Push Button Start - Issue with the Button not reading Fob

[DiscoSlug]

In trying to research I've only found issues with the fob itself. My issue seems to be less frequent and would like to see if anyone has some insight.

I have in the past experienced a dead Fob battery and this is not that issue.

The key fob will open/lock the Jeep without issue. Also will remote start the Jeep. However, if you attempt to start the Jeep it will say key fob not detected. I pulled the key fob battery and tested the voltage and it is still putting out the specified voltage. I've also tested it with both my original fobs and neither works. Putting the fob right next to the starter button similarly does not pass the key fob detected test so the vehicle will still not start / or when remotely started allow the transmission to engage.

I've experienced this multiple times now and the fix generally seems to be allow the vehicle to sit maybe another 10 minutes off and then retry. I can't zero in exactly on the fix however because I'm never certain exactly what I did to get it working again.

Any insight is appreciated!

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[Billkowski]

Have been experiencing the same issue in my 21 JL. Fob battery is good, the issue is not all the time, but it started about 2 months ago. It seems related to when I haven't driven it in several days....but not always.

 

[Vtur]

Lock/Unlocking and remote start are on a separate circuit. The starter button is just a reader, receiver/Rx type device.

Any strong magnet near the button? Try placing the fob near the button without the battery in it. If you have another JT/JL, try another button.

Edit: swapping the button with another JT/JL will determine whether it's the button or fob is issues.

 

[Animal]

I have noticed this in extreme cold. I keep my fob on a caribeaner attached to my belt. A hike in the cold or even getting out at a gas station in the cold has caused this issue. After warming the Don up issue disappears.

 

[Tank555]

This has happened to me, and every time it was that the fob was in my pocket next to my phone. I took the fob out of my pocket and it worked fine. Not saying that’s your issue, but that’s what happened to me.

 

[Dragonfly]

I experienced this same issue just the other night while dispersed camping. (The fob was near my phone in the rooftop tent). In the morning, when I attempted to open the jeep or remote start it, there was nothing. I opened the door with the key and the alarm system went off. The fob would not turn off the alarm, nor would it start the jeep when pressed to the start button. The jeep did eventually start after some banging on the fob and 3 attempts at pressing the start button. There was a warning displayed that the fob had left the vehicle (hit ok to cancel). When I got into town, I locked the jeep with the fob and came back at it worked perfectly. I drove for 3 hours and when I tried to use the fob, I got the fob not detected message and had to press it against the start button to continue.
**I never received a message that the fob battery was low, and when it worked it seemed to be at full power. I hope a new fob battery will get rid of this gremlin!

 

[Gordo]

I have had similar situations where I have to push the start button with the remote itself.
What I found out was that cellular antennas in and around where I park will not allow the key fob to work.

 

[Flyboy2109]

My son went salt water swimming with my fob in his pocket. We found online (by phone from the beach!) that if the fob is dead you can push the start button with the corner of the fob that has they key hinge and start the truck. I had never heard of this but it works with a completely dead fob.

doesn’t solve your problem but can get you home and this is worth knowing.

 

[sharpsicle]

There's a lot being talked about in here that isn't related to OP's problem. Going to be hard to get a solution this way.

If the physical contact of the key to the starter button won't allow it to start, and it won't start with any fob, then I'd think something is wrong on the truck side. You don't need a battery in the fob to be able to start the truck. If that is indeed the case, something on the truck is going to need to be replaced (like the button).

@DiscoSlug I'm assuming you're out of warranty?

 

[DiscoSlug]

There's a lot being talked about in here that isn't related to OP's problem. Going to be hard to get a solution this way.

If the physical contact of the key to the starter button won't allow it to start, and it won't start with any fob, then I'd think something is wrong on the truck side. You don't need a battery in the fob to be able to start the truck. If that is indeed the case, something on the truck is going to need to be replaced (like the button).

@DiscoSlug I'm assuming you're out of warranty?

Yes, out of warranty. 2020 with 55k miles.

To address some other speculations at what the issue may be:

It's happened 2x in warm weather and once in cold weather, so doesn't seem to be related to ambient temperatures.

