Community Forums

mccaleb47 · 06-07-2023, 11:54 AM

I have been towing my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 all 4 tires down for 50,000 miles of travel in 5 years.
In order to do so there are steps to set the Jeep up that allows this besides hooking up all the towing gear.
First, start the Jeep, then shift the transmission into neutral, turn off the engine, shift the transfer case into neutral, shift the transmission into park, then turn the ignition key one click. This allows the steering wheel to not lock allowing front wheels to change direction as you drive.
My problem is all of a sudden the one click of the ignition is no longer working and I now cannot tow the Jeep. Does anyone have a fix to this problem?.

bigb56 · 06-07-2023, 12:05 PM

Are you saying the first click no longer unlocks the steering wheel? I have a 2000 TJ and I didn't want that to happen so I removed the little cam that locks the steering wheel, it's not too bad of a job maybe 1 hour tops and now my steering wheel can never lock even with the key removed. I can't say if the Grand Cherokee is the same but here's how I did it on my TJ:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/...eel-lock.5138/

mccaleb47 · 06-08-2023, 08:40 AM

I've been told the reason my steering wheel won't unlock is either a computer issue or a solenoid not working.
If the repair is more expensive than looking into your fix,,, I will have to consider it. Thanks again!

AJMike · 06-08-2023, 09:01 AM

This is interesting information.

I tow with a new (well, 2022) Jeep Wrangler and I guess I am lucky that the newer Jeeps don't lock the steering wheel. It means that I can turn the Jeep ignition completely off without worrying about the steering, and I wonder if that is because Jeeps are so popular as TOADs.

I have read that the new EV Jeeps can not be flat towed so I wonder if using a Jeep as a TOAD is coming to an end.

Alan_Hepburn · 06-08-2023, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccaleb47

My problem is all of a sudden the one click of the ignition is no longer working and I now cannot tow the Jeep. Does anyone have a fix to this problem?.

If you mean that you cannot turn the key at all, then try moving the steering wheel while turning the key - sometimes the steering wheel will turn slightly after you turned the key off and the locking mechanism becomes bound up.

SuperGewl · 06-08-2023, 09:28 PM

Have you tried a different, new key? The keys wear down over time and so do the ignition switches.

krivanj · 06-09-2023, 06:43 AM

To answer AJMike, My friend has a new 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe (delivered 12/22) that tows just fine. It has a button that has to be pressed to put the transfer case in neutral.
Brake Buddy would not work with the regenerative wheels, but Air Force One does.

AJMike · 06-10-2023, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krivanj

To answer AJMike, My friend has a new 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe (delivered 12/22) that tows just fine. It has a button that has to be pressed to put the transfer case in neutral.
Brake Buddy would not work with the regenerative wheels, but Air Force One does.

Good to know. I thought that the EV Jeeps could not be flat towed, so I am glad to find out that I was wrong.