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Jeep Flatlined (Temporarily)

1K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  robbie61 
#1 ·
Last night we were on a drive in the mountains. We stopped for about 15 minutes to walk our dog. We left the rear hatch open and the back door open. I got in the driver's seat and noticed the dash indicating the back hatch was open. My wife closed the hatch and got in. When I turned the key the jeep was totally dead, no electronics what so ever. The clock was dead, the locks and key fop didn't do anything and the interior lights wouldn't come on.

It was like the jeep got hit with an electromagnetic pulse disrupter. I got out and flipped one of the metal hood latches (I was going to check the battery cables). As soon as I flipped the latch, I noticed the interior lights came on. I had left the door open.

I got in and the jeep started right up. I have no idea what happened. Our jeep is a 2014 Rubicon X with 28030 miles on it.

Any thoughts?
 

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#4 ·
yeah check em for sure my 07 acted that same way and it was a combination loose terminals and grime that had seeped in between from when the dealership I picked it up from used had applied a heaping chunk of anti corrosive grease all over
 
#5 ·
On todays vehicles if you leave your doors open after a certain amount of time it will turn the lights off. The only way to get them back is to close all the doors. I have had this happen on two mini-vans, a Ram 2500 and my JKU. However, I have never attempted to start a vehicle in that state with a door remaining open.

When you get home, see if you can replicate the condition. Leave a door or doors open until the computer turns off the lights. Then with the door remaining open see if it will crank. Next close all the doors for approximately a minute and then see if the lights come on and if it will start.

Of course in the old days they didn't do this, the lights just stayed on until the battery was dead.
 
#8 ·
Ok it happened again. This time my wife drove home for lunch and when she went to leave the jeep wouldn't start. The neg cable is a little loose, but not much. Tonight we drove it for the first time since then. When we got home the dash lights were flickering and the sway bar disconnect light flashed on. We are 2K away from being out of warranty. I guess I'll take it in.
 
#9 ·
Loose battery terminal can do this. If it's not really tight can cause all types of problems. As me how I know. When I had the battery replaced the terminals were slightly loose so the technician used a thin lead thimble over the battery post to make a snug fit. No problems since.
 
#10 ·
Plus, if you are that close to being out of warranty, if you are still running with the OEM battery, it may be going. They don't last very long. I would suggest you take the Jeep to one of the auto parts stores and have them test the battery (not just voltage, but load test as well). If it is going, replace the battery and see if that helps. If it doesn't, then take it to the dealer (you don't want them to replace the battery, they will not only charge for the battery, but the flat rate to replace it).
 
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