this is because your Check Engine Light is on, you are low on gas, or a door isn't closed all the way.

It's frustrating, I know. You paid for the feature, you want to use it. But Jeep (and Chrysler/Stellantis in general) programmed the computer to be super paranoid. Basically if the car thinks anything is wrong with the engine or the security of the vehicle, it just refuses to start to prevent damage.

Below, I'm gonna walk you through everything you need to check to get this fixed, starting with the easy stuff and moving to the actual mechanical sensors that tend to fail on Grand Cherokees.

The "Computer Logic" Checklist

Before you go buying parts or calling a mechanic, you have to understand the logic of the Jeep's computer. According to the owner's manual, the Remote Start system will abort or not even try to engage if any of the following conditions are met. Walk through this list mentally right now.

1. The Check Engine Light (CEL)

This is the most common one. Even if the light isn't flashing and the car drives fine, a stored code will kill the remote start. The logic here is simple: if the engine has a problem, remote starting it without a driver present to watch the gauges could lead to the engine overheating or blowing up.

If your light is on, you need to plug in an OBDII scanner to see what's up. It could be something stupid like a loose gas cap (EVAP leak). Once you clear the code, your remote start should work again immediately.

2. Low Fuel Level

If your fuel needle is in the red or the "Low Fuel" warning light is on the dash, the remote start won't engage. The system is trying to prevent you from idling the car until it runs completely dry. Go put $20 in the tank and try again.

3. Door, Hood, or Liftgate Ajar

This happens to me all the time. If one of the kids didn't slam the back door hard enough, the circuit stays open. The Jeep thinks, "Hey, someone might be getting into the car, it's not safe to start." Walk around the car and physically push on every door and the liftgate. Also, pop the hood and slam it shut again just to be sure.

4. Hazard Lights are On

If your hazard flashers are blinking, remote start is disabled. I honestly don't know why you'd try to remote start with hazards on, but hey, the manual says it won't work.

5. The Gear Selector

The car must be in Park. If the shifter cable is a little loose and it's technically in Park but the sensor doesn't read it perfectly, it won't start. Try shifting to Neutral and slamming it back into Park firmly.

The Key Fob Itself

Sometimes the problem isn't the car, it's the thing in your hand. Even if the fob still unlocks the doors, the signal required for remote start is a bit more demanding.

If you press the button twice and the horn beeps once but nothing happens, the car received the signal but rejected the request (see the checklist above). However, if you press the button and absolutely nothing happens-no beep, no lights flashing-it's probably your fob battery or range.

Replacing the Battery

Jeep key fobs eat batteries pretty fast. Most Grand Cherokees (2014 and newer) use a CR2032 battery. It's super easy to change:

• Slide the mechanical latch to pull out the emergency metal key.
• Use that metal key (or a flathead screwdriver) to gently pry the two halves of the plastic fob apart. There is usually a little slot for this.
• Pop the old battery out and put the new one in. Make sure the positive side (+) is facing the right way.
• Snap the case back together.

You don't need to reprogram the remote after changing the battery, it should just work.

The Infamous Hood Latch Switch

Okay, so you checked the gas, the doors are shut, and there is no Check Engine Light. But it still won't start. This is where we get into "Jeep things."

The Grand Cherokee has a safety switch located in the hood latch assembly. Its job is to tell the computer if the hood is open. If the hood is open, the remote start is disabled so that you don't accidentally start the engine while a mechanic has their hands inside the fan belt.

The Problem: This switch gets dirty, corroded, or just breaks. It will tell the computer "The hood is open!" even when it is latched tight. Usually, if this is the problem, you might see a message on your dashboard EVIC display saying "Remote Start Disabled - Hood Ajar" when you try to use it.

The Fix:
You have two options here. You can try to clean it or replace it. The switch is integrated into the latch mechanism near the radiator support.

• Cleaning: Get some electrical contact cleaner. Locate the latch, unplug the electrical connector, and spray the heck out of the contacts. Sometimes it's just road salt and grime breaking the connection.
• Replacing: You usually have to buy the whole hood latch assembly, not just the sensor. It's not too expensive, usually around $40-$80 online. It takes about 20 minutes to swap out with basic hand tools.

The "Auto Start/Stop" Battery Issue

If you have a newer Grand Cherokee (around 2016 or newer) that has the feature where the engine turns off at red lights to save gas, you actually have two batteries.

1. The main big battery.
2. A smaller "auxiliary" battery tucked right next to it.

These aux batteries are notorious for failing prematurely. Here is the weird thing: sometimes the aux battery dies, but the main battery is fine, so the car still starts with the push button. BUT, the intelligent battery sensor detects that the overall voltage of the system is weak.

