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Rauchy · 02-09-2022, 01:27 PM

When we got our Grand Cherokee set up for towing the first time the power steering failed to work after taking it out of tow mode and putting it into driving mode.

I followed the procedure in the owner's manual to the letter. Every time after that I failed to have power steering for 20 to 45 minutes and obviously that was a serious problem that I now know how to avoid. The owner's manual lists the procedure to come out of neutral but it is what the owner's manual does not say that creates the problem. I doubt if I am the only one that has had this lack of power steering issue but it is not a design problem or a mechanical problem but a failure of the Jeep owner manual writers to understand how the PS works, and how RVers go about disconnecting.

Various parts of the Jeep have to "go to sleep" in order to be restored to working condition. The Jeep computer has a sequence for various components or systems to be put to sleep and for the power steering on a 2021 (and likely some other years) Grand Cherokee to be reset by being put to sleep, the process of going from the neutral position on the transfer case to the driving position has to be followed as written in the manual, but extra conditions not spelled out also have to be met.

When putting the GC into driving mode after towing, start by doing the steps in the manual. Start the engine, put the transmission in neutral with your foot on the brake, press the transfer case neutral button, and when it is in neutral shift into park and shut the engine off. After doing that press the button twice with your foot off the brake to go out of ACC mode to OFF. Get out of the GC close the door and do not open and door for about 3 minutes. (It might be less, but the tests I ran were for at least three minutes.

During that time I disconnected the hitch, unplugged the cables and safety cables and generally did what was necessary to get the bus ready to back into its space. When 3 minutes has expired, open the door, start the GC and the PS should be fully operational.

Old habits and a lack of information in the owner's manual procedure were the reasons for no PS after towing. For example I got out of the bus, opened the rear hatch, then went to the driver's door, opened it and disconnected the Brakemaster cylinder and then went through the process of putting the Jeep into driving mode. When it was in that mode and in park I got out, finished unhitching, and then put the tow bar connect devices in the trunk which was why I left the hatch open. On other occasions I left the driver door open and the engine running because I was going to move it right away. The point is if you do the steps in the manual and get out of the Jeep, and not return to start for a few minutes everything goes to sleep as intended and resets. If anything prevents the GC from going to sleep, such as leaving it running, failing to close a door or the rear hatch, or anything else that prevents it from going to sleep the PS will require a lengthy period before it begins working.

For me, I will change a few habits and never have to contend with the loss of PS.

randyrr · 02-09-2022, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rauchy

When we got our Grand Cherokee set up for towing the first time the power steering failed to work after taking it out of tow mode and putting it into driving mode.

I followed the procedure in the owner's manual to the letter. Every time after that I failed to have power steering for 20 to 45 minutes and obviously that was a serious problem that I now know how to avoid. The owner's manual lists the procedure to come out of neutral but it is what the owner's manual does not say that creates the problem. I doubt if I am the only one that has had this lack of power steering issue but it is not a design problem or a mechanical problem but a failure of the Jeep owner manual writers to understand how the PS works, and how RVers go about disconnecting.

Various parts of the Jeep have to "go to sleep" in order to be restored to working condition. The Jeep computer has a sequence for various components or systems to be put to sleep and for the power steering on a 2021 (and likely some other years) Grand Cherokee to be reset by being put to sleep, the process of going from the neutral position on the transfer case to the driving position has to be followed as written in the manual, but extra conditions not spelled out also have to be met.

When putting the GC into driving mode after towing, start by doing the steps in the manual. Start the engine, put the transmission in neutral with your foot on the brake, press the transfer case neutral button, and when it is in neutral shift into park and shut the engine off. After doing that press the button twice with your foot off the brake to go out of ACC mode to OFF. Get out of the GC close the door and do not open and door for about 3 minutes. (It might be less, but the tests I ran were for at least three minutes.

During that time I disconnected the hitch, unplugged the cables and safety cables and generally did what was necessary to get the bus ready to back into its space. When 3 minutes has expired, open the door, start the GC and the PS should be fully operational.

