Nothing but problems

[22EcoDs]

Did you ever take the jeep in with the same issue, on the stock radio? If so that rules out the alpine but dealers don't like aftermarket electrical, it's a scapegoat.

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[22EcoDs]

Disregard my first line lol.

 

[sharpsicle]

Oh yeah it’s been at the dealership at least 6 times with 4 of them being before the radio was installed.

So my two cents on this.

First, that's great news that it's probably not the Alpine. It could be related to it though, like connectors or wires going to the radio. They can't rule out the radio as it sits now though, that's why they're saying what they are. That means you should return the radio system to its OEM configuration. Again, these aren't the radios of previous decades where they just got power and nothing else. They're integrated into the systems and communicate with a lot of other modules. Best way to get the OEM to fix it is to have the OEM systems in place. That will get you an OEM solution.

Second, if the problem was never fixed and was still being looked into, I would recommend against changing anything related to that problem. Radio included. This is based on the statement above regarding how linked in it is to other systems. The last thing you want to do to anyone is have them working to hunt down an issue, and then go changing things as they do. I'm not saying that's exactly what's been going on, but the more stability you can give the techs the better.

Put the OEM back in and don't put the aftermarket unit back in until you are satisfied the problem has been resolved. Otherwise, you'll be risking going through all this again. Prove stability with the OEM system first, then put in the new radio, that way you can tell if it really is having an impact or not. With the fact that things have been changed out while this problem has been looked at makes me think this isn't necessarily a lemon, it's just a problem that has become more complicated with the aftermarket installation. Not enough stability during the process.

Some things take time to solve, electrical is often one of those. I would recommend you give them the time to solve it before making changes again. It sucks not having the new radio in, yeah, but it's necessary to get a proper solution.

 

[DAVECS2]

If they hook up the starscan tool while the problem is present they should be able to see the module that is preventing the start sequence. If no module comes up, that narrows it down to the mechanical start wiring and connectors.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Oh yeah it’s been at the dealership at least 6 times with 4 of them being before the radio was installed.

Ok, there’s history with FCA having this in their hands with this problem that hasn’t changed …and they’re blaming your radio change.

 

[Gatorized]

@JeepCares case# 848712118
I bought my Gladiator in July of 2021, it’s a 2020 but was brand new with only 4 miles on it. Since then anytime the weather gets cold it won’t start or it starts and won’t go into gear.
They can’t seem to find the problem. 2 weeks ago they decided the shifter was the problem so they changed it out.
Got my Jeep back on Wednesday night drove it Thursday and Friday. Monday I went to leave for work and the Jeep wouldn’t start. Called the tow truck and towed it to the dealership once again.
Over the summer I got a new radio install by Alpine at a jeep show, the dealer is trying to say my radio is causing my problems! Problem with that is the jeep was doing this last winter before the radio was installed and all summer long the jeep was fine.

all seems to be related to the lockout for the start/ gear position…. Can’t start without foot on the brake, can’t put in gear without foot on the brake. Problem when it gets cold and connections loosen up.
check that all fuses are seated. Check that connection at brake switch is not loose. Check that the shift linkage is properly adjusted - hopefully that was addressed when they replaced the shifter. It could be a defective brake switch that is impacted by the cold temps. They should have replaced the brake switch before replacing the shifter.

 

[Cavitt]

all seems to be related to the lockout for the start/ gear position…. Can’t start without foot on the brake, can’t put in gear without foot on the brake. Problem when it gets cold and connections loosen up.
check that all fuses are seated. Check that connection at brake switch is not loose. Check that the shift linkage is properly adjusted - hopefully that was addressed when they replaced the shifter. It could be a defective brake switch that is impacted by the cold temps. They should have replaced the brake switch before replacing the shifter.

I'm following this because my 2021 Rubicon wouldn't start yesterday. It had sat sever days in the cold, but it wasn't that cold by Minnesota standards. Below freezing for high's and above zero for lows. Mine attempted to start (sounded like it tried to engage the starter), but didn't turnover at all. I put my jump box on it and it still didn't turn over. I put my battery charge in jump start mode and it still wouldn't turn over. I put the battery charge on high (not jump start) and put my forced air propane heater blowing under the engine bay for about 20 minutes, and it started. It brought a whole new meaning to the term 'warming up the truck'.