It's occurred in various places so it doesn't seem to be related to external inputs, including at my home once where it's reliably worked for years and thousands of starts.

I don't have my phone or magnets near the starter button and despite connecting the key directly to the starter button, that did not work.

 

[sharpsicle]

Yes, out of warranty. 2020 with 55k miles.

To address some other speculations at what the issue may be:

It's happened 2x in warm weather and once in cold weather, so doesn't seem to be related to ambient temperatures.

It's occurred in various places so it doesn't seem to be related to external inputs, including at my home once where it's reliably worked for years and thousands of starts.

I don't have my phone or magnets near the starter button and despite connecting the key directly to the starter button, that did not work.

I do like the suggestion @Vtur made. See if you can find a known good start button and swap them out. See if the issue travels with the button or stays. That would help eliminate some possibilities.

If you can at least get it to start reliably with the key contacting the button, that's a step in the right direction.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I agree with the "if you can swap buttons (it's pretty easy to remove, unplug and swap).
I'm really curious, though - you have a 2020 - what's the battery voltage like?
Is there a pattern - is this happening after the truck has been sitting a while? Does it ever happen shortly after driving it a ways?
Are they original batteries?
If you don't have one, go to walmart or where-ever and spend $20 and get yourself a basic volt meter, the sort that can read voltage, resistance, etc - don't need anything fancy.
Check the battery voltage when this happens.

But - there's been reports of this happening here and there. Can't say it's common, but I've seen this reported at least 3 or 4 times. Never saw the final solution, but if you can't start it by pressing the fob against the start button - it fits what the others are saying and maybe there's a small percentage of these with button problems.

In any case, even if totally unrelated, if you have a 2020 and if it has the original batteries - time to start monitoring battery voltage and health in any case - starting issues or not.

 

[DiscoSlug]

I agree with the "if you can swap buttons (it's pretty easy to remove, unplug and swap).
I'm really curious, though - you have a 2020 - what's the battery voltage like?
Is there a pattern - is this happening after the truck has been sitting a while? Does it ever happen shortly after driving it a ways?
Are they original batteries?
If you don't have one, go to walmart or where-ever and spend $20 and get yourself a basic volt meter, the sort that can read voltage, resistance, etc - don't need anything fancy.
Check the battery voltage when this happens.

But - there's been reports of this happening here and there. Can't say it's common, but I've seen this reported at least 3 or 4 times. Never saw the final solution, but if you can't start it by pressing the fob against the start button - it fits what the others are saying and maybe there's a small percentage of these with button problems.

In any case, even if totally unrelated, if you have a 2020 and if it has the original batteries - time to start monitoring battery voltage and health in any case - starting issues or not.

Yeah, I monitor the batteries, they are original. The voltometer indicated correct voltage on the fob battery. In-dash cluster told me voltage was 12.3, which should be fine. It also so far has started up after about 10m of just waiting it out so I don't see how the main batteries could be affecting it.

I do see a potential issue you've pointed out because it has happened after short drives.

At home I keep it on a tender.

 

[Vtur]

Yeah, I monitor the batteries, they are original. The voltometer indicated correct voltage on the fob battery. In-dash cluster told me voltage was 12.3, which should be fine. It also so far has started up after about 10m of just waiting it out so I don't see how the main batteries could be affecting it.

I do see a potential issue you've pointed out because it has happened after short drives.

At home I keep it on a tender.

The starter button only read/detecting the solid state transponder in the fob, with or without fob battery.

It can still be one of the battery is going out. Unlocking the doors will draw a weak battery down, hence waiting the 10 minutes to start the truck. You must perform a load test on both batteries separately.

 

[BreakerBob]

Mine (2020 Rubicon) did this for the first time the other day. It kept telling me to push button on the fob to start. Problem is mine is a stick shift. No start button on the fob. Open,close,panic that's it. Hit each fob button with a lot of curse words for each one and nothing. Don't know what I did but it started, finally. No problem since. Sorry that my experience isn't helpful.

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