Jt starting on its own ?

[Mr._Bill]

There was another thread out there with this exact same situation, and I don't think the owner ever repeated the issue.
If when you got into the Jeep it was in the remote start mode, having to press the START button to activate all the gauges and shifter, then it sounds like the Jeep did in fact remote start. And yes, it will automictically lock the doors even before it starts the Jeep.

Either you inadvertently hit the remote start button instead of the lock button or the system malfunctioned.

On my JK you had to hit the lock button 3 times to activate the Remote start. I started the Jeep at least 3 times by accident by hitting the button too many times.

Came out of the store one time and the Jeep was locked and running...

Might note on the Gladiator, if you remote start it and don't complete the process, it will turn itself off...I think it's 5 or 10 minutes time frame. Not sure, but I know it will shut off the engine.. I had this happen to me when I waited too long to get in the Jeep.

Engine runs for 15 minutes after a remote start. Opening the doors doesn't interrupt the timer. If the brake isn't pressed and the start button pushed, it shuts off. I've had it shut off as I'm sitting in the seat and getting ready to press the button.

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[uplandgunner]

It does sound a bit like getting remote start accidentally (heated seats and steering wheel were on).

However, it does sound more than that because in the OP's other message (post #5) the JT was "ready to go" ("I just put it in gear and drove off").

This sounds like remote start has been triggered, and the start button being pressed after the key fob signal was detected inside the car.

I'm wondering if it might have been an attempted thief, similar to this post in NBC (a few years back actually):

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna693036

Thoughts?

Well in my original post I asked "could this be a way to steal my truck?" If it was an attempt it was in a stupid place to try because I left my truck at the pump which would indicate I would be back pretty quick. That would not give them much time to get the truck someplace to hide it.

I don't know, I keep replaying it in my head and trying things to duplicate it. Nothing adds up. The not turning the engine off doesn't work because the seat and steering wheel heat would not have been on. Accidently hitting the remote start doesn't add up because I did not need to step on the brake and press the start button to get the dash to light up ( it was already lit up) and to put the truck in gear.

It's just weird!

 

[Mr._Bill]

Well in my original post I asked "could this be a way to steal my truck?" If it was an attempt it was in a stupid place to try because I left my truck at the pump which would indicate I would be back pretty quick. That would not give them much time to get the truck someplace to hide it.

I don't know, I keep replaying it in my head and trying things to duplicate it. Nothing adds up. The not turning the engine off doesn't work because the seat and steering wheel heat would not have been on. Accidently hitting the remote start doesn't add up because I did not need to step on the brake and press the start button to get the dash to light up ( it was already lit up) and to put the truck in gear.

It's just weird!

When you do a remote start, the dash lights up and the radio turns on when the door is open. All you have to do is put your foot on the brake, touch the start button, and put it in drive. I see it more likely as an automatic response from you and then questioning it after it happened because you don't remember pushing the start button. I have done that before, many times. It is more likely to happen when tired and/or after driving for long periods. The seat and steering wheel heaters coming on indicate a start cycle. Would you have noticed if it had been warm enough that they didn't activate?

 

[Hepps]

I've now had this happen to me 4 times. Keys were hanging up on a key rack. Nothing was touched

 

[Alabama Mud Machine]

I expirienced something strange the other day with my JT. It has me wondering how and if this a securityissue also. My JT started on its own.
It happened when I stopped to fill the gas tank at a truck stop. I pulled up to the pumps, killed the engine and got out and filled the tank. I then thought I'd better take a leak while I was there so I pushed the button on the drivers door handle to lock the JT, heard them lock and headed inside.

When I came back out the first thing I noticed as I walked back to the JT was the fender lights were on and thought " Why is that?". As got nearer I could hear the engine running. When I reached the JT it was still locked and unlocked when I put my hand behind the door handle like it should and got in.

Well, that certainly puts a whole new spin on the "Auto" Start-Stop feature.

 

[BLK HOLE]

I knew it was a transformer. Oh how I have waited for this day.

 

[GlacierGladiator]

I've now had this happen to me 4 times. Keys were hanging up on a key rack. Nothing was touched

Do you have the app installed on your phone? Is it possible you started it thru the app accidentally?
When you say 4x. Was this 4x in a row or all different days?

 

[STLDAVE]

Challenge and Response Checklists are used by commercial pilots on every flight. Why? Because even though we have done things thousands of times, as humans, we sometimes believe we have done something that in actuality we haven't. As a former Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor I have seen seasoned pilots swear up and down they did everything on the checklist, but missed a step, or failed to complete an action properly. When doing repetitive tasks its easy to be distracted and not realize our error. That's why commercial airline pilots use the Challenge and Response checklist system. One pilot reads the checklist and the other verifies a setting or performs some action then responds to the first pilot to indicate compliance. Even then items are occasionally missed, sometimes with fatal consequences.

