Hi Everyone. First time Jeep owner and really like my JGC. Love how quiet it is and the surprising power (ecodiesel). But, hope I am not looking at a long term PIA: since I drove it off the lot (now at 1,200 miles), I have the same recurring problem. I am getting a 'Service Shifter' warning light and audible ding only when I turn left. Any speed, any transmission state (auto, sport, manual) and after the jeep has driven for about 15-20 minutes. Light stays on for 2-3 seconds. Dealer says it does not show up on event list; they did say they found a service bulletin indicating that a loose connection could be the cause of the problem. They kept the car for two days, telling me that they found the connector, disconnected and reconnected. They tested the car for about 8 miles and reported no Service Shifter events. When I drove it home, after 10-12 miles, I got the service light. I thought the service adviser was very nice and seemed knowledgeable and I have no real problems going back but I would like to see if we can figure this out before someone starts tearing the car apart. I've searched high and low for "2015 JGC Service Shifter" and have found very little (what does show up is a couple problems in 2014 but the problems were very different). I have a video attached to show how the alert occurs (seems to have a problem with 3.4mb file). So, good friends, I am open to any advice on how to proceed. I really love this car.
Lift the top of the shifter and make sure the screw on top is screwed down properly. I had service shifter after I had my phone install and when they took the centre console out they didn't put the shifter back together properly and all it was the screw wasn't fully screwed down.
Thanks Hunch801 and Keysplayr. I'll see if I can pop the top off the shifter. And Keysplayr, I don't think the problem is related to paddle shifter since the message (Service Shifter) comes on even in automatic mode but I did have that idea initially.
Somehow, in my analysis, this left turn thing has to be centrally involved (since it only happens on a left turn and only after the car has been running for 10-12 miles). What mechanisms operate on a left turn? Steering shaft, pinon gear, tie rods seem unlikely to affect the electronics between shifter and transmission. When you turn left, gravity pushes right? So is it possible that something is pushing on the wiring? Big items--transmission, drive shaft, engine mounts--would have to be very loose for that to happen. But why would the car have to be well warmed up for this to happen? Mettle swelling due to heat? Can something work loose as you drive more (we took an 800 mile road trip a couple weeks ago and after the first Service Shifter alert, the car threw this alert every time we turned to the left--what I am trying to say is that on a casual 20 minute drive the alert is intermittent, but on a longer drive it is completely consistent, every turn to the left). Just trying to think this through rather than having a dealer mechanic just pulling things off.
Thanks for your ideas.
Years later and everyone is still having this problem lol. My 'Service Shifter' message came on 3 times in one day recently- brought it to my mechanic and he said nothing popped up on his scanner. He thought they bumped some wires when they replaced my brake pads a couple weeks ago, so he kept it for day then told me to see what happens for a few days. It was fine for a week, but I put my cup into the cupholder a little harder than I meant to yesterday and the 'Service Shifter' message popped up for a millisecond then went away. My shift lights were normal, Jeep seems to run normal, and no other lights/notifications have popped up... so maybe it is a loose wire harness??
Tillsy, your approach sounds a little bit like trying to diagnose a possible broken ankle by twisting the foot around :lol: but I'll give it a try. Is your reasoning that by pounding around the shifter, if lights come on or go off or flicker, then that suggests that some wires in the area are pinched or rubbing etc.? In that case the dealer should pull tunnel off and check the wiring?
Hutch801, I ordered some trim tools to take the top of the shifter off to see if another nut is loose (me and it...).
Follow up: Tillsy, I slapped the transmission tunnel, shifter, cup holder, etc around like I was James Cagney but nothing flickered, came on or went off. And here's what's going on with the dealer: took JGC for scheduled appt to find source of Service Shifter error message on 9/22. Picked it up on 9/24 where service adviser said they had checked some things and tested for 8 mile drive without error message. Error message popped up on my drive home. Called and left message for adviser same day. He didn't return call so I called him on 9/29. He feigned no knowledge of my message and said he would do some research on my Service Shifter problem. No call back as of 10/1. Seems odd. Are they truly not interested in solving my problem?
Following up. Dealer called and said the factory recommends changing some module--the service tech said he didn't know which one but expected to be clarified by the time I bring my JGC in next Monday. Expects to keep the truck for 2-3 days. The tech did say, hope the factory isn't just picking one module out of 12 and hoping it works. Inspires real confidence.
