How to unlock jeep cherokee with keys inside? Misplacing your car keys can ruin an otherwise enjoyable day. But which is worse: losing them altogether, or inadvertently locking them in your car with no way to retrieve them?
If you drive a newer Jeep Cherokee and have found yourself in this situation, don’t fret!
While you may believe that you need the spare key or to hire a pricey locksmith to solve your problem, some techniques can enable you to unlock the car door of your Jeep Cherokee with keys trapped inside.
The efficacy of these methods may differ depending on the Jeep vehicles. Nonetheless, this article suggests multiple strategies to assist you in retrieving your keys.
Contents
General overview of how to open a Jeep with keys inside
There are various approaches available for attempting to access your Jeep Cherokee, such as using a Slim Jim gadget to force the door open or utilizing unconnected to connect to your car and press the app’s ‘unlock’ button.
Additionally, you could search for an opening in the soft-top roof or gain entry to the Jeep Cherokee via the trunk or door through forceful means.
If you find yourself in a situation where your Jeep Cherokee with keys inside, and you forgot the spare key, there are alternative options to consider before reaching out to your dealership.
Although they may be able to program a spare key for you, this service typically comes with a high cost.
Alternatively, locksmiths are available to replace your key and grant you access to your Jeep Cherokee, but this can also be expensive, and not all locksmiths are equipped to handle the advanced programming technology of key fobs.
Instead of immediately calling for assistance, consider attempting one of these techniques.
Unlock the door by picking the lock
Using a credit card, as seen in old movies, is not an option. However, utilizing a flat-head screwdriver and clothes hanger can be effective in prying the door lock open enough to unlock it.
To accomplish this, insert the flat-head screwdriver into the door handle and apply leverage to open the door as much as possible.
Then, employ the clothes hanger to unlock it. However, utilizing a flat-head screwdriver and clothes hanger can be effective in prying the door lock open enough to unlock it.
Gain entry via the trunk
To open the trunk, employ a similar technique as described previously.
Look for a tiny aperture behind the license plate (which may require dislodging), where you can insert a screwdriver.
With the latch released, utilize a clothes hanger to carefully attempt to unlock it. This approach may not be straightforward but can be effective if you are having difficulty entering the vehicle through the door.
Slim Jim tool
To prevent any harm that can be caused by screwdrivers or hammers, you could consider using an access airbag tool known as a “Slim Jim tool”, which is accessible from companies such as Access Tools and Pro-Lock.
The deflated bag should be placed in the door jam, and then the attached bladder should be inflated to create enough room for a long-reach tool to be inserted with caution to try and unlatch the door lock with the assistance of Slim Jim.
To allow for a smooth entry, the airbag’s bladder should be deflated when the door jam is opened.
Accessing through the roof
If your Jeep Cherokee has a soft top, one method to gain entry is through the roof. To do this, locate an opening on the seam of the soft top using a clothes hanger, and if possible, insert your arm to unlock the door.
For better access to the lock, use a reach tool or clothes hanger to extend your reach. Once inside through the soft top, retrieve your keys. It is important to avoid damaging the soft top while attempting this method.
Auto jiggler key
Use an auto jiggler key, a special key that can unlock the locking mechanism, but keep it separate from your car keys and in a convenient location.
When unlock Jeep Cherokee using this auto jiggler key, insert it into the lock and wiggle it back and forth in all directions. Within a few seconds, the lock will release, enabling you to open the door.
Use your smartphone to unlock
The Uconnect application can be used with contemporary Jeep models, such as the Jeep Cherokee.
Once you have downloaded Uconnect and linked it to your car, you can unlock your Jeep even if your keys are inside.
To do so, just open the app and select “unlock”. That’s all there is to it.
Breaking glass
Breaking the window should only be considered as a last resort. If all other options fail, and you are unable to reach a locksmith, your dealership, or emergency services, damaging your vehicle may be necessary to retrieve your keys.
Nevertheless, this action would result in driving home with a broken window and could potentially cause harm from shattered glass.
Different types of Jeep keys
There are various kinds of Jeep keys available based on the vehicle’s year, make, and model.
In the old days, all automobiles were secured and opened manually using a hard key, just like houses.
However, advancements in technology have caused a shift in the way drivers secure and unlock their vehicles, as more and more cars have become “keyless”. Below, we’ll examine the kinds of keys used in some of Jeep’s most well-known models.
The key to starting a vehicle
In the past, Jeeps manufactured before the mid-1990s were equipped with a simple ignition key.
This type of key operates manually – it unlocks the door and initiates the vehicle’s ignition without any advanced features such as anti-theft mechanisms or buttons.
Due to the simplicity of these keys, replacing one is uncomplicated and less costly compared to keys with remote key fobs or transponder chips.
Remote key fob
A remote key fob allows you to lock and unlock your car by simply pressing a button, as it is programmed to link with your vehicle. This eliminates the need to physically insert the key inside the door to perform these actions.