If the system voltage is low, the Jeep's computer will disable non-essential high-load features. Remote start is often one of the first things to get cut. If you've noticed your "Auto Start/Stop" hasn't been working at stoplights lately and your remote start is dead, I'd bet money your auxiliary battery is toast.

You can get this tested at any auto parts store for free. If it is bad, you gotta replace it. Warning: changing the battery on a Grand Cherokee is a pain because it's under the passenger seat, not under the hood.

Settings in the Uconnect Screen

Sometimes, we accidentally turn things off without realizing it. Or maybe you had a dead battery recently and the radio reset itself to factory defaults.

Go sit in the car and turn the ignition to "Run" (don't start the engine). Poke around on your Uconnect touchscreen.

1. Go to Apps or Settings.
2. Look for Doors & Locks or sometimes it's under Safety & Driving Assistance.
3. Look for an option that says "Remote Start System".
4. Make sure the box is checked or toggled to "On".

While you are in there, check the "Remote Start Comfort Systems" too. This controls whether your heated seats and steering wheel turn on automatically. If that’s off, the car might remote start but the cabin will still be freezing, which makes you think it's not working right.

The "Hard Reset" (The Hail Mary)

If you have checked absolutely everything above-no check engine lights, full tank of gas, doors shut, good batteries-and it still won't work, the computer might just be glitching. Modern cars are basically giant laptops on wheels, and sometimes they need a reboot.

You can try a "hard reset" to clear the computer's temporary memory. Here is how I do it:

1. Open the hood (or look under the passenger seat for the battery compartment).
2. Disconnect the Negative (-) battery terminal. It's usually a 10mm nut.
3. Leave it disconnected for about 15 to 30 minutes. Some guys say touch the negative cable to the positive cable to discharge capacitors, but simply leaving it unplugged for a while is safer if you aren't comfortable with electrical stuff.
4. Reconnect the negative terminal and tighten it down.
5. Start the car normally with the push button.
6. Turn it off, get out, lock the doors, and try the remote start again.

This forces all the control modules to wake up and re-check their sensors. It works more often than you'd think.

A Note on Ambient Temperature

This is a weird one, but I've seen it mentioned in forums. The remote start is designed to condition the cabin. If the outside temperature is extremely mild (like 70 degrees), and the car is already warm, sometimes the logic gets confused about why you are trying to remote start it, especially regarding the "Comfort Start" features (heated seats/AC).

However, usually, the engine should still start regardless of the temp. But if you are testing this in a warm garage, the behavior might be slightly different regarding how long it runs.

When to see a Dealer

Look, I hate going to the dealership as much as you do. It's expensive and takes all day. But there are two scenarios where you might not have a choice.

1. TIPM Failure
The TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) is the fuse box/computer brain under the hood. Grand Cherokees are kinda famous for having issues with these. If the remote start relay inside the TIPM is blown, no amount of troubleshooting will fix it. You need a new module or a specialized mechanic to bypass the relay.

2. Security Module Lockout
If the anti-theft system thinks someone tried to steal the car, it can lock out the remote start permanently until a dealer resets it with their WiTech software. This usually happens if you've had issues with your key fob losing programming.

Conclusion

To wrap this up, 90% of the time, your Jeep Grand Cherokee remote start isn't working because of a Check Engine Light or Low Fuel. It's a safety feature, not a broken part. Don't panic. Check your dashboard for warning lights first.

If the dash is clear, wiggle that hood latch sensor or give the hood a good slam. These trucks are rugged, but their sensors can be a little sensitive. Good luck, and hopefully you can get back to getting into a warm car in the morning!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Jeep honk but not start when I use the remote?

If it honks once but doesn't start, the car received the signal but cancelled the request. This almost always means one of the safety inhibitors is active: Check Engine Light, door ajar, hood open, or low fuel.

How long will the Jeep run on remote start?

It runs for 15 minutes. You can usually add another 15 minutes by pressing the remote start button twice again while it is still running, giving you a total of 30 minutes. After that, you have to manually start the car.

Can I remote start if my Check Engine Light is on?

Generally, no. The system is hard-coded to disable remote start if there are active powertrain error codes. You must fix the issue and clear the code first.

Why does the engine shut off when I open the door?

This is actually a security feature on some newer models and trims (though more common on other brands like Toyota). On most Grand Cherokees, the engine should stay running, but it will shut off if you touch the brake pedal before pressing the "Start" button inside the car.

Does the remote start work if I'm using the spare key?

Yes, as long as the spare key is programmed to the vehicle and has a good battery. The car doesn't care which fob sends the signal.