How to Bypass the Transponder Key in My Jeep Wrangler

by Susanne Koenig

Baoba Images/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Transponders are tiny circuits contained in a small glass tube inside your Jeep Wrangler's key head. They emit a 30 digit alpha-numeric code unique to your car. Your ignition receives the code and allows the car to start. Bypassing a transponder is an important decision, as it will significantly lower your Jeep's security. However, if you hope to avoid paying for expensive copies for your transponder key or want to install a remote starter, you must bypass the transponder in the ignition. You can do so by installing a bypass kit yourself or creating a simple bypass using your existing transponder key.

Transponder Bypass Kits

Step 1

Purchase a transponder bypass kit from your local auto parts store made specifically for a Jeep. You may qualify to buy a lower-priced universal bypass kit; check with your auto parts store.

Purchase the kit that best fits your price range and fits your needs, from installing a remote starter or simply bypassing the ignition's security feature. Check whether the bypass kit you need for your Jeep has specific bypass kits geared toward a remote starter.

Step 2

Follow the kit's installation instructions, matching the color-coded wires to each corresponding wire in the car.

Step 3

Test the installed transponder bypass on your Jeep by starting the car with an ordinary key. If it does not work, consult the manufacturer of the kit or an automotive locksmith, who should be able to instruct you better than the dealership in wiring a bypass kit and provide you with copies for your keys.

Simple Bypass

Step 1

Remove the head of your key from the blade by using a pair of pliers to ease it gently off in a back-and-forth motion. Grab the head where it meets the key and not at the top, which houses the transponder; the right amount of pressure can crush it.

Step 2

Use a hot glue gun to place a quarter-sized dot of glue underneath your steering column as close to the ignition as possible. Place the key's head in the glue, and allow it to harden. You can alternatively use a piece of Velcro to attach the key head to the column, which will allow you to remove if if you need to leave the car in an undesirable location or for an extended period.