Do you live in an area with lots of humidity? maybe it's doing something to the electrics or battery of the vehicle

 

Happened to me once or twice. The brake peddle was really stiff so I ended up pushing down real hard and it started. I never saw any kind of warning light or anything.

 

That has happened to me a couple times. I noticed that it only happens in the morning. I park my car on the grass next to my driveway so I'm not sure if that may be a factor, but I know it shouldn't be.

I get in and push the brake pedal and the start button but the pedal so so stiff that to get it to start I almost have to stand on the brake pedal.

My Jeep is at the dealer for this and other issues right now so I'll see what they say when they call.

 

get in, close door, depress brake, and use top end of key fob (opposite of metal key end) to push start button instead of your finger. this will refresh wireless connection for the start button

 

That worked for me. Thanks!

 

I'd check the brake pedal switch.

How does pressing the starter with the keyfob do anything?

 

I think there is some sort of identification chip at the top of the keyfob. It is used typically when the battery within the fob is dead, and you have to unlock the door with the physical blade key. Then you push the start/stop button with the top of the fob, and it should fire up after a couple seconds - in theory...

 

Fair enough.

But pushing the start button with the actual key fob doesn't physically do anything.
There's no physically connection required. It's wireless.
(They could also instruct you to be whistling "Il Canto degli Italiani" whilst pressing the start button
for a similar effect. )


The reason I queried it was because the sales guy specifically showed me the process at
hand over and there was no talk of physically pressing the button with the fob.


But it's plainly in the manual. (And I still call it Woo.)

 

Fair enough.

But pushing the start button with the actual key fob doesn't physically do anything.
There's no physically connection required. It's wireless.

For passive RFID to work, the rfid chip needs to be within the field of a reader antenna to generate enough signal to be readable. From what I understand, most keyless systems that don't have a dock for the fob to use if you want, put the passive RFID antenna in the ring around the start button. Pushing the button with the fob makes sure the chip is in the antenna's field.

 

It's not the physical contact that is needed. The 'wireless' probably has a range of just a few inches, so the part of the fob with the chip needs to be in the zone. The instructions in the book are the simplest way to ensure that this happens, since saying things like "Hold the key in your hand and press the start button with a bent finger of the same hand, so the key is close to the start button." is just getting daft.

 

It's just my inner engineer screaming, "No Way Is That A Technical/Physical Requirement."

Eventually it will become an internet myth that all keyless cars can be started, in an emergency, by pushing the start button with the keyfob.
Just wait 'n' see. Whilst Googling theres a YouTub Vid of a Renegade owner complaining it doesn't work because she's doing it with the bare mechanical key. Sometime you just need to step back and ask, "Is that really true?"

 

You've got some great advice here, priell3. Are you thinking you'd like to have this looked at by a Jeep dealer? Our team is available via direct message and would be happy to help with this process.

Jasmine
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

You've got some great advice here, priell3. Are you thinking you'd like to have this looked at by a Jeep dealer? Our team is available via direct message and would be happy to help with this process.

Jasmine
Jeep Social Care Specialist

I am going to call the dealer nearest me tomorrow and try to get an appointment first thing Tuesday morning.

 

Called the dealer and the service department suggested pushing the button with the fob. The Electronic Throttle Control warning lamp on the dash comes on when it fails to start.

Taking it in 8 a.m. tomorrow.

 

Keep me updated on what you hear, priell3. We're available via direct message and are happy to provide an additional layer of assistance if needed.

Jasmine
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

Testing the battery right now.

 

So here is what they said:

a radio frequency module was changed started with no issues we let it sit outside and get cold again started with no issues brought it in Ran codes...no codes appeared

I will be picking it up tomorrow morning.

 

So far, so good. A dozen starts throughout the day without issue.

 

It has been several days and many successful starts. I'd say the problem is fixed.

 

That is great news. Hope it continues for you!

 

We are still having trouble starting it at random times. Going back again.

 

Personally, I would take a video every time you start it, showing that the brake and clutch if it's manual, are fully depressed, and then try to start it. I would do this until it doesn't start, then only keep that clip and show it to the dealer. That way you have evidence of the issue, and it may help when diagnosing the problem.

 

They don't seem to have gotten a handle on what the real issue is.

Some ideas from previous FCA car issues I've seen for push-button start issues:

Pedal switches.
Broken antenna within the car so it can't ping the key properly.

