Strange. I didn't think you could lock the doors while parked with the key in the ignition and running. I never tried though. I guess I always assumed jeeps were programmed to disallow that?

 

Cars I’ve owned including my current car will allow that. My Jeep has manual door locks so obviously I can lock them under any conditions.

 

I just went out and tested mine. With the key in the ignition, engine on or off, the (electric) lock buttons on the door are indeed disabled.

 

After starting my 2013 Sahara Unlimited with auto tranny, and leaving the jeep running with doors closed, come back out to find the front doors locked! Any ideas to prevent it?
TIA

I don't know how to prevent it but if you have a SiriusXM Guardian subscription you can unlock the doors via your cell phone if it happens again.

 

Walking away leaving your Jeep running and unlocked, you were lucky to find the Jeep, locked or unlocked.

After inadvertently hitting the lock button on several vehicles years ago, I have developed the habit of automatically patting my pocket feeling for the keys as I hit the lock button and close the door.

 

Walking away leaving your Jeep running and unlocked, you were lucky to find the Jeep, locked or unlocked.

After inadvertently hitting the lock button on several vehicles years ago, I have developed the habit of automatically patting my pocket feeling for the keys as I hit the lock button and close the door.

It was in my garage!

After reading your post yesterday I tried mine and no it does not lock itself after 20 minutes. Just guessing here but have you replaced fob batteries lately and how old is the battery under the hood? Even a bad connection at the battery could be the cause. Low batteries and/or poor connections cause all kinds of glitches. 🤷‍♂️ But aside from that I would have to think there was a can bus glitch. As a precaution I have always kept a hidden key available.

Personally, I seldom remove my key from the ignition but then again I don't live in or around some crime ridden s***hole and never will. People who show concern about such things should spend more time taking action against the cause rather than rather than running from it with locks and such. After all locks are only useful in keeping your friends out.

Great information! Thank you for that. Will do some checking this weekend. Thanks again

 

How to prevent? Put the second key fob in your pocket.

 

The jeep was in my garage!
Carry a second key. Gee, you guys are super helpful.

 

The jeep was in my garage!
Carry a second key. Gee, you guys are super helpful.

After reading your post yesterday I tried mine and no it does not lock itself after 20 minutes. Just guessing here but have you replaced fob batteries lately and how old is the battery under the hood? Even a bad connection at the battery could be the cause. Low batteries and/or poor connections cause all kinds of glitches. 🤷‍♂️ But aside from that I would have to think there was a can bus glitch. As a precaution I have always kept a hidden key available.

Personally, I seldom remove my key from the ignition but then again I don't live in or around some crime ridden s***hole and never will. People who show concern about such things should spend more time taking action against the cause rather than rather than running from it with locks and such. After all locks are only useful in keeping your friends out.

 

I've been known to start the Jeep in the garage to let it warm up but I've never had it lock the doors like that. Maybe try turning off automatic door locking? I know it's not supposed to kick in until you are driving over 12 MPH but no computer system is perfect. I think that you can turn it off in the Personal Setting in the EVIC if you have it. If you don't have EVIC, the process should be:

Step 1
Insert your key into the ignition (do not turn) and close all the doors (leave them unlocked).

Step 2
Turn the key from "Lock" to "On" (without cranking) four times. End with the key in the "Lock" position.
Press the "Lock" button on the power door lock switch.

You can also disable it with JScan if you have that.

-m

 

I saw a woman at a gas station having to use a mobile locksmith to unlock her BMW a couple of years ago because the doors had locked. The vehicle was not running though. She said that her key fob was in her purse in the car. Women are particularly bad about things that involve their purses. She most likely had other stuff in her purse that blocked the signal from they key fob which the car interpreted as her having left the vehicle WITH the fob, so it automatically locked the doors of the car. I do not like cars that automatically lock their doors, nor ones that automatically unlock the doors when you get near it with your fob. It just a gimmick designed by kiddie engineers who do not understand the possible problems that could result and used by people who are clueless on what might happen in certain situations. If you are going to be testing what happens in certain situations with cars that have this, it is probably best to leave the driver side window rolled down...

 

Could it be a speed sensor on the tranny?

 

It's a speed setting in the TIPM (aka computer). Not a new feature, all of my vehicles at least for the last two decade have had the feature. I remember once taking a load of gear to a campsite for Scouts at a summer camp. The posted speed on the camp road was 12MPH, my doors locked at 15. When they locked, I looked over at the young staff member and said "Busted". He looked at me funny and I said "The doors lock at 15" and he grinned. That was in the summer of 2003 and we were in my 2000 RAM HD PU.

