The Jeep Cherokee service shifter light being on is a sign of a transmission technical fault, indicating a problem with the Jeep Cherokee’s shifter or the need to update the shifter system.
However, in many cases, when the Jeep Cherokee service shifter light is on, there can be common causes. For this, you can book an appointment at a Jeep Cherokee dealership to get it inspected and rectified. In this article, we will discuss in detail the causes and solutions for the Jeep Cherokee service shifter light being on.
Jeep Cherokee Service Shifter Meaning
The service shifter light in a Jeep Cherokee indicates a problem with the automatic transmission’s gear shifter that may require repair or service by a mechanic. This light indicates that the Jeep Cherokee gear shifter is not shifting into gear properly or at all. In many cases, the gear shifter may slip.
However, there can be other problems with the service shifter warning signal that appears in the Jeep Cherokee, which could also cause delayed gear shifting or gear shift stiffness.
Causes of Jeep Cherokee Service Shifter Light On
Possible causes of a Jeep Cherokee service shifter warning light may include a faulty shift interlock solenoid, electrical problems, shifter assembly problems, transmission problems, brake switch malfunctions, low battery voltage, or software glitches.
1. Faulty Shifter Assembly
A faulty gear shifter assembly can be the most common reason for the service shifter warning signal to appear in the cluster meter in a Jeep Cherokee. When the gear shifter mechanism is defective or damaged, or when the electronic control components that operate the gear shifter are defective. The service shifter warning light then appears in the cluster meter on the Jeep Cherokee’s dashboard.
2. Electrical Issues
Several different electrical components are used to operate a Jeep Cherokee’s automatic transmission. These electrical components help manage and operate the gear shifter and automatic transmission functions.
These are activated on the basis of the flow of electricity in the electrical components. But sometimes a faulty wiring connection or a blown fuse can cause the gear shifter to be unable to function properly or at all. Therefore, in many cases, electrical issues can also be responsible for the service shifter warning signal appearing in the Jeep Cherokee.
3. Low Battery Voltage
Often, the warning light in the dashboard cluster meter of the Jeep Cherokee can also be caused by low battery voltage because the gear shifter system is unable to function properly when the battery is low or the battery is dead. It happens. When the battery voltage is low, not enough power is supplied to the electrical components that work with the gear shifter. That’s why the gear shifter makes it difficult to shift gears.
4. Faulty Shift Interlock Solenoid
The service shifter warning light in a Jeep Cherokee can also be caused by a faulty solenoid, as the solenoid helps operate the gear shifter and allows the gears to shift smoothly. But in many cases, a faulty solenoid can cause the service shifter warning light to appear in the Jeep Cherokee’s cluster meter.
5. Software Issues
It has also been observed in many cases that the reason for the “service shifter” warning light coming on in the cluster meter of vehicles can also be a software related problem in the ECU (computer) system of the vehicle. In many cases, old software may have gone too long without an update; bugs in the software or software corruption may also occur, as well as the need to reset the ECU memory.
6. Faulty Fluid Pressure Sensor
In many cases, the cause of the Jeep Cherokee service shifter light coming on can be a faulty fluid pressure sensor. The fluid pressure sensor plays a vital role in enabling the efficient functioning of the automatic transmission and shifter mechanism. The fluid pressure sensor directs transmission fluid to all components in the transmission. But the service shifter light may come on due to a faulty fluid pressure sensor.
How To Switch Off A Service Shifter Light?
If the service shifter light is displayed on the dashboard of your Jeep Cherokee, to turn it off, first turn the car’s ignition off and then on again. In the second procedure, you disconnect the battery cable for a while and then reconnect it. If the service shifter light was on due to an error or bug, this procedure will help turn it off.
If this does not yield any results, then there may be a mechanical fault causing this light to appear in your car, for which you can follow the procedure given below to disable the service shifter light.
1. Check Battery Voltage
Common reasons for the service shifter light being on in a Jeep Cherokee are a dead battery or low battery voltage.Because the low voltage of the battery can damage the shifter system of the automatic transmission and result in its complete failure. Hence, the service shifter light comes on in the cluster meter. For this, you should check the voltage of the battery, if the battery is damaged, replace the battery with a new one.
2. Check Shifter Cable
In an automatic transmission, the shifter cable connects the shifter lever to the transmission, and the gear is operated by the shifter lever itself through the shifter cable. But in many cases, due to old age, the shifter cable may break or get stuck, and there may be problems changing gears through the shifter lever.
Hence, the service shifter light starts appearing on the dashboard. To troubleshoot this problem, the shifter cable should be examined, and the shifter cable should be replaced if it is bad.
3. Check Transmission Fluid Level
In any type of transmission, it is necessary to have a complete fluid level, as a low level of transmission fluidcan disrupt the functioning of the transmission. Often, a low fluid level in an automatic transmission causes a host of problems. In many cases, the automatic transmission may even fail completely.
Low fluid levels can also cause the service shifter light to appear on the dashboard in automatic transmission vehicles. When the service shifter light is on, be sure to check the fluid level and top it up as needed.
4. Update Software
In some models of Jeep Cherokee, the service shifter light can be caused by software bugs or un-updated software. Some models of the Jeep Cherokee have a software update available for service shifter issues that helps troubleshoot shifter issues. If the service shifter light is on in your Jeep Cherokee, have the software updated by contacting your dealership for a software update.
