Super secret button???

MaineSleddah · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 2:51 pm

Help... I found and pushed a button, a moment of shear stupidity, that hangs near the center console under the dash and now my beloved CRD has absolutely no power. Kinda like the turbo has been disabled or something. What does the button do and how can I undo it? Here's the requested picture...
http://picasaweb.google.com/MaineSledda ... 1256016866

RJM · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 2:58 pm

That's got me. Picture?

flman · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 3:27 pm

Never heard of a super secret button, but I would check for codes, or disconnect the battery and see if it undoes what you did? Is you CRD a one owner vehicle?

racertracer · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 3:32 pm

Center console under the dash?

How does one locate the button?

MaineSleddah · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 3:35 pm

It is located right next to the data port, under and right of the steering column, beside where the console meets the underside of the dash. I did attach a picture link to my first post, but will post it here as well.
http://picasaweb.google.com/MaineSledda ... 1256016866

geordi · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 4:05 pm

I'm fairly certain that I have seen the same button under my dash, but I didn't think it did anything when I pushed it. It might be beneficial if GDE weighs in on this, since they have the most experience poking around the underside of the electrical system in these beasties.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 4:22 pm

So was that added by a previous owner? Or do we all have that hidden back there somewhere?

racertracer · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 4:39 pm

I have a similar button under the dash of my Jeep wrangler Sahara, it turns off the OEM anti theft device.

RJM · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 4:49 pm

Sorry still can't help ya. Mine does not have this button.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:08 pm

It appears to be secured to the data port plug plug base with a non-factory plastic cable tie. My 2005 has nothing like this in that area and all the wires in the area are clearly visible and go to the data port. My bet is a previous owner wired in some sort of "kill" button but what it kills I have no idea. Does pressing it again return power, if not try the disconnect/wait 10 min/reconnect battery exercise, and if that doesn't work you are probably going to have to trace where it goes which shouldn't be too hard if it's after market.

MaineSleddah · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:09 pm

Well I disconnected the battery for 2 minutes and hooked it back up. no change. I pressed and held the button for about 30 seconds and the horn sounded five times, paused about five seconds and sounded two more times. Now the power thing has not changed, but the darn thing chirps the horn slowing to a stop. The thing has me pissed, because it's not in any manuals I have and I was stupid enough to push it the first time!

MaineSleddah · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:14 pm

papaindigo wrote:

It appears to be secured to the data port plug plug base with a non-factory plastic cable tie. My 2005 has nothing like this in that area and all the wires in the area are clearly visible and go to the data port. My bet is a previous owner wired in some sort of "kill" button but what it kills I have no idea. Does pressing it again return power, if not try the disconnect/wait 10 min/reconnect battery exercise, and if that doesn't work you are probably going to have to trace where it goes which shouldn't be too hard if it's after market.

I know for a fact the previous owned NEVER touched a thing. It was owned by a woman and the dealer in New Hampshire where her husband bought it did all the maintenance until I bought it three years ago. I have all the maintenance records in a folder... There must have been a dealer service bulletin that the dealer installed. I now need to understand what it does and how to undo it...

I just pressed and held it again, it sounded the horn five short time. I depressed it again and the horn sounded four times. It's really going to :furious:

me off...

geordi · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:32 pm

Wait a sec... Does your CRD have the factory (Mopar) remote starter? You would have a separate small remote with only one button on it, but that button COULD be the programming button for the auto start. Give me a minute, let me find the manual for that.

geordi · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:36 pm

Found it:

http://www.robagd.com/cars/robs/PDFs/Mopar_LX_Remote_Start_Install_Manual.pdf

http://www.robagd.com/cars/robs/PDFs/Mopar-Remote-Start-Manual-User.pdf

edit: Those links are for the Dodge Magnum LX system (same basic system) but this site has the Liberty system. Does your key look like the picture? If so, you have the factory remote starter.

If you don't have that key, you might STILL have the remote starter, but not the remotes. That would suck.

http://www.justforjeeps.com/remotestart.html

MaineSleddah · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:54 pm

Why yes I do have factory installed remote starter. What relationship does it have to why my power is gone? :banghead:

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:58 pm

geordi · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:12 pm

Honestly, I don't know why there would be any relationship between the remote starter and the vehicle's power. HOWEVER, that button is the programming button for the remote starter. The button has now been identified.

I will say that I have had random unexplained power losses on my CRD as well, sometimes in proximity of my own messing with the little gray box that the remote starter wiring is in. Since the wiring connects to a tach signal as well as a line in the ECM (or maybe that is the tach signal) maybe they didn't do a good wiring job? Otherwise, I would say this is a coincidence, and you have a buggy sensor messing with you.

racertracer · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:37 pm

This may be worth a try.

The way I reset the anti-theft device in the wrangler Sahara is like this:

I turn the ignition key to the on position and press the button at the same time to reset it.

I would try that and also try depressing the remote key and the button at the same time.

litton · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:20 pm

I just popped out and took a look at mine....no button. Sometimes dealers would install an aftermarket alarm system and than try to upsell the buyer into accepting it. If they didn't bite, the dealer would disable it in some fashion......could it be something like that????

devlish · **Joined:** Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:50 am **Posts:** 163

just a guess here... what about Valet / MPG mode??

i know on my EVO/STi i can put a tune on it that only allows the vehicle to go to 3k RPMs so the valet kid parking my cannot go out back and spin some AWD hurricanes or go racing with his buddies. :mrgreen:

it's also keeps my MPG better becuase i cannot get into boost at that low of an RPM.

just a thought... maybe it was tuned into the ECU and that button switches from the factory tune to something different for this reason??

if i'm completely off base, or you already figured it out... disregard my thoughts! i thought i read through it and found no explanation yet... either way, good luck with your new SLOW jeep!

Super secret button???

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