I had no issues with this last year through out the whole winter, so I'm hoping it isolated to just sitting, but still this is unacceptable for a modern vehicle. Hell, the F-350 Diesel I traded on this thing started without issue or block heater through two winters without issue...

 

[Baranovic]

I finally got a call back from Jeepcares, they started paperwork for a buy back, he said he doesn’t know if they will except it but he’s trying. Should know in a few days.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I finally got a call back from Jeepcares, they started paperwork for a buy back, he said he doesn’t know if they will except it but he’s trying. Should know in a few days.

Good luck with 20,000 miles on it, I've never had any luck with that many miles but you never know. At least it's still under warranty. I did have a issue with my radio, it would pop and go out from time to time when I would put it in reverse. They did a update on the jeep last year and I haven't had a issue since. I got the Base radio, but the guy who handled mine said that the bigger android radios have been known to prevent the jeep
from going into gear and starting because of a bad harness. Not sure which stock radio you got in yours though and not sure if it's still using the stock harness with the new radio.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I know this sounds like a pain, but if the claim is that the aftermarket radio is causing issues, then I'd re-install the factory radio and take it back in to eliminate that as a potential cause. It will help move things along. The dealership can test and diagnose a factory radio, they can't do anything for an aftermarket radio, so with the aftermarket in there and a potential reason for the issue, they're kind of hitting a wall for diagnosis. Removing that wall for them will really help because it will allow them to not guess as much.

It sucks, but that's the nature of aftermarket upgrading while in the warranty period; you've got to be prepared to return whatever you changed back to stock for warranty work.

And that radio is indeed more intertwined with things that people want to believe! It's not just a RADIO.
People make changes but won't accept the risk when swapping out an integral part of the computer systems.

The first post wasn't clear that the EXACT same problem existed prior to the radio - but I'm not sure I would have made that huge a change with such issues going on anyway.
You have a major problem - don't keep making major changes. Fix what's wrong first.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

all seems to be related to the lockout for the start/ gear position…. Can’t start without foot on the brake, can’t put in gear without foot on the brake. Problem when it gets cold and connections loosen up.
check that all fuses are seated. Check that connection at brake switch is not loose. Check that the shift linkage is properly adjusted - hopefully that was addressed when they replaced the shifter. It could be a defective brake switch that is impacted by the cold temps. They should have replaced the brake switch before replacing the shifter.

Yes.
Can't believe they started with shifter but then the entire story wasn't clear in the first post - at least to me - such as "did the EXACT same problem exist before xyz was changed" and was every trip for the exact same issue, etc.
That brake "switch" is far far more than a switch - it detects the pressure you apply to the pedal as well as other functions. It handles ESS, brake lights, and more.

 

[Baranovic]

And that radio is indeed more intertwined with things that people want to believe! It's not just a RADIO.
People make changes but won't accept the risk when swapping out an integral part of the computer systems.

The first post wasn't clear that the EXACT same problem existed prior to the radio - but I'm not sure I would have made that huge a change with such issues going on anyway.
You have a major problem - don't keep making major changes. Fix what's wrong first.

During the summer months the problem doesn’t happen, so I thought it was fixed when the problem stopped until winter came back around and the problem started again.

 

[Gren71]

During the summer months the problem doesn’t happen, so I thought it was fixed when the problem stopped until winter came back around and the problem started again.

I truly feel for ya. Sucks to have something you like crap out on you and have no idea why. ? the buy back pans out and you’re able to at least brake even and get the truck you wanted.

 

[wanderer]

Mine ran fine ubtil
All of a sudden it wouldn’t go into 4whl drive the service. 4 whl Forward. Collision light snd sway bat light. Turns out that rodent got ip
Above the t case and gnawed on the harness. Pretty common apparently. Try getting the dealer to look for that stuff

 

[1stXMan]

I think your problem is the two battery setup. Stupid question, but did they check for proper voltage on both batteries? Cold weather sounds like a battery issue.

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