You’re out of town and realize you left your Jeep Cherokee’s key in the house. You know the panic that sets in – you’re stranded and have no way to get home. Or maybe you just lost your key, and now you need to use your vehicle. Regardless of the reason, starting your Jeep Cherokee without a key is actually a lot easier than you might think.
These are a common problems that anyone might experience and resort to starting a Jeep Cherokee without a key. Locksmith services can help you resolve this issue, but before contacting them, we have to learn how to do it ourselves. The essential step is to understand what to do first, then follow the process step by step.
So, want to know how to start a Jeep Cherokee without a key? It’s not an easy task, but if you want to succeed, this step-by-step guide will help you.
Why You Might Need to Start a Jeep Cherokee Without a Key
If you have a Jeep Cherokee, you might wonder if there is a way to start the Jeep without a key. There are several reasons why you might need to start your Jeep without a key, including:
- Maybe you lost your key, or it’s been broken or damaged.
- Maybe you bought a used Jeep Cherokee, and the previous owner didn’t leave the key.
- If you lost your key and can’t find it, you don’t have a spare.
- Your battery may be dead and won’t turn over the starter.
- You might have left the Jeep unattended for an extended time and forgotten about it.
- The vehicle is stuck in park mode and won’t start.
What You’ll Need to Start a Jeep Cherokee Without a Key
The Jeep Cherokee is a good choice for beginners because it’s relatively easy to start the vehicle. You’ll need to know your Jeep’s model and year, but if you’re an experienced driver and are comfortable working on cars, you can get the job done in about 30 minutes.
You’ll need:
- A set of flathead screwdrivers, they come in sets with different-sized tips.
- A wrench or socket wrench that fits your Jeep’s starter nut.
- A ratchet and socket wrench for an impact gun or power drill.
- Jack stands or ramps for jacking up the vehicle.
How to Start a Jeep Cherokee Without a Key – Step by Step
So, you need to know how to start a Jeep Cherokee without a key. Don’t worry; it’s actually relatively easy.
The Jeep Cherokee has been around for nearly 20 years, and it’s still one of the most popular SUVs on the market.
Here are some basic steps that should help you get your Jeep started if you don’t have a key.
- Check to see if your car has a manual override. This feature allows you to start the car without using the key.
- Look for the release lever near the steering wheel. This is used to disengage the steering wheel lock.
- Use a metal hanger or piece of wire to bypass the ignition switch. This is the most common method for starting a car without a key.
The 2nd method involves the following steps:
1. Turn the ignition to the ‘On’ position. If it’s an electric keyless system, turn it to the ‘On’ position with the ignition switch in the ‘Off’ position.
2. Wait at least 5 seconds and then press and hold the gearshift lever up or down (depending on which gearbox you have). You should hear a chirping sound from the keyless entry system and then be able to release the gearshift lever without having to press anything further.
3. Press and hold the steering wheel-mounted button that matches your shift position (this is usually marked with a yellow arrow).
This will engage your vehicle’s immobilizer system, which allows other cars to start their engines through this process bypassing security codes. Such codes are typically entered into vehicles when starting them from inside or outside their bodies.
However, this can take several minutes. If it doesn’t work on the first try, you can:
1. Open the hood of your Jeep Cherokee.
2. Locate the battery and disconnect the negative battery terminal.
3. Wait 10 seconds and then reconnect the negative battery terminal.
4. Start your Jeep Cherokee by turning the ignition switch to the ON position and repeat the steps above.
How to Start a Jeep Cherokee with a Screwdriver
So, you’ve lost your car key or been damaged and need to start your Jeep Cherokee. What can you do? Well, don’t worry, because there is a way to start your car without a key.
1. Turn the ignition to the “on” position. Make sure that your battery is fully charged and that you have access to a fully charged battery charger.
2. Loosen the emergency brake cable by rotating it counterclockwise.
3. Place a flathead screwdriver on top of the ignition button, with the tip facing down. While holding down on the screwdriver, turn the ignition switch clockwise until it starts moving.
This should cause any security code or immobilizer system to be deactivated so the engine can start up again.
If this method doesn’t work, you can try the following:
You’ll need a flat head screwdriver and a 10mm socket wrench.
1. First, remove the screws from the Jeep’s wheel cover using the screwdriver. Then, use the socket wrench to remove the bolts at the base of the steering wheel.
2. Once you remove these screws, you can take off the wheel and chassis cover.
3. Now, locate the black box near the engine and use the screwdriver to open it. Inside you’ll find two sets of wires. The red set is for positive, and the black set is for negative.
4. Touch one end of the positive wire to the positive terminal on the battery and one end of the negative wire to the negative terminal on the battery.
5. Start your car by turning on the ignition switch.
Starting Jeep with Dead Key Fob
Jeep Cherokee owners may have experienced the “dead key” issue. The key fob is a small device that contains a unique code you can use to unlock your Jeep. The problem occurs when the key fob is too hot or too cold. This can result in a dead battery, which means your Jeep won’t start. If you’re having this issue, here’s what to do:
- Clean the key fob with a cloth dampened with alcohol, and then dry it off with a lint-free cloth.
- Turn on the ignition and hold down the start button for five seconds until all indicators light up on your dashboard.
- Use your keys to turn off your vehicle and then restart it again.
How to Start a Jeep Grand Cherokee with Emergency Key
If you have a dead key fob, don’t panic! You can still start your Jeep Cherokee without it. Just use the emergency key to unlock the door and start the engine like usual.
Tips for Starting a Jeep Cherokee Without a Key
Now that you know how to start a Jeep Cherokee without a key, here are some tips to make the process easier:
- If you’re going to remove the battery, disconnect the negative cable from your battery. This will allow you to connect jumper cables to jumpstart your engine.
- Use the second set of jumper cables and connect them between both ends of the battery. Then, try starting your engine with one of these cables connected in series or using them as a parallel connection.
- If all else fails, use an automatic starter, which can be purchased at most auto parts stores.
- The keyless entry system on your Jeep Cherokee is similar to other vehicles, and if you can access the door panel, you’ll be able to get the car running.
- A flathead screwdriver is an essential tool for starting a Jeep Cherokee without a key.
- This tool can open up the driver’s door panel and gain access to the lock cylinder. You’ll need this in order to lock or unlock your car with the remote starter.
FAQs About Starting a Jeep Cherokee Without a Key
Q: The fob battery in my key fob is dead. What can I do?
A: If you have another key that opens the door, you can use that to unlock the vehicle and start it. Alternatively, you can try bumping the key fob against a metal object to create a small electrical current that will unlock the car.
Q: Can I start my Jeep with a dead battery?
A: You can start your Jeep with a dead battery, but it will be difficult and time-consuming to get it going. If you can get it started, you may want to charge the battery before driving it again.
Q: How do you remove a Jeep ignition lock cylinder without the key?
A: You will need to remove the head of your Jeep. You should be able to do this by pressing in on the center of your steering wheel with your hand and turning it counterclockwise.
If you have trouble removing the head, you may have to unbolt it from underneath. Once you have removed the head, simply pull out your ignition lock cylinder from its socket and replace it with another one if necessary.
Also Read: Honda Foreman 500 Gear Indicator Flashing [Solved]
Final Word
We hope we have shown you the simplest and most effective way on how to start a Jeep Cherokee without a key. Walk through the process step-by-step, and you’ll be ready to hit the road on your Jeep Cherokee when you’re done!
In case you have any questions, hit us in the comment section, and we would love to hear from you—all the best in your fix.
