Security system fluke

HUNTERHERD3

MEMBER
1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
5.2L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
230,000 MILES

I have owned this vehicle for about a month, it’s been driving absolutely perfect. I ran into a problem yesterday, I went to start my vehicle, it started, but I noticed that my gauges were not working and my security light on top of my dash was on. So I turned off the vehicle and tried to start it back up. It would only run for about two seconds then shut off. I then had my brother tow me back home, yet on the way back I tried starting it and it ran and drove. My gauges were not working. My security light stays on. My windows will not roll up. I’ve tried unlocking and locking the doors with my key to hopefully reset it, and nothing on YouTube has worked yet. My brother suggested that I just completely take out my security system, and I’m not sure where that is completely or what it will do to help things get back to normal. Any suggestions?

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Hi Hunterherd,

The starting and stalling is an indicator of a security issue. More than likely you have a key issue however, there should be some codes in the system that will point you in the right direction.

As far as removing the security system, unfortunately this is integrated into the vehicles architecture. There may be some aftermarket tools that trick the system but if you remove it, the vehicle will not start. Your vehicle theft system communicates with the PCM in order to authorize the start. If the PCM does not get this secret "handshake" then the PCM will not authorize the start.

I would start with getting the codes from the computer and going from there. It could just be a key issue, or it may be the immobilizer. However, the codes will shed some light on this for us.