Remote key-less entry problem

Hi John,

You have a lot of knowledge about this so I am sure we can figure this out. Would you be willing to post the last eight of your VIN? I can look up the sales codes on your VIN and then better know what we need to do.

You are correct that on this vehicle, if we add that sales code we should be able to get it to work.

The thing that has me concerned is when they said they "flashed" it. This is different then a reconfiguration. A flash just puts the software in the module or over flashed it. A reconfiguration will actually tell the BCM/TIPM how this vehicle is equipped so when you change the sales code in the system the truck doesn't know it is changed until you tell it with a reconfiguration.

Let's start with this and go from there. Thanks

Okay. To answer you other question that I didn't previously, they just added new keys. The old keys still work because they did not do an erase and program new keys. There are two options and all they did was add keys so all your keys will work.

As for not resetting your WIN, I think the issue is a reconfigure was not performed.

What I have found so far is that your WIN appears to be the correct one for GXM and non GXM vehicles so it will work. You would need a different WIN if you wanted to add remove start, XBM.

At this point, we may want to take it back to the dealer and find out for sure if they flashed the vehicle or did a reconfigure. You have the GXM added to your VIN and if you have the keys already with the RKE buttons they should work.

Yes. The AI and AF are not a problem. The AI is just a later version of the AF part. In fact when this part was first made it was the same root part number (the numerical portion of the part number is the root part number) but the last two digits were AA. Then when they make a change or update/improvement to the part or software they change it to AB then AC, AD, etc.

I think you are correct. They need to perform a reconfiguration and if they said they "flashed" it, this is different. A flash is like a software update to your cell phone. A reconfiguration is when you make a change to the sales codes of the vehicle in Chrysler's main servers and then you perform this function so that the changes made to the sales codes get downloaded to the vehicle so that it knows that something has been changed to the vehicle's build configuration.

If this process is not performed the vehicle will not function with the change that was made because it has no way of knowing it was changed.

Before you go back to the dealer let me check with one of my dealers just to confirm this. I am a regional tech rep with Chrysler so I work with dealers everyday on technical issue when they can't resolve issues. However, this vehicle is a little older so I may be remembering this incorrectly.

Buying a WIN for an RKE vehicle is the same part number as yours so that would not be correct. Also, buying a remote start kit which includes RKE function should not be needed either.

From what I remember this is an easy process so either the dealer is not doing a reconfigure or I am not remembering this correctly. I will get back with you by tomorrow. Sorry for the delay.

Okay. I think I figured this out. I am still waiting on my dealer but I found an old note in some training material that says the WIN can only learn the remote start configuration one time. That means if the vehicle is not built with remote start then the WIN has learned it one time that it does not have it. In order to add it, you need to update the sales code and then replace the WIN. This is why Mopar sells a kit that includes the keys, WIN, antenna and they throw in RKE for free.

While RKE is not called out specifically in my notes, I am sure it is the same way. It can only learn it one time. The way to confirm this is to go back to the dealer and ask they do a reconfigure (again) and then print you a configuration report from the scan tool. This will show each module and how it is equipped which will tell us if the WIN has the ability to relearn this function. You can just post the report here by taking pictures of each page.

As for your other question, yes everything is there. You should not need any other parts but I am thinking your best bet is going to be to go with the remote start kit if this is correct. The reason is, you will need a new WIN and will have to program new keys to it because once you replace the WIN the keys that you have now cannot be programmed again. Plus for the remote start to work you will need the antenna that comes in the kit. So to buy it all separate would be much more then the kit.

I know this is looking like something we didn't want but at least we will know the answer so let's get that performed again and get that report so that we know for sure what we need to do.

I think you just confirmed exactly what I was suspecting and would confirm with a report from the dealer's scan tool called a configuration report. This report and what you found with your tool is the WIN is not able to learn the new configuration. Basically it is only able to learn this one time. So once a module is installed and the WIN is "told" how it is equipped through the main computer then it does not have the ability to be over written with new information. So now that you see all that working, if you replace the WIN and perform a WIN replacement procedure, it should work properly.

Okay. I understand you are thinking they need to "reset" the WIN but this is not actually what happens. When you perform a reconfiguration, all you are doing is telling the TIPM (body computer) how the vehicle is equipped as the vehicle could have different options. So when you change that by adding or removing the sales code, you need to tell the vehicle that it is different and this is done through the reconfiguration. During this process the scan tool bings the servers in Detroit and they tell the scan tool how it is equipped. The scan tool then tells the TIPM how it is equipped and the TIPM then tells all the modules on the vehicle what is there and not.

The WIN does not have the ability to learn anything different. Once it is written with what it is equipped with one time, it cannot learn anything else. So if you change something like RKE or remote start that it is responsible for, it cannot operate it as it doesn't have the ability to learn the new change.

As for the keys, there are two options when programming keys. Add new keys. Or Erase all keys and program new keys. When you had these keys programmed, they just added new ones and did not erase the old ones. The WIN can hold up to 8 keys so it is not hurting anything.

When you replace the WIN, they will have to program two new keys as you cannot program keys to more then one WIN.

The only process that would come close to a "reset" of the WIN is a programming of the WIN which is the process you do when installing a new WIN. Even performing this will not cause it to learn the new sales codes.

Sorry to say it but it looks pretty clear that a new WIN and keys will get this operating.

I wasn't sure but you are referring to your first post when you said

"Go into the WCM under Misc functions hit the Reset WIN configuration.
-Clear all codes then program the new keys"

Yes. This means clear all key codes from the WIN. Each key has a specific ID "code" that gets programmed into the WIN. It can only hold 8 of them so if you just keep adding keys then eventually you will be bumping keys out. So if the WIN has 8 in memory and you program another it will move out the oldest out and replace it with the newest one that was just programmed.

Thanks for the update. Clearly I made an assumption that the remote start can only be learned one time so the RKE was the same. I am glad I was wrong. Thanks for that info. I am sure that will help others. The important thing for others that read this is that the WIN must say RKE is present. If not it will not work.

Thanks again for using 2CarPros and helping to answer that question.

Awesome. Good info. Thanks again.