Old habits and a lack of information in the owner's manual procedure were the reasons for no PS after towing. For example I got out of the bus, opened the rear hatch, then went to the driver's door, opened it and disconnected the Brakemaster cylinder and then went through the process of putting the Jeep into driving mode. When it was in that mode and in park I got out, finished unhitching, and then put the tow bar connect devices in the trunk which was why I left the hatch open. On other occasions I left the driver door open and the engine running because I was going to move it right away. The point is if you do the steps in the manual and get out of the Jeep, and not return to start for a few minutes everything goes to sleep as intended and resets. If anything prevents the GC from going to sleep, such as leaving it running, failing to close a door or the rear hatch, or anything else that prevents it from going to sleep the PS will require a lengthy period before it begins working.

For me, I will change a few habits and never have to contend with the loss of PS.

I have experienced the same issue but had not figured out a solution other than to give it time. Thank you for posting this information!! I will be following your directions on my next trip!

Rauchy · 02-10-2022, 01:48 PM

I should mention the apparent key to preventing an extended loss of power steering after towing is to make the Jeep GC think you are getting out, letting it go to sleep, and then getting back in to drive it.

Make sure nothing is "on" or open, so after you turn off the engine and hit the start button twice it comes out of acc mode and is in fact turned off. But then you need to open and close the door. If for example it takes 3 minutes for all systems to go to sleep, and then reset so then re-open the door, start it and you should also have power steering.

By opening and then closing the door, waiting, and then opening and closing the door after 3 minutes the Jeep systems are all asleep, reset and awake when you open the door the second time.

If Jeep had written the software so that when taking the transfer case out of neutral, it also reset the power steering bus the specific sequence of steps would not be important, but as the software is written we do have to follow those steps.

randyrr · 02-10-2022, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rauchy

I should mention the apparent key to preventing an extended loss of power steering after towing is to make the Jeep GC think you are getting out, letting it go to sleep, and then getting back in to drive it.

Make sure nothing is "on" or open, so after you turn off the engine and hit the start button twice it comes out of acc mode and is in fact turned off. But then you need to open and close the door. If for example it takes 3 minutes for all systems to go to sleep, and then reset so then re-open the door, start it and you should also have power steering.

By opening and then closing the door, waiting, and then opening and closing the door after 3 minutes the Jeep systems are all asleep, reset and awake when you open the door the second time.

If Jeep had written the software so that when taking the transfer case out of neutral, it also reset the power steering bus the specific sequence of steps would not be important, but as the software is written we do have to follow those steps.

I have not installed the Mopar wiring harness as it is listed as optional in the manual. On a 3,000 mile trip in December we had no problems (other than having to wait for the power steering to come back), but I have heard that some folks have had a problem called the death wobble (steering going from one extent to the other and back and forth). Are you using the wiring harness (I believe it powers the power steering while being towed)? If not have you had any problems?

Rauchy · 02-11-2022, 07:35 AM

I had the harness installed. I have not had the death wobble, but others that have not installed the harness have also not experienced the death wobble.

I do know this regarding the harness. Nowhere except with the paperwork that comes with the harness is there any indication you have to charge the Jeep battery while it is in use. So after it was installed I added a Victron three stage DC to DC charger and by testing without the charger powered, the harness when in operating mode will in fact drain the Jeep battery. So if you opt to install the kit, make some provision to keep the Jeep battery charged.

In addition, unless someone can figure a way, there is no way to know the harness is actually functioning. Even with the Jeep scan tool connected there is no indication the harness is working, which is why I disconnected charging power. The dead battery was an indication it must be working.

DebbieMH · 02-11-2022, 12:45 PM

I have found when I arrive at a campsite and need to unhook, I go into the GC and do the procedure to get it out of neutral, turn the car completely off, then get OUT of the car and shut the door ... then proceed to unhook the vehicle from the motorhome. By the time I'm finished unhooking the car, it has regained it's power steering. Hasn't failed yet ... fyi.

