Sentry Key Stopped Working

ebbnflow · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 12:55 pm

One of my keys no longer will pass the Sentry test. It will start the Jeep and then die after a few seconds. It was working fine until the other day. My other 2 keys start the Jeep and let it stay running. I tried reprogramming the bad key with no luck using the customer program procedure. Has anyone had this happen to them? Do I have to buy a new key or is this one savable? I hope I don't have to buy another $100 remote key. This key that went bad is only 6 months old.

flman · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 2:27 pm

Sounds like a bad key, did you buy it new from Mopar? If so take it back for a replacement.

ebbnflow · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 3:44 pm

Bought new through ebay. It was uncut in a sealed mopar bag. Dealer wanted $140. Got it on ebay for $80.

yakers · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 1:21 am

Good thing you still have two. I would get another blank from ebay and program it as a spare and use the two good ones. I have never had one of these fail but who knows what adverse environments they have to deal with: cold, wet dust, chemicals. And if you want something cheap but less secure you could just get a plain metal blank and duct tape an original near the ignition.

flman · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 2:11 pm

yakers wrote:

Good thing you still have two. I would get another blank from ebay and program it as a spare and use the two good ones. I have never had one of these fail but who knows what adverse environments they have to deal with: cold, wet dust, chemicals. And if you want something cheap but less secure you could just get a plain metal blank and duct tape an original near the ignition.

He could probably just move the cut key from the fail one to the new FOB as well. Good idea.

ebbnflow · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 3:56 pm

flman wrote:

He could probably just move the cut key from the fail one to the new FOB as well. Good idea.

I looked into doing that, but the transponder lives inside the FOB. Since the remote parts still works, I am going to buy just a simple key with atransponder and then cut the key portion off of the FOB and use it like an older style FOB with a remote and separate key. I don't want to spend $80 on a new remote key.

flman · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 4:49 pm

Why not buy a new chip for $4.00?

http://www.transponderisland.com/automo ... r_chip.php

Then again, they wont sell it to any one not in the trade.

Maybe your dealer can sell you a chip, or look on Ebay?

This looks doable if you don't need the FOB.

http://www.autotransponder.com/2006_JEE ... ry_remotes

yakers · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:12 pm

I think there are 3 types of keys, the full fob/remote, the one with just the security chip/no remote and a plain metal key which will open the Jeep door and start the engine for about 10 seconds without a security chip nearby.
When I bought my CRD used it had only one key and it cost me something like $120 to get a second from the dealer. I then ordered another fob key from ebay, about $75 IIRC and I bought a simple key with security chip, no remote for IIRC about $25. Now this key will set off the alarm until used to start the engine but it works for emergencies and it can be used as part of the two key system to program a new key. I would suggest that anyone with 'just' two keys get one of these to retain the ability to program a new key without involving a dealer and you have a spare for emergencies as well. Cheap insurance. I have the metal key in a hide a key box under the bumper. And I have the 'real' non fob key well hidden inside the Jeep, not near the ignition.

ebbnflow · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:48 pm

flman wrote:

Why not buy a new chip for $4.00?

http://www.transponderisland.com/automo ... r_chip.php

Then again, they wont sell it to any one not in the trade.

I just tried to sign up. I'll let you know if it pans out. It is worth a shot. Thanks flman.

ebbnflow · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 9:55 pm

I can't seem to find the transponder inside the remote key. Does anyone know the location of the chip responsible for my misfortune? I see nothing that looks like the ones from transponder island inside.

TJ2 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 07, 2010 7:24 am

I bought a couple transponder keys on ebay after I thought I lost mine. I programmed one, but could not succeed programming the second. The key shop guy suggested there is a limit to the number of keys that can be programmed to a vehicle. I later read that four (4) keys max can be programmed to my Liberty. So, I now have two remotes and two transponders. . . and one extra cut transponder that can't be programmed. You might need to factor that into plans for replacing keys.

flman · **Posted:** Sun Nov 07, 2010 8:23 am

ebbnflow wrote:

I can't seem to find the transponder inside the remote key. Does anyone know the location of the chip responsible for my misfortune? I see nothing that looks like the ones from transponder island inside.

It should be separate from the battery powered one that controls the unlocking functions, it is usually glued to the plastic case.

ebbnflow · **Posted:** Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:03 pm

Well, I decided just to buy a replacement grey key on ebay for $10. I will have it cut locally and try to program myself. I had no luck buying just the transponder. I found a few sites selling them in lots of 10. I only need 1.

I know I have room to program more keys, because I had locksmith program 2 of them to get me up to 3 keys a few months ago. He said he cleared all keys except for the 3 I have now (2 remote and 1 grey).

I swapped the PCB board out of the bad remote key and into the good one. This made it so the bad one works and the good one does not. This confirms the transponder lives on the PCB somewhere. As far as I can tell, there are only 2 IC's and 1 Antenna on the PCB. Neither of the IC's look like the transponder chip on the transponderisland website. I've given up on just replacing the transponder inside the key.

I plan on programming a new key and then I will cut the metal key off the bad remote key making it into an FOB ( since the remote part still works) to use in conjunction with my newly programmed key. It's a little old school, but I can live with it.

Sentry Key Stopped Working

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