 

Ok, I had my Jeep back twice for both the Forward Collision system warning and Park Sense Unavailable warning messages. The dealer worked with Jeep and ended up replacing 2 modules, rear harness, radio and amp.

Got it back last week and 4 days later the park sense unavailable warning message came back and the button to disable park sense flashes. I had to stop by the dealer yesterday so they could read the codes from the computer to send to an engineer at Jeep. Looks like it's back to the same old crap again.

 

Hello sakustoms,

We're sorry you're continuing to experience concerns with your Renegade. If you need any help during service, don't hesitate to connect with me via direct message. I'd be glad to assist and escalate to a Case Specialist if needed.

Jasmine
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

Update on mine - since the weather has warmed up I haven't had any trouble starting it. I do have a case # to pursue the issue if it returns with the cold weather.

 

My 2017 Renegade just started to do the exact same thing, dealer is a week out on appointments, did your dealer ever find a resolution?

 

HELP! My 2015 jeep renegade limited won't start. All the electronics work, its not showing any fault or warning lights.
Sometimes it will just click, other times it sputters & doesn't catch. What can I do??

 

Looks like it's time to call the towtruck.

Alternatively try a different battery after disconnecting your original battery and reconnecting one you know has a full charge.

Be careful if you decide to Jumpstart your Jeep as it's been known to cause further electrical issues if not done properly as per your manual.

A couple of posts previous and the guys says it was his injectors. Your Jeep may be different but at least you are getting a few replies to keep you pondering

 

Thank you!
This time it was the battery, although I'm still noticing it takes a little longer to "catch" when I press the start button.

It may be of note, my jeep is booked in April 6 (reliant of course on Covid-19 lockdown rules), to have the turbo replaced. Apparently a known issue, and one which I would like to have been advised of.

The "symptoms" I noticed were, sometimes you'd put your foot down to accelerate and there was a significant lack of power (acceleration). Secondly, intermittently the cruise control would disengage and become unavailable for the remainder of the trip. Sometimes it would resolve after the car had been switched off for awhile. Other times it would do it again.
Not ideal on a highway!

Nevermind, I'll see if it works!
Thanks again

 

1. I'm glad that solved your problem.ive been having a similar problem. For me, all I had to do was clean the battery terminals. They weren't corroded, just oxidized .

 

I was confused by Sean's post ie oxidisation v corrosion but that's my fault. Googling and reading another forum produced this little gem of info that may be the root cause of a lot of your electrical issues.

It also gives a great variety of methods for cleaning your terminals. Click the link.

Clean your terminals

 

 

Do we what? Lol

You are a believer!! I just noticed that you put me on post 666

 

you've been cursed. lol

 

OMG what do I do now, "biting my toenails" ???

 

I have a 2017 TH and just stated to have the same issue as Priell3 did, the break peddle is hard to push down and the start button does nothing. If I try many times, or wait a random amount of time, it will eventually start. Did anyone ever get this problem fixed?

I have my Jeep at the dealer and they found nothing wrong, no bad codes, no problem, battery checked good. So I get to pick it up, but I know I will be back in a day or two with the same issue.

 

I have a 2017 TH and just stated to have the same issue as Priell3 did,...

W E L C O M E ! ! ! to the forum.

As stupid as it may sound, disconnect the battery for a minutes and reconnect. I have a feeling the Fiat place a quick disconnect on the negative battery terminal for a reason... lol just sayin

I lot of errors can be corrected by disconnecting the negative cable, or after a couple years, the factory battery may need to be replaced.
I had to replace my battery twice in two years. Pick up a yellow top Optima and never had a battery related issue again.

 

So I had this happen to me last week where when I started the vehicle going to work with no issues then 8 hours later it acted dead. Starting it acted like I wasn't even pressing the brake and every thing on the cluster ran across as an error I didn't even here it attempt to turn over. I attempted another 5-6 times and it started, but nothing on the cluster responded from the steering wheel. The cluster was stuck just showing the tire pressure and the vehicle ran with no issues. I've had the battery checked and no codes thrown when checked. The vehicle has now always taken two attempts to get it start and again the vehicle runs with no issues. *Side note my buddy in HI bought one recently after riding around in mine reached out this weekend asking if I had any issues having the Jeep start. Just thought that was funny two days after it happened to me it did the same to him. Mines at 17' Limited and his a 15' Altitude.

 

I’m dealing with this since July, random but only at home in the garage...so far. Did you figure anything out