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Check Your Fuses in Grand Cherokee 4xE

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41K views 66 replies 17 participants last post by  Paul92688  
#1 ·
There are references to this in the Wrangler sub-forum, but I didn't see any in the Grand Cherokee sub-forum. Check your fuses! The fuse panel at the front passenger side of the engine compartment, pop the lid off (it has a red + battery post cover on it, you can't miss it) by squeezing the two marked tabs inward and pull the cover off. Then PUSH DOWN all of the fuses in the box. My friend who has a JL 4xE just happened to ask me if I had checked my fuses when I was telling him about some of the weird electrical gremlins I've had with my GC 4xE. We went out in the parking lot and popped the hood, took off the fuse cover, and sure enough more than half of my fuses were not seated properly, and a couple of them were barely seated at all and were able to be pushed in another 2-3mm! Can't say much other than WTF?!? I saw on the Wrangler forum that some have reported their fuses working loose again over time from vibration, so might need to be a regular "check" to perform on the vehicle. I'll definitely check mine again in a few weeks and see if they've stayed seated or if any are working loose again. Jury is still out whether this will make any difference at all in solving mystery electronic issues, but definitely something to pay attention to.

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#4 ·
I did this the other day in my 4xe wrangler and found the same - every single fuse and relay could be pushed down 2-3mm and wasn't positively "clicked" down all the way. I'm betting it's the reason for 90% of the problems people have in the first 5k miles of ownership. It's crazy that Jeep doesn't recalibrate their machine to resolve this, but it's equally crazy that Jeep dealerships don't make this a standard part of their vehicle prep.
 
#3 · (Edited)
Bought 3 days ago. First time I looked under the hood. I looked at fuses and decided to take a before picture, push the fuses in, ( there were many loose ones )and then take a final picture. I took the pictures as carefully as possible and will try to do something in Photoshop to see if I can create something that demonstrates the numbers of fuses that were loose. Spoiler alert, it was most of them...


Paul

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Sorry the exposure fluctuated between frames. As you can see almost every fuse was loose.

PJ

Obviously, Jeep doesn't think this is an issue as it was like this when I bought a wrangler 3 Jeeps ago... IN 2011!
 
#17 ·
I had seen this on the Wrangler forums and re-seated the under hood fuses when I got the GC. Didn't think to re-post as I guess I just assumed people would have read those. FWIW, I did re-check them about a month later and they were all still seated firmly.

I didn't think about the rear fuse panel. The manual also mentions a panel under the dashboard. I'll have to go check that one...
 
#21 ·
Any advice on how to open the interior (under the steering column) panel? I didn't find any obvious release tabs, and it seems very firmly attached.

Unlike the fuses in the rear panel, which for my vehicle nearly all could be seated a little further into their slots. The engine compartment fuses were in better condition, only a few needed to be pushed down.

Jeep - if you are listening, is there a valid reason for not having the fuses fully seated?
 
#22 ·
Any advice on how to open the interior (under the steering column) panel? I didn't find any obvious release tabs, and it seems very firmly attached.

Unlike the fuses in the rear panel, which for my vehicle nearly all could be seated a little further into their slots. The engine compartment fuses were in better condition, only a few needed to be pushed down.

Jeep - if you are listening, is there a valid reason for not having the fuses fully seated?
If it's like the Ram I'm working on today to install a light bar and CB, there are two screws at the base of the dash under the steering wheel, above the pedals. Remove those, then pull gently and the clips will release exposing everything under the panel. I'll take a closer look on our 4XE this evening, when I'm home.
 
#24 ·
For the under the steering column fuse block, it is behind and to the right of the black plastic panel and can be accessed by getting the gray fabric/cardboard out of the way, by detaching the push fasterner near the center console. You can then reach up into the fuse block. Several could be seated more firmly in my vehicle. Getting the push fastener back in the right spot was a little tricky, though.
 
#34 ·
They probably would say that because there is a spring tension connection that holds the fuse in place, there is an acceptable range of seating depth that would still meet the requirements for electrical contact. It's not like the fuses don't connect with the electrical contacts until they're fully seated.

The important question is if the fuses are either getting far enough out that there is insufficient contact surface area or if the spring tension in insufficient so there is intermittent contact at times.
 
#36 ·
The issue there is that from what I have heard, they seem to believe there isn't a problem and that the loose fuses aren't actually loose, they're doing their job just fine.

If we assume that is true, that the fuses being not fully seated is simply within allowable tolerances.


Anecdotally, I disagree, but I don't know what actual data they have.
 
#55 ·
We are 1 week in with a 2023 4xe Trailhawk and the screen went blank (but the buttons worked). Check my fuses under the hood and they were almost all unseated. Press them down! After that the screen partially came on -- 3 home screen boxes and nav. Then did a soft reboot (holding the power/tuning at same time for 20 sec) and all working again.

This thread is a PSA for new owners. Without the info it would be at the dealer with all the hassle of rearranging schedules, fighting for a loaner... for something so simple.
 
#65 ·
Hey all, new member just took out a lease on a 2022 GC 4xe and loving it so far. Really impressed by the GC’s ability to stay in electric mode as compared to the Ford Fusion Energi that I came from.

In any event I’ve been checking a few threads already and this one about the fuses interested me. Didn’t see an answer however to the question earlier about what exactly the Mod PIM could be in fuse F19A. Thoughts from the group?

Happy to be here and once again part of the Jeep community. My 4xe is quite a change from the last Jeep I owned which was an ‘06 GC 5.7L Hemi!
Thanks all!
 
#66 ·
I just checked the fuse box under the hood... all the smaller ones I could easily move but the bigger block ones none of them budged. Ill have to check the ones in the back next (didn't know there was another location).
 
#67 ·
I gave the access panel in the rear left of the JGC and it didn't budge. I weighed the odds of a problem caused by what I am certain is a few loose fuses and the breaking of the panel or panel clips. I left mine alone.

The issue of depressible fuses may not actually be an electrical issue. It does smack of poor assembly but I am not sure it matters as far as the operation of the Jeep goes. I had a wrangler a few years ago that had problems with the radio/nav screen locking up. When I heard about loose fuses I popped the cover and depressed the fuses.... Problem solved until a few weeks go by and the radio locked up again. Checked the fuses again... No loose fuses this time. I took for granted the radio would need a reset once in a while. My iPhone does too. I shut down my NAS units periodically as well. Seems like a problem with most computer related hardware.

After saying all that... If I could easily pull my rear panel, I would... just for the sake of curiosity and just in case!

Paul