Hey all, I really really hope someone has some direction on here, as I'm about ready to throttle this so-called "dealer" I have my Jeep at right now.
The description may be a little long, so please bare with me.
Jeep Commander - 2007 - approx. 58,000 miles
About a year ago, my Commander started having this really strange issue where it would drive completely fine some days, but other days when I went to start it, it wouldn't make any sort of crank or catching sound, it just wouldn't start at all. All of the lights on my dash would flash, and then the "malfunction indicator light" would light up, and the little output screen where my mileage would usually read would light up with the "Transmission over Temp" message. After reading this and other similar forums, I read somewhere about leaving it to sit for 30 minutes because someone figured out with their own Commander that it was an issue with the key being locked out by the security system. Letting it sit worked for me, so I began using the spare key that I had, and the issue stopped.
Now, two weeks ago, out of nowhere, the issue is back but slightly different. We were out of town, and the Jeep had been driving like a champ. It had even just before we left had its inspection, oil change, and total fluid change. Friday, we were fine, and Saturday, we were okay. Sunday, it did the same thing a year ago with the no start/malfunction light/trans over temp message. We let it sit for 30 minutes as we had done before, and it started up, so we drove where we were going for the day. About 4 hours after we got to our destination, it was doing the SAME thing again. We let it sit for 30 minutes again, and this time it still wouldn't start. So we went to dinner, came back approximately 1.5 hours later, and it was STILL doing the same thing. So by then, we knew we were stranded for the night, so we stayed at a hotel. The following day ( approximately 11 hours after we had last tried it), it was STILL doing the same thing! So I did some more googling and came across another solution. I unhooked the negative terminal, put the key in the ignition, and turned it to the "on" position for 5 minutes. I then took the key out, rehooked the negative terminal, and tried to start the car. This time, it did start. Luckily we were able to get home without needing a tow.
Not even an hour after we got home, it wasn't starting again. And this time, the negative terminal trick did not work. It started and didn't start intermittently for the next week. The following week I just worked from home and didn't even drive it for fear of being stranded somewhere again.
This week, the dealer local to us was FINALLY able to get my Jeep in. It luckily started the day I was to take it out to them (Monday) and drop it off and give my explanation of the issue. Yesterday and today both, they're calling me saying it's starting ideally every time they try it, and of course, they can find no codes on their systems!
I'm really at my wit's end. I can't drive this car around, knowing that at any moment, I could be stuck somewhere again. Does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone (hopefully) have the same issue that got resolved for you? A mechanic that I am not, I'm a little pissed that the dealer mechanic has not tried anything other than trying to get it not to start. I mean, really, how did they fix cars before there were so many damned computer codes? It seems to me that he should be testing things like the starter, transmission, security chips, etc., for points of failure even if he can't replicate the issue.
Well, if you've stuck with me this long, thank you! I look forward to everyone's suggestions!
Nicole