Rauchy · 02-11-2022, 04:57 PM

You are doing the procedure as expected. Where I was remiss was I am often in a situation where I have to get out of the way because I am blocking the road, so I left the hatch open so I could put the supplemental brake device in the rare or the receivers for the tow bar in the rear.

Apparently the engineers who wrote the software did not consider a door might be left open, a hatch might be left open or the engine may be running after going into drive mode. Anything left on that draws power prevents the entire GC system from going to sleep and causes the long delay for the PS to work, yet there is no clue or mention of this in the manual. The kit for the PS to prevent the death wobble has no affect on the loss of PS other than it needs to be turned off prior to going into driving mode.

HMCSW · 02-11-2022, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rauchy

When we got our Grand Cherokee set up for towing the first time the power steering failed to work after taking it out of tow mode and putting it into driving mode.

I followed the procedure in the owner's manual to the letter. Every time after that I failed to have power steering for 20 to 45 minutes and obviously that was a serious problem that I now know how to avoid. The owner's manual lists the procedure to come out of neutral but it is what the owner's manual does not say that creates the problem. I doubt if I am the only one that has had this lack of power steering issue but it is not a design problem or a mechanical problem but a failure of the Jeep owner manual writers to understand how the PS works, and how RVers go about disconnecting.

Various parts of the Jeep have to "go to sleep" in order to be restored to working condition. The Jeep computer has a sequence for various components or systems to be put to sleep and for the power steering on a 2021 (and likely some other years) Grand Cherokee to be reset by being put to sleep, the process of going from the neutral position on the transfer case to the driving position has to be followed as written in the manual, but extra conditions not spelled out also have to be met.

When putting the GC into driving mode after towing, start by doing the steps in the manual. Start the engine, put the transmission in neutral with your foot on the brake, press the transfer case neutral button, and when it is in neutral shift into park and shut the engine off. After doing that press the button twice with your foot off the brake to go out of ACC mode to OFF. Get out of the GC close the door and do not open and door for about 3 minutes. (It might be less, but the tests I ran were for at least three minutes.

During that time I disconnected the hitch, unplugged the cables and safety cables and generally did what was necessary to get the bus ready to back into its space. When 3 minutes has expired, open the door, start the GC and the PS should be fully operational.

Old habits and a lack of information in the owner's manual procedure were the reasons for no PS after towing. For example I got out of the bus, opened the rear hatch, then went to the driver's door, opened it and disconnected the Brakemaster cylinder and then went through the process of putting the Jeep into driving mode. When it was in that mode and in park I got out, finished unhitching, and then put the tow bar connect devices in the trunk which was why I left the hatch open. On other occasions I left the driver door open and the engine running because I was going to move it right away. The point is if you do the steps in the manual and get out of the Jeep, and not return to start for a few minutes everything goes to sleep as intended and resets. If anything prevents the GC from going to sleep, such as leaving it running, failing to close a door or the rear hatch, or anything else that prevents it from going to sleep the PS will require a lengthy period before it begins working.

For me, I will change a few habits and never have to contend with the loss of PS.

did you have the mopar part: 82216418AA installed? Rv wire harness. $250 part: 6 hours labor. It is what powers the electric power steering pump while towing and isolates the power from what they do not want to get volts while being towed.

Rauchy · 02-12-2022, 06:43 AM

Yes, that was installed even before any other work had been done to set it up for towing.

2cyber71 · 02-12-2022, 06:55 AM

I just can’t believe what Jeep did to ruin the Gand Cherokee as a TOAD.
Back in the mid 2000s it was the #1 TOAD, Liberty was #2, Wrangler was # 3
They dumped the Liberty, bad idea, because it killed the Wrangler sales
Now, they ruined the GC

Rauchy · 02-13-2022, 08:27 AM

I started towing a GC in 1994. The GC was clearly the standard by which all toads were measured. Today FCA has almost non-existent customer service, their engineering people are clueless about towing and probably are going to lose millions of dollars in sales.

It is sad at how it seems to be a race to the bottom. I really like the GC but with all the associated grief related to towing I will never buy another FCA car despite having had no less than one at any time since 1974.