41.22 Kill switch... recommend against

[g2020]

I got 2 new relays coming. Ordered them Monday night.

Excellent. I am thinking that we won't need the extra relay, but having a spare will make me feel better. Replacing it is pretty easy. The only tricky part is getting the (plastic) sliding lock to snap onto the male connector. Some force is required.

I added one thing to my list above: Detach negative battery cable assembly (10 mm) and cover negative post with a dry cloth. The only sparks that flew were when I reattached the cable assembly, which is normal.

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[Rusty PW]

Got the relays. Tried both new relays. Still won't work. On the side of the box. There is 2 holes. One looks like it has a reset button. I pushed a dozen times. Still no. The second hole is a little bigger and looks like a light in it. Well......the light is out.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Got the relays. Tried both new relays. Still won't work. On the side of the box. There is 2 holes. One looks like it has a reset button. I pushed a dozen times. Still no. The second hole is a little bigger and looks like a light in it. Well......the light is out.

Check the switch. Not only did my relay melt, but the switch was such poor quality that it fell apart.

 

[Rusty PW]

Check the switch. Not only did my relay melt, but the switch was such poor quality that it fell apart.

I have the wireless one. Have 2 different remotes which I tried with the new relays.

 

[g2020]

Got the relays. Tried both new relays. Still won't work. On the side of the box. There is 2 holes. One looks like it has a reset button. I pushed a dozen times. Still no. The second hole is a little bigger and looks like a light in it. Well......the light is out.

Bummer. I bought Dorman 86603 braided wire loom from AutoZone and used it from the PDC to a hole that I drilled through the Dash Panel Plug. This plug covers where the clutch would punch through if my vehicle had a manual transmission (it's a pain to reinstall this plug). Because the cable is a bit too long, I looped the (wire loom & cable) slack next to the PDC and zip tied the loop to the top of the firewall.

The kill switch cable is rated at 200°F. According to Google AI, the Dorman wire loom is rated at 212°F. I have not seen any signs of heat damage.

It sucks when there is hope for a fix and then it doesn't work. I'll be interested to know where you take it from here.

 

[Stan H]

That's step 2. Step 1, hood lock. Step 2 toggle. Step 3 pin lock combo. Step 4 manual transmission. The Gladiator is the 2nd most stolen vehicle in the RGV behind Chevy Silverado. https://myrgv.com/local-news/2025/0...d-in-vehicles-being-targeted-by-auto-thieves/

I supposed in higher populous areas its a real necessity. However with everyother person owning a Jeep around here it is safe to leave unlocked .

 

[DanJT]

Mine has been installed for over 2 years, not a remote unit, but a push button one. I have not had any problems at all. It still works as it should.

 

[DanJT]

You would be absolutely amazed how easy most cars are to steal, and Jeeps (and even more specifically Wranglers and Gladiators) aren't any different.

The easiest way for someone to steal a jeep would be either a relay attack or a clone attack. Just guessing here but a relay attack is probably the preferred method for a late night driveway theft (requires equipment, but it's less expensive) and a clone attack is probably the preferred method for a mid-day parking lot grab.

If you have someone on the inside (dealership) all you need is a easily obtained vin#. Key fob ordered and vehicle gone.

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