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Steering wheel controls not working

coolerbythelake

Well-known member
1,089 miles on the odometer and my first issue has arisen. While driving today I noticed my steering wheel buttons stopped working. Figured it might just be a software thing. Did a soft reset and nothing. Let it sit for a bit, nothing. Just ran to the store now and the lights on the steering wheel aren’t lighting up either. Can’t switch menus, adjust settings, nothing. Hopefully it’s just a loose wire or something. Dropping it off a local dealer early tomorrow morning (not the dealer I bought it from). We’ll see what they say.

The horn still works thankfully. Roadraging just isn’t as fun without the horn so glass half full 😂
 

coolerbythelake

Well-known member
I've had this happen 2x, I reset the radio and everything worked again
I tried resetting a couple of times and it didn’t resolve it. Do you remember noticing if the power (for the lit buttons) went out on your steering wheel when this happened? Driving around last night everything that would normally be backlit on my steering wasn’t on at all.
 

Dahammer

Well-known member
I tried resetting a couple of times and it didn’t resolve it. Do you remember noticing if the power (for the lit buttons) went out on your steering wheel when this happened? Driving around last night everything that would normally be backlit on my steering wasn’t on at all.
Check to see if the lighting wheels on both of them are all the way up.
Those lighting wheels are next to the headlight switch.
The headlight switch should be set on auto also.
If they (wheels) are all the way up, turn both wheels down, then all the way up. If I remember correctly, that resets them.
 

Hotdogsrnice

Well-known member
I
I tried resetting a couple of times and it didn’t resolve it. Do you remember noticing if the power (for the lit buttons) went out on your steering wheel when this happened? Driving around last night everything that would normally be backlit on my steering wasn’t on at all.
I did not notice, it was during the day
 

coolerbythelake

Well-known member
Check to see if the lighting wheels on both of them are all the way up.
Those lighting wheels are next to the headlight switch.
The headlight switch should be set on auto also.
If they (wheels) are all the way up, turn both wheels down, then all the way up. If I remember correctly, that resets them.
The dealer tech actually tried this when I dropped it off this morning and nothing. They’re hoping it’s just a wire which they say is quite common with Jeep. Fingers crossed.

Something unrelated to this I’ve noticed that I’m curious if any of you have experienced: I smell a bit of a burning plastic smell after I’ve been driving for a bit. Not uncommon on a new vehicle I know but at the dealer this morning when I pulled into their garage, the sun hit the hood at just the right angle to notice there was in fact a little white smoke coming out of the hood. They’re making sure it’s nothing more than just burning off factory crap but have any of you noticed this on yours? If this is anything other than it just being new I’ll definitely open up a new thread on here.
 

coolerbythelake

Well-known member
Also, a funny anecdote from the dealer today: I pull into the dealer garage and get out of my car. There's another customer there with their Jeep Compass ahead of me. Note this isn't a Wagoneer Certified Dealer. So the service advisor sees me and rushes past the Compass owner with an iPad in hand over to me. She scans my VIN and checks me in ahead of this dude. He's watching all of this and asks the lady "so do I get an iPad check-in?" She dryly replies "No" without even so much as looking up at him. That's right, walk to the counter with your Compass, peasant 😂 😂
 

Dahammer

Well-known member
The dealer tech actually tried this when I dropped it off this morning and nothing. They’re hoping it’s just a wire which they say is quite common with Jeep. Fingers crossed.

Something unrelated to this I’ve noticed that I’m curious if any of you have experienced: I smell a bit of a burning plastic smell after I’ve been driving for a bit. Not uncommon on a new vehicle I know but at the dealer this morning when I pulled into their garage, the sun hit the hood at just the right angle to notice there was in fact a little white smoke coming out of the hood. They’re making sure it’s nothing more than just burning off factory crap but have any of you noticed this on yours? If this is anything other than it just being new I’ll definitely open up a new thread on here.
White smoke coming from under the hood might be antifreeze hitting the heated engine. A hose might be loose at the engine block. Usually, they perform a pressure test and look for leaks plus watch the gauge to see if the pointer goes down with the engine off. Do you see any pudding under the car?
 

coolerbythelake

Well-known member
White smoke coming from under the hood might be antifreeze hitting the heated engine. A hose might be loose at the engine block. Usually, they perform a pressure test and look for leaks plus watch the gauge to see if the pointer goes down with the engine off. Do you see any pudding under the car?
Got a call from the dealer and everything checked out fine under the hood. They said the factory sprays a whole bunch of lubricants and rust inhibitors in there at the factory and this takes a bit to burn up. The tech said there's some stickers on the transmission that they like to use to gauge this and they still haven't fully burned off yet. I'll admit it is mildly entertaining to come back smoking after yelling at stupid drivers and cutting them off.
 

coolerbythelake

Well-known member
My GW is ready to come home but is not fixed. They said it was some type of control module that needs to be replaced; the service advisor couldn't tell me which off hand so I'll check when I pick it up later. They ordered the replacement part and will be installing next week so we'll see.
 