Transponder chip key
Cars equipped with a push-start button and keyless entry often feature transponder chip keys. These keys contain a distinctive serial number and emit a weak signal, which the RFID receiver in your car can pick up and recognize.
A transponder chip key allows you to lock and unlock your car without needing to remove it from your pocket as long as you are close to the receiver.
The vehicle’s ignition system will only function if the transponder’s unique serial number is recognized.
If you misplace your transponder key, you must obtain a new one and have it reprogrammed to be compatible with your car.
The Jeep key depends on the specific make and model.
In recent years, push-start buttons and keyless entries have become more prevalent in newer Jeep models.
However, regardless of the type of key, it is not advisable to lock the key inside your vehicle.
If you accidentally lock the key fob in the car
ForJeep Cherokee owners with a keyless entry, forgetting to remove the key fob before exiting the vehicle can be a common mistake.
Unlike traditional ignition systems, which require the key to be removed to turn off the engine, push-button starts to enable drivers to leave the key fob inside the car.
The master lock is attached to the keychain. As this feature has become more widespread in recent years, incidents of accidental lockouts have increased.
Is it possible for the keys to get locked inside the car, regardless of whether you start the engine using an ignition button or a key?
As we previously elaborated, your vehicle is in constant communication with the key fob, which should be able to detect if it’s inside or outside the Jeep Cherokee.
Despite the difficulty of locking the key fob inside the car, it’s not entirely impossible, especially when the fob battery is low and it fails to pick up the signals from the vehicle effectively.
Currently, there exists a variety of Jeep Cherokees in the market that can be mistakenly locked inside.
Nonetheless, as more sophisticated anti-theft mechanisms emerge, it’s conceivable that your Jeep may restrict locking the keys inside based on particular situations.
But still, you need to have spare keys.
Suppose you own a 2020 Jeep Cherokee and turn off the engine, hit the door lock button, exit the vehicle, shut the door, and forget the key fob inside.
In this case, your Jeep will not lock and instead detect the key’s presence triggering a horn sound and flashing lights.
If you return to your Jeep Cherokee and attempt to access it, you’ll notice it hasn’t locked.
To give an example with the Jeep Cherokee again, if you press the button to lock the doors, drive and then park next to the curb, exit the vehicle leaving it running, and shut the door, the key fob will be trapped inside once the Jeep automatically locks itself.
Although this is a highly particular situation, if it happens, you run the chance of being unable to access your key fob without difficulty.
FAQ
How do you unlock your car with your keys locked inside?
Here are some possible solutions to unlock your car with your keys inside:
1. Spare key. If you have a spare key, use it to unlock your car.
2. Call a locksmith.
3. Use a coat hanger.
4. Use a tennis ball. Cut a small hole in a tennis ball and place it over the lock button.
5. Use a wedge and a rod. Insert a wedge, such as a wooden or plastic shim, between the door and the weather stripping at the top of the door. Insert a long, thin rod or coat hanger through the gap and try to hit the pull-up lock knob.
Can a keyless car be locked with a key inside?
Although anti-theft technology and smart key fobs with transponder chips have made it challenging to leave your Jeep keys inside the vehicle, it is still possible.
When your key’s signals fail to reach your car due to a dead car battery or low fob battery, your keys can get locked inside the vehicle. In addition, encoding problems and a damaged transponder chip can also lead to car locking, even when the fob is inside the car.
It is highly recommended to change your key fob’s battery as soon as it indicates a low charge to avoid this issue.
What key issues can I run into?
You may encounter some more problems which exacerbate the situation with the trip by car.
The key fob battery dying
When the power of the key fob battery is low, it becomes difficult for it to establish effective communication with the sensors of your car, thus making it possible for your Jeep Cherokee with keys inside. You must look for your key fob battery.
The car battery is flat
Similarly to the previously mentioned, the sensors rely on the power of your vehicle’s battery. If the battery is depleted, the signal from your key may not be detected, resulting in the possibility of the keys becoming trapped inside the car.
Programming issues
In case your key’s programming encounters a dilemma, the anti-theft mechanism might fail and confine the key within your car.
Door sensor issues
The keyless entry feature in your Jeep door is enabled by its sensors, which can cause problems if they malfunction and prevent you from retrieving your keys if they are accidentally left inside the vehicle.
Conclusions
How to unlock Jeep Cherokee with keys inside and don’t have spare key? It can be a complete nightmare to find yourself in a situation where your keys inside your Jeep Cherokee.
After all, what’s the use of having keys if you can’t access your car? Luckily, it’s not impossible to retrieve your keys and unlock your Cherokee with keys inside, although it may require some trial and error.
In this article, we have presented you with ways to solve this not-easy problem.
If you need to read about how to unlock your Jeep Grand Cherokee with the keys inside, please read our article.
