Jeep Cherokee Central Locking System Failure Fix Tips

Had the exact same central locking failure on my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee just last year. With some experience working on car electrical systems, I first thought it was the key fob battery, but that wasnt the issue. The door locks and car alarm stopped responding completely. After taking it to my regular workshop, they diagnosed a faulty wiring connection in the driver side door. There was corrosion in one of the main cable connectors that links the central locking system to the security system control unit. The repair cost 95 Euro total, mostly labor for accessing and replacing the damaged connector. Since then, the central locking and security system have worked flawlessly. To help troubleshoot your specific case: Does the key fob have a fresh battery? Are all door locks affected or just specific doors? Can you still manually lock/unlock with the physical key? Which error codes are stored? Let me know these details and I can provide more targeted advice based on my experience with a very similar vehicle.

Thanks for the detailed reply. My odometer shows 64954 KM and last service was done just 2 months ago. All doors are affected and I already tried changing the key fob battery. Manual locking with the physical key still works fine. The error codes stored are B1342 and B1343 which apparently relate to the power door locks circuit. The symptoms match what you described, complete failure of the central locking system and car alarm. Did your mechanic need any special diagnostic tools to fix the wiring issue? And was the connector repair a permanent solution or did you need any follow-up fixes?

Thanks for providing those details. On my 2014 Grand Cherokee, the failed door wiring also threw those same B1342/B1343 codes related to the locking mechanism circuit. The repair did require specific diagnostic equipment to properly test the central locking system signals. My mechanic used a scanner to pinpoint exactly where the circuit was failing in the door wiring harness. Without this, they would have had to check each connection manually which would have taken much longer. The connector repair has held up perfectly for over a year now. No follow-up fixes were needed. The corrosion had spread through the main door harness connector that feeds the central locking controls, but once that was cleaned and replaced, all systems came back online immediately. Given your similar symptoms and error codes, I strongly suspect you have the same wiring connector issue. The high failure rate of these connectors is a known weak point in our model years. The repair is straightforward but does require partial door panel removal to access the affected wiring. Make sure your mechanic checks all the door lock actuators while they have it apart. Mine were still good, but they can fail around your mileage and cause similar remote locking problems.

Based on those details about the circuit codes and shared experience, I think you've helped narrow down my issue to the door wiring. Good to know it required special diagnostic tools, I will mention this when I take it to the shop. My mileage is still relatively low at 64954 KM, but these wiring problems seem to be a common failure point regardless. Since the symptoms and error codes match your situation exactly, I feel more confident now about getting it repaired. The central locking system is a real hassle when it fails completely. At least my manual key still works for basic access. I will ask them to inspect the door lock actuators while they have the panels off. The 95 Euro repair cost seems reasonable if it provides a permanent fix for both the keyless entry and security systems. Will book it in this week and update once I know if it was indeed the same connector corrosion issue you experienced.