 

Whenever I get out of any of my cars, if it's running I always roll one of the windows down at least half way. I know this doesn't solve your problem but it does stop it from becoming a bigger problem.

 

I do this too.

Interesting side item, though. If you use the key fob to lock the doors, the interior lock/unlock buttons are disabled. (I tried it one day when the t-tops were off and the windows down.)

 

Well, I think the point is, it SHOULDN'T lock.
Maybe it's a jeep model year thing, but my 2017 refuses to lock with the key in the ignition. You can lock it manually (and maybe that's what happened by accident) but the auto locks are actively disabled.

You can always do the hide-a-key thing with the magnetic hide-a-key box to solve the issue but what happened just shouldn't have happened.

 

I had a similar issue with my 2014 Was offroading and was on a very dusty stretch so I had my windows up just creeping along. stopped to take a quick pee and shut my door and as I walking back to the jeep I hear the "Click" of the doors locking. I fortunately had a non transponder key in a magnetic key box so I was able to get back in. It only did that the one time have no idea why but have been paranoid about it every since and I do like the above poster now and leave a window cracked on any vehicle if running with the key inside. who knows what gremlins are running around.

 

Do you have an aftermarket alarm system by chance? I had one where it would lock the doors 30 seconds after starting the vehicle.

 

You should be able to disable the autolock function thru the menu button on the steering wheel.

 

The auto lock function I believe is only about locking the doors while in motion and after a certain speed is attained. It has nothing to do with auto door locking in park.

 

After starting my 2013 Sahara Unlimited with auto tranny, and leaving the jeep running with doors closed, come back out to find the front doors locked! Any ideas to prevent it?
TIA

My advice is to keep a key on a lanyard around your belt loop. I too have noticed the auto lock and it surprised me but didn't Cause a problem because I always have a key on me.
Further, remote start will shut right off if the check engine or low fuel lights are on. Go 2013 JK Sahara!!

 

"Doctor, it hurts when I do this"
"Don't do that"

 

I have a van with a key with buttons where you can lock or unlock doors, open the side and back doors. It also has a remote start. Took me a while to get smart enough to not put the key in my pocket. In my pocket the doors end up open, vehicle running . Doors lock and unlock . Key put on a key holder in the house and the doors stay locked with engine off.

Which is to say where is the other key/ fob ? One is in the ignition ? Is the other somewhere such that keys get pushed????

My 2014 jeep JKU is manual key. No key fob or buttons. Want to unlock the front doors use a key from the outside. Back doors - unlock front then reach locking mechanism from the inside. Tail gate you use a key to unlock and lock. I always take the key when I get out from behind the wheel ( spent time as a school bus driver ) and always use the key to lock the drivers side door. If I lock it from outside with the key then I must have the key on me.

For extra security I have a cable and a pad lock just like on a real jeep the ones where there was no key needed to start.

 

My X-wife was locked out of her Subaru last month. She has remote start but she did not start it with the remote start. She returned to her office just a few steps away and a few minutes later when she returned she was locked out. The problem it seems was a bug in the remote start software. No fix for it except hide a key.

 

Hide-a-keys have been suggested a few times here, but I just had a learning experience with one .

They are not all the same.

I was under my wife's GMC Envoy, changing out the crankshaft position sensor, and the hide-a key I attached a few years ago fell down on my chest!

It turns out that the magnet was glued in and after a few years moisture got in there and rust-jacked the magnet.

Look for one with rivets or other mechanically sound attachment.

 

I made my own by buying a small waterproof case and a very strong magnet. Can’t recall the exact parts, think the case came from Amazon and magnet from McMaster-Carr. It’s far more robust than anything I’ve seen on the market.

 

A better idea is to not leave a key in the Jeep - unless you are in it and driving. When you get out, take the key.

Decades ago, I got locked out of a van (electric locks, no remote) when I loaned my key to a Scout to put his stuff in the van (we were getting ready to go home) and he locked the van, with the only key inside. Fortunately one of the small windows on the back doors was open. With a screw diver, we removed the latch (it as a pop open type window that only opened about 4") and found a small youngster we could fit in through the window. He then went up and unlocked the door. They key went in my pocket and stayed. We re attached the latch to the window and all was good.

I have developed the habit of always feeling my pocket for the keys before I hit the lock button and close the doors. When away from the house, I always lock the Chief's doors, but never the TJ (softotp). I have found the Chief locked a few times outside the house, but never gave it a thought since both keys are in the house if they Jeep is home.

 

Have an extra key made, cut it in half, make a small slot in a plastic card, and tape the key to the card. I keep it in my wallet.