Question on a Jeep Wrangler toad (2010 JKUR) Key on/off?

[RJL]

We left Friday morning from SW Fla enroute home to S. Jersey. Later in the early afternoon a Ford pickup towing a camper pulled next to us on 95 N and said our red cable was dragging. Luckily I was a mile and a half from a rest stop so we pulled in, sure enough our power cord that charges the battery as we're driving had dragged for a bit and was destroyed. I unhooked it, started the Jeep and let it sit while we had lunch. After placed the key in the "acc." position and continued on until 5 and pulled into a CG. Started the jeep up again, shut it down and and grabbed some sleep. The next morning I plugged in our "Brake Buddy" system preped it for the drive that day, put the key in the "acc." position and left at 0700. Fast forward to 2/p and the sensor that plugs into the cigarette lighter begins to flash red, then stays glowing red, indicating something is wrong with the "Brake Buddy". Pull off in VA and sure enough the battery is completely dead. Take the power cord out of the cigarette lighter in the Jeep and finish our trip that day (Saturday) and arrive home yesterday with no supplemental braking system or blinker/stop lights on the Jeep. My question is does the key have to be in the acc. position, or can it be off. I noticed that when the transfer case is in "N" and the transmission is in "P" that I can move the steering wheel with no lock, however the Jeep manual clearly states the key must be in the acc mode while flat towing. I read in here somewhere that it's not necessary to have the key in acc position and that it's ok to have it off. Which is it? The reason I ask now is my battery in the Jeep is trashed and I'm wondering if I just put the ignition in the off position when I lost the cable I might have been able to save the battery.
Sorry for the book.

Bob

[tropical36]

dubdub07 wrote:
The only caution is the 2008 JK removed the lock halfway through the model year. Some '08s have the lock and some do not. 2009 models and newer do NOT have the lock and the key can be removed.

WW

That's about right, but now hear this....
A friend came over one day with an 07 and upon checking it out, it did not have a steering lock. Still can't figure it and he didn't have a clue, except to insist that it was an 07.
I have no real experience with this, except for that one instance and know that we don't have it with our 2010.

[toolttime]

I towed my 2010 Wrangler with the key out and no charge cable for 6 years no problem. Key does not lock steering.

[dubdub07]

The only caution is the 2008 JK removed the lock halfway through the model year. Some '08s have the lock and some do not. 2009 models and newer do NOT have the lock and the key can be removed.

WW

[Winnipeg]

The Mad Norsky wrote:
Learning is fun!

Absolutely!

[The_Mad_Norsky]

Thank you to those responding here.

Been towing my 2014 Wrangler JK (flat tow, four down) all winter, and frankly there have been a few times with dead battery, as I've been leaving the switch on to unlock the steering wheel.

Gosh, glad to know I didn't need to do that. Learning is fun!

[Mile_High]

Winnipeg wrote:
1)
One caution about locking the doors. Don't use the key fob if you have an alarm. Nothing like driving down the highway and hearing a faint car alarm going off (did that). We laugh that the Wrangler was telling everyone that it is being kidnapped.

hahahaha! I did not know that, did not think of it, and havent towed ours yet. Thank you for the tip!

[Winnipeg]

1) You are correct that the manual is confusing and not entirely accurate. They had steering locks until about 2008 (or so). They did not revise the manual to reflect the change. Additional confusion added due to a limitation that you cannot tow (via tow-truck) a Wrangler with only two wheels on the ground. Personally, I think this is false, but no big deal getting a flat bed tow-truck for times when Chrysler's quality problems sneak up on you.

2) The 2010 has two 12v power ports (cigarette lighters) on the dash. One is switched, the other is always on. Use the always-on one for your brake buddy.

3) Trust the advise of people who have experience with the same vehicle, and there are many. Wranglers are one of the most popular toads for good reason. With mine (2010 Wrangler), I made zero modifications other than installing the wiring harness and hitch. I put the transfer case in N, transmission in P, key off and into my pocket and lock the doors. EASY.

One caution about locking the doors. Don't use the key fob if you have an alarm. Nothing like driving down the highway and hearing a faint car alarm going off (did that). We laugh that the Wrangler was telling everyone that it is being kidnapped.