5. Check or Replace Shifter Wiring
In many cases, the reason why the service shifter light is on in a Jeep Cherokee can be caused by damage to the shifter wiring. Therefore, when the service shifter light is displayed in the Jeep Cherokee, the shifter wiring should be checked, and damaged wiring should be replaced with new wiring.
6. Replace Shifter Assembly
If none of the above steps fixed the Jeep Cherokee service shifter light, then you should check the gear shifter assembly, and the shifter assembly may need to be replaced if it is damaged. However, this can be a more complex job and should be done by a certified mechanic or for the same, you can contact your nearest dealership mechanic.
7. Check Fluid Pressure Sensor
In many cases, the cause of the Jeep Cherokee service shifter light coming on can be a faulty fluid pressure sensor. Therefore, the fluid pressure sensor should be checked when the service shifter light is on. If the fluid pressure sensor is faulty, it must be replaced.
Jeep Cherokee Service Shifter Fault Codes
The service shifter related fault codes in the Jeep Cherokee may display differently on the OBD scanner.
P0750 Shift Solenoid A Malfunction
P0755 Shift Solenoid B Malfunction
P0760 Shift Solenoid C Malfunction
P0765 Shift Solenoid D Malfunction
P0841 Transmission Fluid Pressure Sensor/Switch A Circuit Range/Performance
P0846 Transmission Fluid Pressure Sensor/Switch B Circuit Range/Performance
P0871 Transmission Fluid Pressure Sensor/Switch C Circuit Range/Performance
Can I Drive A Jeep Cherokee With The Service Shifter Light On?
Driving the Jeep Cherokee with the service shift light on is not recommended. Doing so can prove harmful for you and the vehicle. A service shifter light in a Jeep Cherokee indicates a problem with the automatic transmission or shifter mechanism.
Driving a Jeep Cherokee with the service shifter light on for an extended period of time can lead to more damage and, in some cases, complete failure of the Jeep Cherokee’s transmission. Ignoring the service shifter light in a Jeep Cherokee and driving it for an extended period of time can seriously damage the transmission system and shifter mechanism.
In many cases, your vehicle may come to a standstill on the road, and your safety on the road may be at risk.You may need to tow a vehicle that is stopped on the road to get it to a mechanism.
Cost To Fix A Jeep Cherokee Service Shifter Light?
The cost to repair the service shifter light in a Jeep Cherokee will vary depending on the specific problem, and the location of the mechanic can also affect this cost.
There are a few common reasons why the service shifter light may come on in a Jeep Cherokee. such as a faulty shift solenoid, sensor, and shifter linkage or cable. You may have to pay up to a few hundred dollars to repair or replace these components.
But in many cases, a faulty transmission or faulty shifter assembly can also be the reason behind the service shifter light coming on in a Jeep Cherokee. Repairing or replacing the transmission or shifter assembly is a more complex task. For this, you may have to pay anywhere from $1500 to $3800. These estimated costs may include the labor costs of mechanics.
Jeep Cherokee Service Shifter Recall
The Jeep Cherokee shifter problem affected certain model-year 2014–2015 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with the 9-speed automatic transmission. Certain models of the Jeep Cherokee were recalled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) due to a problem with the shifter lever in the electronic transmission in the Jeep Cherokee.
The reason for the recall was a design issue with the electronic shift lever in the Jeep Cherokee, which was a poor design for vehicle and driver safety, and the electronic shift lever design could be confusing to some drivers.
Accordingly, the vehicle had trouble properly shifting into “park mode” or into another gear, and the vehicle’s shifter lever could cause the vehicle to roll over if the driver was confused. Due to the design of this electronic shifter lever, the position of the lever may in some cases cause a driver to mistakenly believe that the vehicle is in “Park Mode” when the shifter lever position is, in fact, not such that unexpected running movements of the vehicle may occur.
To address an issue with the recall related to the Jeep Cherokee service shifter, a software update was made to the automatic transmission software for greater performance. The updated software updated the function and position of the automatic transmission and shift levers.
According to this software, the driver actually had to actuate the shifter lever in the designated mode, and the recall also included the installation of a new shift lever module that provided the driver with improved tactile and visual feedback of the Jeep Cherokee’s shift lever so that the driver could know that the vehicle is in gear.
In 2016, a problem with the Jeep Cherokee shifter affected approximately 811,200 vehicles in the United States, and these affected vehicles were recalled. At that time, local Jeep dealerships provided free service to affected vehicle owners to repair the shifter problem.
Information Jeep Cherokee Recall Detail
If you are the owner of a Jeep Cherokee, then you will get information related to it. If your car is recalled under the recall, you can book a service appointment with your Jeep dealership mechanic.
If you want to check whether your Jeep is subject to recall, you can check the Jeep recall information by visiting the official website, or you can confirm it by contacting the given contact number.
If there is a problem with your Jeep’s transmission, the first indication will be a transmission light. Along with this, the vehicle will experience jerks, stalls, or jumps without any reason, and in many cases, there will be difficulty in gear shifting. If these symptoms appear, then you should understand that there is a problem with the transmission.
Q. Why is my Jeep Grand Cherokee not shifting?
There can be many reasons for this. But common causes may indicate a problem with your Jeep’s shifter lever or cable. However, in many cases, this may indicate transmission failure.