The point I'm trying to make is, the OP might well have performed, or omitted, some action subconsciously. If highly trained pilots can make a mistake, isn't it possible a Jeep driver could too?

 

[Mr._Bill]

I've now had this happen to me 4 times. Keys were hanging up on a key rack. Nothing was touched

Both FOB'S hanging up there? Anyone else have your Jeep login info?

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

No, it was ready to go. That was another reason I did not think it was because I hit the remote start button. If you use the remote start you still have to hit the start button for it to go into gear. I just put it in gear and drove off.

Several comments have been made to the effect that it was probably human error, because here is a list of things that would have to have happen for a remote start to happen spontaneously, etc, etc.

This misses the point, that it appeared to be an anomaly. An anomaly, is by definition, an event not explained by normal logical sequences. Electronics can go wacko and do unexpected things. Does anyone who uses a computer doubt this?

 

[Blade1668]

I'm not doubting you on the starting electronics / computers can and do crazy stuff. No doubt the electronics could be hacked, time of day you said are a prime time for auto theft... When place is busy, people pay less attention when larger groups of people are present equals more likely time for a quick theft.
But it could be just a close code/ signal from another vehicle remote start too and S### happens.
DAve spot on about check list I used them in military for same reasons... Checks and balances to make sure required gear, or things are done.

 

[Hepps]

Do you have the app installed on your phone? Is it possible you started it thru the app accidentally?
When you say 4x. Was this 4x in a row or all different days?

The app is installed on my phone only and was not touched.

The 4x happened on two occasions, twice each time. Completely different circumstances as well.

When I took it in today there were some voltage variations on the auto start stop and a bad ambient air sensor. Both may be contributors.

They're watching for this in their service bulletins.

 

[Steve135]

When my wife and I bought her VW, it was the first vehicle that I had been in with automatic start/stop and an on/off button rather than a key. One day, I pulled into the garage, threw it into park, saw the engine was off and got out the door. When I opened up the back door to grab something, I noticed it was dinging at me with a "Key Fob not Detected" alert. Confused, I went back to the front and realized I hadn't actually turned the car off. From the million times I've turned a vehicle off, I had become Pavlov's dog - when I heard the engine turn off, I subconsciously assumed I hit the off button and turned the vehicle is off... but I hadn't. All I did was put it in park.

Now back to your post - the Gladiator will eventually turn itself back on when the automatic start/stop shuts your engine off so your battery doesn't deplete. Not to discount your theory that there is a security bug, completely plausible in the digital age, but my guess is you did the same thing I did. I wouldn't worry about it too much unless you or others see it happen again.

I hope this helps solve the mystery - Cheers! Enjoy your ride!

 

[GlacierGladiator]

The app is installed on my phone only and was not touched.

The 4x happened on two occasions, twice each time. Completely different circumstances as well.

When I took it in today there were some voltage variations on the auto start stop and a bad ambient air sensor. Both may be contributors.

They're watching for this in their service bulletins.

Has it only happened while parked in your driveway? Or has it happened elsewhere?
Im thinking someone is either playing a prank on you or some other vehicle in a neighbor driveway has the same frequency, which would be very rare i think.
What would an ambient air sensor have to do with faults in the key fob remote start? Also, if the vehicle was in fact turned off what would variations in voltage of the ESS system have to do with a remote start situation? The vehicle is either on or off. The only way it will turn on without depressing the brake is thru the fob or the app.
Something seems odd.

 

[NC_Overland]

I had this happen one time. My fiancé works in downtown Raleigh and we share vehicles and sometimes she drives my Gladiator. Street parking is free downtown right now with everything going on. One day I had to meet her outside her office and my Jeep was parked out front a little bit farther down. I noticed when I left that it was running because I saw my LED lights were on. I stopped and sure enough, it was running and had been for some time. She’s actually a very thorough person, so I believe her when she said that she’s positive that she had turned it off when she parked it.

IMO, a few thing might have happened. It was a weird thing where some random frequency with everything downtown triggered it, there is indeed some sort of software glitch, or someone was trying to steal it. I only mention the latter because I had to deliver some unfortunate time sensitive news in person (everything is fine now) and I came in hot when I parked behind it. There were two cars parked behind it, one was an especially shady looking suburban, and the cars took off suddenly when I arrived. I didn’t think much of it at the time, butwe both remembered after the fact.

I really have no idea, but it’s super weird.

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