[JohnnyT]

Moved from class A forum

[bobkatmsu]

BobGed wrote:

RJL wrote:
Thanks for all the replies. The owners manual is confusing, key in acc, negative battery cable off, but the Brake Buddy needs power to brake assist and I'm assuming the Jeep needs power for the turn signals, which is supplied by the cord that got mangled on our trip north. Sooooo, I guess, after thinking about this and the messages here I need the key on as long as I'm using the BB and actually want some blinkers and brake lights.

Thanks again all,

Bob

Wranglers haven't had a steering wheel lock since 2008.
You should have an always hot 12V receptacle in the center console. Agree. I have towed a 2014 the same way for 3 years.
Once connected to your coach the towed lights do not require any power from the Jeep.
So bottom line, after you're all hooked up and read to tow, turn the ignition to the OFF position, remove the key and put it in your pocket. I towed a 2011 Wranger for three years in this manner.

[BobGed]

RJL wrote:
Thanks for all the replies. The owners manual is confusing, key in acc, negative battery cable off, but the Brake Buddy needs power to brake assist and I'm assuming the Jeep needs power for the turn signals, which is supplied by the cord that got mangled on our trip north. Sooooo, I guess, after thinking about this and the messages here I need the key on as long as I'm using the BB and actually want some blinkers and brake lights.

Thanks again all,

Bob

Wranglers haven't had a steering wheel lock since 2008.
You should have an always hot 12V receptacle in the center console.
Once connected to your coach the towed lights do not require any power from the Jeep.
So bottom line, after you're all hooked up and read to tow, turn the ignition to the OFF position, remove the key and put it in your pocket. I towed a 2011 Wranger for three years in this manner.

[RJL]

Thanks for all the replies. The owners manual is confusing, key in acc, negative battery cable off, but the Brake Buddy needs power to brake assist and I'm assuming the Jeep needs power for the turn signals, which is supplied by the cord that got mangled on our trip north. Sooooo, I guess, after thinking about this and the messages here I need the key on as long as I'm using the BB and actually want some blinkers and brake lights.

Thanks again all,

Bob

[tropical36]

RJL wrote:
We left Friday morning from SW Fla enroute home to S. Jersey. Later in the early afternoon a Ford pickup towing a camper pulled next to us on 95 N and said our red cable was dragging. Luckily I was a mile and a half from a rest stop so we pulled in, sure enough our power cord that charges the battery as we're driving had dragged for a bit and was destroyed. I unhooked it, started the Jeep and let it sit while we had lunch. After placed the key in the "acc." position and continued on until 5 and pulled into a CG. Started the jeep up again, shut it down and and grabbed some sleep. The next morning I plugged in our "Brake Buddy" system preped it for the drive that day, put the key in the "acc." position and left at 0700. Fast forward to 2/p and the sensor that plugs into the cigarette lighter begins to flash red, then stays glowing red, indicating something is wrong with the "Brake Buddy". Pull off in VA and sure enough the battery is completely dead. Take the power cord out of the cigarette lighter in the Jeep and finish our trip that day (Saturday) and arrive home yesterday with no supplemental braking system or blinker/stop lights on the Jeep. My question is does the key have to be in the acc. position, or can it be off. I noticed that when the transfer case is in "N" and the transmission is in "P" that I can move the steering wheel with no lock, however the Jeep manual clearly states the key must be in the acc mode while flat towing. I read in here somewhere that it's not necessary to have the key in acc position and that it's ok to have it off. Which is it? The reason I ask now is my battery in the Jeep is trashed and I'm wondering if I just put the ignition in the off position when I lost the cable I might have been able to save the battery.
Sorry for the book.

Bob

As long as you don't need ACC for 12vdc power, you're good to go, as the 2010 Wranglers do not have a steering lock.
As for toad braking, I'd trash the brake buddy and go with a READYBRAKE for trouble free simplicity. Just IMHO of course.

[Mile_High]

This statement under "Disabled Towing" for the Wrangler throws folks off, including myself:

Without The Ignition Key
Special care must be taken when the vehicle is towed
with the ignition in the OFF position. The only approved
method of towing without the key fob is with a flatbed
truck. Proper towing equipment is necessary to prevent
damage to the vehicle.

[sch911]

The answer here is really easy! After you remove the key is the steering column locked? It's easy to test just turn the steering wheel 180 degrees and if it can be returned to center you don't. In this case just remove your key and get on with towing...