ttt1953
CT
Full Member
Joined: 10/07/2003
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
Just got a new Wrangler and plan to tow it behind the motorhome. Trying to figure why the owners manual says to leave the key in the ACC position and to disconnect the NEG terminal on the battery. The steering wheel doesn't lock when the key is removed so it doesn't need the key to steer and I can't find anything that would drain the battery while towing. The service manager says he doesn't know why but he'll try to find out. I need 12 volts for the brake buddy but can't get it if the battery is disconnected. Anyone have any info on this? Thanks
Tom & Carol
ToBi our Chocolate Lab
2008 Monaco Monarch 30SFS
2008 Colorado CC 4X4 Toad
|
rk911
Wheaton IL
Senior Member
Joined: 05/30/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
best guess is the manual is outdated. you can check online for the newest copy but even that may still show those instructions. logically, if the steering wheel doesn't lock then there should be no need to leave the key in or pull fuses.
73,
rich, n9dko
www.bananaboatbytes.com
The trouble with being punctual is that nobody’s there to appreciate it.
__________________________
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U
'46 Willys CJ2A
'03 Jeep Wrangler TJ
'10 Jeep Liberty KK
|
Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Hi,
What model year is your Jeep?
Have you parked your Jeep, and tried turning the steering wheel with the engine off? Most cars that I know of, the steering wheel will lock once it is about 3/4 turn to the left or right, with the key out of the ignition. While the key is still in the ignition, cars built after 2000 model year should not lock until the key is removed.
There area few very new cars, where they do not have a locking steering column anymore, such as the 2011 Edge with push to start keyless ignition.
Fred.
|
ttt1953
CT
Full Member
Joined: 10/07/2003
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
My Jeep is a 2012. I've verified that the steering wheel does not lock with the key out. My 2008 Colorado is the same way. I tow it with the key out and the battery connected just as it says in the owners manual.
Also, the owners man says to have the transmission in gear but not which gear. I'm guessing 6th would be the best. Any input?
* This post was
last
edited 02/02/12 08:11am by ttt1953 *
View edit history
|
zmotorsports
Utah
Senior Member
Joined: 11/29/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
2008/2009 is the year break for the locking steering wheel. If you have newer than 2009 then your wheel does not lock and there is no need to have a key in the ignition.
If you have an 09 verify that the wheel locks or not as I have heard both ways in 2009 models.
If you have an 08 or older then your steering wheel does have a lock mechanism. You can either use a dummy key to unlock the wheel and pull the fuse in the distribution panel or disassemble the steering column and remove the wheel lock mechanism. There are multiple right-ups on this procedure on several Jeep forums.
Mike.
2003 Monaco Dynasty/ 26' Haulmark Edge trailer
2011 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
|
|
|
zmotorsports
Utah
Senior Member
Joined: 11/29/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
ttt1953 wrote:My Jeep is a 2012. I've verified that the steering wheel does not lock with the key out. My 2008 Colorado is the same way. I tow it with the key out and the battery connected just as it says in the owners manual.
Also, the owners man says to have the transmission in gear but not which gear. I'm guessing 6th would be the best. Any input?
Sorry, I just saw you posted that it is a 2012. Not need to have a key in the ignition.
As far as the transmission goes, I assume you have the manual by stating 6th gear. Put the transmission in 6th gear and the transfer case in neutral.
Mike.
|
ttt1953
CT
Full Member
Joined: 10/07/2003
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Thanks to everyone for the help.
|
MPond
Thousand Oaks, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/06/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
The 2011 Wranglers come with an outdated manual that still refers to the steering wheel lock (my sister just bought one and I helped her get it setup for toad duty). There is an updated manual on the Jeep website - it should pop up in a quick Google search.
My guess is that the 2012 is the same deal - outdated manual, and there should be an update online as well.
2003 Country Coach Intrigue, Cummins ISL 400
Toad: 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (LJ) toad, with just a few mods...
Other rig: 2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 Duramax Dually / Next Level 38CK Fifth-wheel Toy Hauler w/ quads, sand rail, etc...
|
rk911
Wheaton IL
Senior Member
Joined: 05/30/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
zmotorsports wrote:2008/2009 is the year break for the locking steering wheel. If you have newer than 2009 then your wheel does not lock and there is no need to have a key in the ignition.
If you have an 09 verify that the wheel locks or not as I have heard both ways in 2009 models.
If you have an 08 or older then your steering wheel does have a lock mechanism. You can either use a dummy key to unlock the wheel and pull the fuse in the distribution panel or disassemble the steering column and remove the wheel lock mechanism. There are multiple right-ups on this procedure on several Jeep forums.
Mike.
our 2003 TJ *does* have a steering wheel lock but it also has an unlocked/off position for the key. so we tow with a dummy key to unlock the wheel but we don't need to pull fuses or the battery cable as nothing comes on when the key is turned to unlocked/off. other model years may be similar.
|
MPond
Thousand Oaks, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/06/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
rk911 wrote:our 2003 TJ *does* have a steering wheel lock but it also has an unlocked/off position for the key. so we tow with a dummy key to unlock the wheel but we don't need to pull fuses or the battery cable as nothing comes on when the key is turned to unlocked/off. other model years may be similar.
I believe Mike (zmotorsports) wsa referring to JK Wrangerlers (2007-present). The TJ and LJ (97-06) are different - they have a steering wheel lock, but there is an additional key position where the wheel is unlocked but the accessories are not powered on. The JKs that have a wheel lock don't have that key position.
|
|
|