Dahammer

Well-known member
Got a call from the dealer and everything checked out fine under the hood. They said the factory sprays a whole bunch of lubricants and rust inhibitors in there at the factory and this takes a bit to burn up. The tech said there's some stickers on the transmission that they like to use to gauge this and they still haven't fully burned off yet. I'll admit it is mildly entertaining to come back smoking after yelling at stupid drivers and cutting them off.
To be honest, I never heard or known that the Factory would do that. Interesting. Patty never smoked. She's not old enough.😉
 

Costa

Well-known member
To be honest, I never heard or known that the Factory would do that. Interesting. Patty never smoked. She's not old enough.😉
Agreed, sounds like someone didn't finish removing plastic wrap on the harness or other part and now it's melted onto the engine and the mechanic can't get to it or pry it off.

Did you at least keep your arm in the air that you wear a watch on so it didn't get ruined by the :poop: they spouted?
 

coolerbythelake

Well-known member
Update: replacement part required is the BCM, Body Control Module. Dealer ordered and received it this morning. Dropping the car off on Monday morning for the repair. Attached a copy of the diagnosis notes for anyone’s reference.
 

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coolerbythelake

Well-known member
Latest update: dropped off my Grand Wagoneer bright and early this morning for repair. Body control module replacement unfortunately has not resolved the issue. The dealer has zero idea what’s causing this and reached out to Jeep for guidance as to next steps early this afternoon. As of an hour ago they’re still waiting to hear back.

Dealer offered to give me a loaner. I was half expecting it to be a Cherokee but to my surprise it’s a loaded Series III Wagoneer.

We’ll see what tomorrow brings…
 

Costa

Well-known member
Latest update: dropped off my Grand Wagoneer bright and early this morning for repair. Body control module replacement unfortunately has not resolved the issue. The dealer has zero idea what’s causing this and reached out to Jeep for guidance as to next steps early this afternoon. As of an hour ago they’re still waiting to hear back.

Dealer offered to give me a loaner. I was half expecting it to be a Cherokee but to my surprise it’s a loaded Series III Wagoneer.

We’ll see what tomorrow brings…
Excellent update, and frankly it is good to start seeing loaners, and the same type is a good start! As for the steering lights, I'm staying tuned to see what happens. Thanks for keeping us up to speed at each step along the way.
 

coolerbythelake

Well-known member
Here's the latest.

Jeep told the dealer to replace all the buttons and button assembly on the steering wheel; they say they hope this solves the problem. Really, you HOPE?! Parts were supposed to arrive on Wednesday, then Thursday, then today. Just heard this morning that the parts now have an ETA of next week Thursday 6/16. They don't want me driving the car in the meantime so they're of course keeping me in the loaner and keeping the car. I kind of suspect this is a safety thing because of the airbag. If no power is going to the steering wheel is that thing inflating during an accident? I want to ask but I'm getting really frustrated so I'm keeping that to myself for now.

I'm grateful to have a loaner Wagoneer and everything but it's a 10/2021 build. So far I've noticed the cooled seats don't work, windshield is also warped (if I pretend hard enough it feels like I'm driving mine 😂), CarPlay has that weird hissing sound many have complained about, and the heads-up display is oddly blurry.

Trying to stay optimistic and hoping this doesn't turn into a nightmare situation as others have experienced.
 

Dahammer

Well-known member
At least you got a loaner so you can go about your business. Sorry to hear about your vehicle and all. I'm unsure why they are replacing all the buttons on the steering column.
 
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Costa

Well-known member
Here's the latest.

Jeep told the dealer to replace all the buttons and button assembly on the steering wheel; they say they hope this solves the problem. Really, you HOPE?! Parts were supposed to arrive on Wednesday, then Thursday, then today. Just heard this morning that the parts now have an ETA of next week Thursday 6/16. They don't want me driving the car in the meantime so they're of course keeping me in the loaner and keeping the car. I kind of suspect this is a safety thing because of the airbag. If no power is going to the steering wheel is that thing inflating during an accident? I want to ask but I'm getting really frustrated so I'm keeping that to myself for now.

I'm grateful to have a loaner Wagoneer and everything but it's a 10/2021 build. So far I've noticed the cooled seats don't work, windshield is also warped (if I pretend hard enough it feels like I'm driving mine 😂), CarPlay has that weird hissing sound many have complained about, and the heads-up display is oddly blurry.

Trying to stay optimistic and hoping this doesn't turn into a nightmare situation as others have experienced.
@coolerbythelake Ditto Dahammer's comment, sounds like some intern was given the chance to try a fix, spun the wheel on the wall and threw a dart.

It's been too long since I ripped a steering wheel off the shaft, what type of connectors are they using for the wiring harness to it these days? it's all electrical steering so with the spin of the wheel it has to have some type of system to allow rotation. Makes sense the buttons are going to be the outer wiring connectors so they would go before the primary used for steering. Hum... I should apply for the Intern's job, I can find this stuff on www.pulleditoutmybehind.com any day. 😏
 
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