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The dreaded "Service Shifter" message has now appeared!

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Old Dec 13, 2021 | 09:17 AM
  #1  
Ron88's Avatar
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Question The dreaded "Service Shifter" message has now appeared!

I bought my 2014 Cherokee a few months ago (77k miles); this message just started appearing on startup once or twice over the last two weeks. It went away when the Jeep was started the next time. Yesterday it came on while I was driving (and the corresponding red lights by the shifter all came on). I used an OBD2 scanner and it said no error messages. The Jeep is going in to the dealer in a week to have it checked. What can I expect? There are no outstanding recalls on the Jeep; will I have to pay out of pocket for this?
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Old Dec 13, 2021 | 10:43 AM
  #2  
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Originally Posted by Ron88
I bought my 2014 Cherokee a few months ago (77k miles); this message just started appearing on startup once or twice over the last two weeks. It went away when the Jeep was started the next time. Yesterday it came on while I was driving (and the corresponding red lights by the shifter all came on). I used an OBD2 scanner and it said no error messages. The Jeep is going in to the dealer in a week to have it checked. What can I expect? There are no outstanding recalls on the Jeep; will I have to pay out of pocket for this?
hows your battery
get it load tested
and if it checks out, charging system checked
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Old Dec 15, 2021 | 12:04 PM
  #3  
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From: PA
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
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I have seen videos for that on Youtube. Came across this as well
https://fourwheeltrends.com/jeep-che...-does-it-mean/
https://www.jeepgarage.org/threads/s...message.90088/

I never dealt with it, so i cant help much more than that.
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Old Jan 30, 2022 | 10:20 AM
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I bought my KL in 2016 and the red lights always came on. I had a safety recall that I had forgotten about so I took my jeep in to have that done and on the way home the red lights came on but now it has a service shifter message that cancels my HUD. I took it back to the dealer the next day and five minutes after pulling my jeep in the shop they told me my shifter was broken. I told him that it had the red lights since 2016 but now their message was blocking my speedometer. I asked if my shifter was a safety issue and he said no. So why call someone in for a safety recall and then put an unsafe banner over the HUD. They gave me a quote and I think it was $350 for the shifter plus labor for a problem that wasn’t a problem till they updated with the unsafe banner.
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Old Feb 7, 2022 | 01:49 PM
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From: Shelby Township, Michigan
Year: 2018
Model: Cherokee (KL)
Engine: V6
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I bought my 2018 Cherokee Overland 3.2 brand new and had this problem intermittently starting around 20k miles.

After much research I decided to try and see if the shifter bezel would fix my problem as others have reported. I ended up replacing it a couple years ago (~$100) and haven't had the problem since (60k miles now). I forget the part number but it was a relatively easy fix and I did it myself.

It was probably the link below...

https://www.moparautopartsdirect.com...RoC_fwQAvD_BwE
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Old Aug 8, 2024 | 01:14 PM
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Tanagra's Avatar
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From: Shelby Township, Michigan
Year: 2018
Model: Cherokee (KL)
Engine: V6
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Originally Posted by Tanagra
I bought my 2018 Cherokee Overland 3.2 brand new and had this problem intermittently starting around 20k miles.

After much research I decided to try and see if the shifter bezel would fix my problem as others have reported. I ended up replacing it a couple years ago (~$100) and haven't had the problem since (60k miles now). I forget the part number but it was a relatively easy fix and I did it myself.

It was probably the link below...

https://www.moparautopartsdirect.com...RoC_fwQAvD_BwE

UPDATE and FOLLOW-UP -

Approaching 100k miles and after replacing the shifter bezel years ago (~2020), I have not encountered this problem again, or ANY other problems for that matter.

At 100k, I have only performed the following - regular oil changes (at 5% left or so on the computer (Amsoil)), shifter bezel, battery, cabin air filters (4x), engine air filters (3x), windshield wipers (2x), (brake pads, rotors, fluid flush (84k miles)).

Car has not seen a dealership or mechanic since I drove it off the lot except for the one time I had the tires changed at the local tire shop.

Runs and drives as new and EVERYTHING still works as it should. Except for the Service-Shifter VERY early on, it has never even thrown a fault code - I really couldn't be happier...

Plan to replace spark plugs, idler pullies, tensioner pully, serpentine belt and thermostat and do a coolant flush before winter.
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Old Aug 10, 2024 | 05:22 PM
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Default Service shifter

Ive had my 2018 cherokee since february and today the service shifter lights came on. I purchased used with 68k and now has 74k. I also purchased warranty so I’ll be taking it in. I did get it to go away by turning it off and then back on again. Highly frustrated.
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Old Sep 13, 2024 | 04:49 PM
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Wink Service shifter (and evntually Power Blackout) self resolve in 10 minutes

Originally Posted by joeb12
Ive had my 2018 cherokee since february and today the service shifter lights came on. I purchased used with 68k and now has 74k. I also purchased warranty so I’ll be taking it in. I did get it to go away by turning it off and then back on again. Highly frustrated.
Hi,
I bought a used 2017 TrailHawk two months ago. I quickly had the "Service Shifter" error regularly. Then I had a total power blackout twice. Especially when hitting a bump, in high heat or with high electrical noise (HVAC)..
The problem can be solved in 10 minutes. I haven't had any problems for 3 weeks.
The problem comes from the connection of the negative wire to the battery. The fixing with the nut on top tends to unscrew. This causes bad contacts and sparks.
Simply unscrew the nut completely, clean the different levels of the connections using sandpaper (3 red arrows). Then reassemble by tightening the nut well (if necessary twist the cable a little, so that it gives less vertical force).

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Old Sep 13, 2024 | 04:52 PM
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See my post "pierroz.jm"
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Old Oct 14, 2024 | 05:02 PM
  #10  
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Year: 2015 & 2016
Model: Cherokee (KL)
Engine: 2.4 & 3.2
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I don't even pay attention to it.

my comes on every blue moon on both my 2015 4cy and 2016 V6.

I just ignore it and keep driving them to where ever I'm going. The next time I start it the message disappears and then it either reappears within minutes or day, or weeks, or months.

Same thing with the Start/Stop error message. I disconnected the hood sensor and I only get the error message when it feels like giving it to me. Sometimes I even get the error message when I start the Jeep, but it doesn't stay on.
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