These instructions apply to the Jeep Grand Cherokee Mk4 (WK2) 2011-2022.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If the remote for your Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 (2011–2022) only locks the doors when you’re standing right next to it, the push-button start stops recognising the key, or the fob has gone dead altogether, the cause is almost always the little coin cell inside. Across the whole WK2 run — from the 2011 launch through the facelift and the final 2021–2022 cars sold alongside the new WL model — the Grand Cherokee used a keyless Enter-N-Go proximity fob with push-button start and a fold-out emergency key blade. It’s the same style of remote whether you have a base Laredo or a Summit, and it opens the same way. Here is the exact battery it takes, how to tell a flat cell from a real fault, and why cutting a brand-new key is the one part you can’t finish at home.
How to Tell the Fob Battery Is Dying
- Shrinking range. You have to be almost touching the door handle before the car responds — or you can no longer lock and unlock from across a car park. This is usually the first sign.
- “Key Fob Battery Low” warning. The WK2’s instrument-cluster display shows a low-key-battery message when the cell is getting weak — a clear heads-up before it fails completely.
- Push-button start hesitates. The car doesn’t always detect the fob when you press START/STOP, or you have to hold the fob against the button to get it to crank.
- Cold-weather dropouts. A cell that’s marginal at room temperature can quit on a frosty morning, because coin-cell voltage sags in the cold.
A CR2032 in a Grand Cherokee fob typically lasts two to three years. Leaving the fob sitting near the car overnight keeps the proximity system waking it up, which shortens that. If yours is a few years old and showing any of the signs above, fit a fresh cell before you suspect anything more serious.
The Battery You Need
The WK2 Grand Cherokee proximity fob takes a single CR2032 — a 3-volt lithium coin cell, about 20 mm across. It’s the most common fob battery there is, sold in any supermarket, hardware shop or pharmacy. Buy a good-quality branded cell rather than the cheapest multipack: budget cells can sag under the brief high current the transmitter draws and give poor range even when they read as “new”. Don’t be tempted by a CR2025 or CR2016 — they’re the same diameter but thinner, so they sit loose against the contacts and can drop out. If in doubt, match the code printed on the cell you take out.
How to Replace the Battery
- Remove the emergency key blade first. Slide the small release latch at the top of the fob sideways with your thumb, then pull the metal key straight out with your other hand. This exposes the slot you’ll use to open the case.
- Pry the two halves apart at the seam. Insert the tip of the emergency blade — or a small #2 flat-blade screwdriver — into the slot the key came out of, and gently twist to pop the seam that runs around the edge of the fob. Work it apart slowly; the halves are held only by plastic clips.
- Note the orientation, then lift out the old cell. On the WK2 fob the positive (+) side faces up, towards the buttons and the circuit board. Take a photo before you remove it if you’re unsure — the safest rule is always to copy the way the old cell sat. Try not to touch the flat battery terminals or the exposed circuit board with your fingers.
- Fit the new CR2032 the same way round and press it firmly under its retaining clip so it seats against the contacts.
- Click the case back together until the seam closes all the way round with no gap, then slide the emergency key blade back in until it latches.
⚠️ Get the polarity right. A coin cell fitted upside down won’t power the transmitter and can slowly discharge against the contacts — so if the fob is dead after a change, the first thing to check is that the plus side is facing the right way.
Check It Worked
Refit the emergency blade, stand back a few metres and lock, then unlock, the Grand Cherokee. Full range should return straight away. Press START/STOP with the brake down to confirm the car reads the fob for push-button starting. The “Key Fob Battery Low” message clears once the car has read a healthy fob — sometimes instantly, sometimes after a drive cycle or two.
If a Fresh Cell Doesn’t Fix It
- Re-check the polarity and seating. An upside-down or loose cell is by far the most common reason a “new” battery doesn’t work. The cell must sit flat under its clip against clean contacts.
- Wipe the contacts. A smear of finger grease or light corrosion on the terminals is enough to cause dropouts — clean them with a dry cloth or a cotton bud.
- Confirm the cell code. A too-thin CR2025 or CR2016 will read 3 volts but won’t make solid contact. Only a full-thickness CR2032 seats properly.
- Warning still showing? If the low-key alert lingers after a couple of drive cycles with a known-good cell, the fob’s transmitter may have failed. A weak vehicle 12 V battery can also mimic key faults on the WK2 — if the Jeep is slow to wake or throws several electrical warnings at once, have the main battery load-tested.
New Key or Spare — Why It’s a Dealer Job
Changing the cell keeps the fob’s existing coding, so nothing needs reprogramming — the key works the moment the battery is in. A new key is a different story. A blank WK2 proximity fob has to be cut to the car and then programmed to the immobiliser with a diagnostic tool and the vehicle’s PIN, and on the later WK2 model years (roughly 2018 onward) the factory Security Gateway module adds another layer that ties key programming to authorised equipment. That puts adding a spare or replacing a lost key firmly in dealer or auto-locksmith territory. The cheap insurance is to keep the battery fresh in both your fobs, so you’re never down to a single working key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What battery does a Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 key fob take?
A single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell. It’s used across the whole 2011–2022 WK2 range and is available almost anywhere.
Which way does the battery go in?
Positive (+) side up, facing the buttons and circuit board. If you’re not sure, match the orientation of the cell you removed — fitting it upside down leaves the fob dead.
Do I need to reprogram the fob after changing the battery?
No. A battery swap doesn’t affect the fob’s coding, so it works immediately. Only a brand-new key needs programming.
How do I open the fob without breaking it?
Pull out the emergency key blade first, then insert the blade tip or a small flat screwdriver into the slot it left and gently twist to split the seam. The halves are only clipped together, so light pressure is all it takes.
How long should the key battery last?
Usually two to three years. Heavy remote use, or leaving the fob near the car so the proximity system keeps waking it, shortens that.
Can I still start the Jeep if the fob battery is completely dead?
Yes. Use the emergency blade hidden in the fob to unlock the driver’s door, then hold the fob directly against the START/STOP button and press — the WK2 is designed to detect the transponder at close range and start even with a flat cell.
If your remote quit suddenly right after the car’s 12 V battery was disconnected — rather than fading over weeks — a stored electrical fault code can point you at the real cause; you can look up what any Jeep code means on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Jeep. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.