Battery dead in key fob question...

[red/green hawk]

My buddy just bought a Gladiator and he went elk hunting with his son in the Gila Wilderness of N.M. last week. Something interesting happened and he asked me if I knew the answer. I didn't so I'm throwing it out to the forum.

Scenario. Camping at 8500 ft elevation during an elk hunt and the temperature got down to zero. Key fob got so cold it wouldn't work to open the doors. Manual unlocking of doors set the alarm off (there went any chance at getting an elk). Was able to turn the alarm off by holding the key fob next to ingition button and while pressing the ignition button and the button on the fob. Key fob warmed up in his pocket and eventually was able to start the Jeep.

He was asking me if there is a way to start the Gladiator without the key fob if the battery is dead. I have no idea if there is, so that is what I'm throwing out there. Is there a way to start the Gladiator when the battery in the key fob is totally dead?

Thanks.

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[Gizmo]

from what I was told you basically push the start button with the keyfob

 

[MrBones]

^^^^
This. Push the end with the key release button against the start button.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

That’s good to know that it won’t work well down that low of temperature. I bet your buddy was azz chapped about all the noise first thing in the morning though. I’d have had some choice words I know.

 

[red/green hawk]

That’s good to know that it won’t work well down that low of temperature. I bet your buddy was azz chapped about all the noise first thing in the morning though. I’d have had some choice words I know.

He was more freaking out that he was gonna have to walk over 20 miles if he couldn't get the Gladiator started. But yeah, he was pretty sore about all the noise he made, especially it being the first morning of the hunt. Needless to say, he didn't come home with anything.

 

[JTGuy]

He is lucky his JT didn't become a target.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

I've had this happen a couple times. Now when it's cold enough and the fob doesn't unlock the doors, I cup it in my hands and blow warm air onto it for a minute and it works fine.

I've also had problems where the truck refuses to start, even when pushing the start button with the fob. This usually happens when at home, the truck is unlocked and hasn't been used for a few days. I have to use the fob to lock the truck, then unlock and everything is fine. It's like the truck goes into a standby mode and it's not taken out until you lock/unlock the doors.

 

[Pliny]

Page 19 of my owners manual:

 

[Lost1wing]

Page 19 of my owners manual:

There you go, bringing up that owners manual thing again.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

He was more freaking out that he was gonna have to walk over 20 miles if he couldn't get the Gladiator started. But yeah, he was pretty sore about all the noise he made, especially it being the first morning of the hunt. Needless to say, he didn't come home with anything.

I had similar happen to me on a bear hunt years ago but it was a Yota that was the offender. Aftermarket alarm decided it didn’t like the weather/moisture. We finally did see a bear while we were on the tailgates after 3 days soothing our sorrows with some cooler (not cold because too cheap to do fridges) beverages. We just watched it walk out from the tree line, look at us, then disappeared again. Still a good time though. Any day in the dirt is better than a day in concrete hell.

 

[ALT2870]

I've gone skiing and had the same issue. It will start with a dead fob if you press the fob against the button. Probably an RF chip or something similar.

 

[firemedic2714]

I keep a spare remote battery in the console, JIC.

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