Let's Talk About Sentry Keys...

[Mumbo]

So my Jeep has been suffering a problem for about a month now.

Put the key in, start the bitch, tach needle comes back to idle and the jeep shuts off. The "no key" light comes on. It will start ONCE in the morning, and ONCE at night, but no more than that. After its started, it runs just fine.

My thoughts are that the car is not reading the Transponder Key, thinks its being stolen and shuts itself off. So I'm working on buying a new key and having it cut. OEM Key $195 + $65 to cut, or Aftermarket Rock-Shaped Key $22 + $65 to cut. I feel like this would be a better home troubleshooting step than just taking it into Jeep and paying $100 for a diagnostic for them to tell me its the key.

Any thoughts?

[Duck Vader]

I have no idea. You try posting this in Jeepforum at all? They have been really helpfull to me over there.

[Mumbo]

Hmm, I haven't tried posting it there. That probably would have been the most intelligent thing I could have done!

Thanks!

[Duck Vader]

What is your screen name over there?

[Duck Vader]

I only have one key for mine as well. I don't know if they came with 2 in 98.

[Terry]

Cost on keys are alot cheaper than that (got some for my GF's car for $40 a piece). It's all RF so it's hard to break a key, I'm guessing it's something more than that...the actual system that reads the keys. Try resetting everything by unhooking the battery. And be careful...after 5 unsuccessful starts you have to go through a bitch of a procedure before you can start it again.

[Mumbo]

Yeah, I pulled the negative cable and left it for a day, and then hooked it back up. It had its normal 1 start in the morning, and then went back to its normal pattern.

If its RF, then wouldn't there have to be some type of battery in the key itself in order to transmit a radio signal?

I don't try more than once at a time to start it anymore. If it doesn't start in the morning, then I just hop on the long board and ride to work.

I'm gonna head over to jeepforums and see if I can remember my s/n.

[Terry]

RF doesn't need a battery, those keys don't go dead.

[Mumbo]

[quote=""Terry""]RF doesn't need a battery, those keys don't go dead.[/quote]

Hmm... Maybe I should just take it into Jeep then. I'm just so afraid that they gonna tell me I need a whole new cylinder unit or something. I just don't have the money for car repairs anymore.

[Duck Vader]

[quote=""Mumbo_Jumbo""]

I'm gonna head over to jeepforums and see if I can remember my s/n.[/quote]

If you can't, I can post your question up over there for ya.

[Mumbo]

Okay, so it turns out my s/n is Mumbo_Jumbo. Imagine that....

I posted up in the WJ Tech forum, lets see if I can't solve this BS already.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthre ... ost4158350

[Duck Vader]

Im CherokeeJay on there. I just wish the damn search would work again. They are working on fixing it, but the forum got too big for their current set up.

[Mumbo]

[quote=""Duck Vader""]Im CherokeeJay on there. I just wish the damn search would work again. They are working on fixing it, but the forum got too big for their current set up.[/quote]

I noticed. I tried one search and then just posted straight up.

[Terry]

My dad and brother are both Chrysler techs so I'll see if they know anything.

[Mumbo]

[quote=""Terry""]My dad and brother are both Chrysler techs so I'll see if they know anything.[/quote]

Thanks a lot bud, I'd appreciate that. I don't know any Chrysler techs here, so I've been punching in the dark.