Thanks LJS8510. Well, not worked out but here's where I stand and I would appreciate any advice. I had a service appt for the previous Monday. On the Friday-Sunday before that, we drove about 400 miles for the week end and rarely experienced the Service Shifter MIL. So, it did pop up but substantially less frequently that earlier (like 4 times versus 20 times). I drove to the dealer on Monday, we talked and decided to see if this issue was going to decline in its frequency of occurrence. I decided to go along with this plan because the alternative was to start replacing parts (I believe factory suggested replacing ECM and PCM, as I recall). I am not a big fan of tearing apart new cars--I put myself through graduate school working on cars and 'discovered' that breaking a new (factory) engine carries with it a certain amount of long term risk. In all respects, I love the JGC and want to do right by it in the long run. On the other hand, hoping the MIL will go away through time and distance seems crazy--as if, there is no underlying issue. Advice? And thank you.
Thanks LJS8510. Yes, I did find that situation reported. When I asked the service rep, if the MIL says, Service Shifter, wouldn't it make sense to service the shifter (or replace it)? He says FCR doesn't think the MIL is due to a shifter issue. Hmmm. Does anyone have any ideas about how to track this MIL while driving (since it seems to occur only after a fair amount of driving and after a series of sharp turns)? I have an obd reader but the MIL doesn't show up as a stored error code. If this were a computer network (and the jeep's really is) you could monitor the network traffic (e.g., using WireShark). Don't suppose there is anything available to monitor the communication traffic of the jeep's computers? I mean those guys who discovered how to hack into the jeep's system a month ago or so must have figured out how to get into the system. Any teckies know anything about this?
I would reccomend replacing the modules dealer suggestted., it sounds like more of an electronic issue than mechanical. There is a module plugs into the side of the tranny on these things.TCM
ECM is more of a main controller as I understand it. Some of these things are faulty. I had a couple of these replaced on my unit a few months back along with a faulty wiring harness. Been no issues since.
Thanks, Thunderbolt and FCA Mototech. Problem is still going on. I've decided to let this play out rather that start tearing the jeep apart. The problem has evolved to some extent, here's the current condition. The audible ding and MIL are still going on but occur less frequently. Recently, I noticed when turning left and MIL pops up, I can hear and feel a slight rubbing/vibrating sound which seems to be coming from the right side. Kind of feels like it is coming from transmission area. Can't swear but the vibration doesn't feel mechanical (as in the transmission), more like a body part rubbing, but could be something in the suspension which is related to turning left. Another observation is that if I drop the right wheel off the pavement while turning left, I always get the MIL (to clarify--there's a lookout area near me, and a drop where pavement ends. When I pull in, the jeep is virtually stopped and have wheels turned left). Thanks for your comments.
hello there and thanks for the reply.i am working on jgc WK 2015.i am having similar problem.... when i turn the steering on left SERVICE SHIFTER message pops up.well i am getting codes like lost Communication with CAN-C modules.now CAN-C is a network form which Communication is done by powertrain modules.so far i have gone through all the related wirings and also replaced few of the modules but no luck.when you turn your steering the steering angle sensor plays a big role in it via sending angle info. via CAN BUS.well so far i had no luck let me know whats going on with your jeep..one more thing can please do a video of a scenario where u pull in from pavement end.i guess that would help me a lot..thanks
I recently bought my Ecodiesel Limited a few months ago and just joined the site today. I figured I'd revive this thread since I'm having the exact same issue. Dings and "service shifter" displayed only when I turn left or hit speed bumps.
Dealer replaced several shifter modules, and assemblies short of the actual shifter handle and have checked practically every connection in the vehicle. Its been to the dealer 3-4 times for the same issue and has a "STAR" case file open with FCA. The next step might involve dropping the transmission to find the problem; yikes! Any suggestions or solutions would be appreciated.
Mr. Plow, thanks for your post since it kind of reinforces my approach to the 'Service Shifter' problem (not faulting you for your choice to let the dealer tear into and replace a bunch of stuff, I'd just rather not do that). I still have the problem but it occurs less and less. I've found to get the MIL now, I have to: a) been driving for 20-30 minutes, b) making fairly sharp left hand turns at 25 mph or more and c) maybe only on flat or uphill roads (I think it does not happen on downhill roads).
Just curious: I have been noticing an increasing 'growl' on right side, under jeep, mid-car or forward of that) when I turn left from a stop (sound stops when you straighten out). I notice this growl (kind of sounds like a rub but does not feel mechanical like trans or axel). This is more of a hunch (that it is related to MIL) but I wonder if you have noticed anything like this?
Thanks for the reply man. I respect your decision to let it be. Mine started with around 500 miles on it, so being new I just wanted it fixed. I haven't noticed new ill effects having them tear into it, but I did have to pop some of the plastic trim around the console back in once after they worked on it.
I haven't noticed any growl or odd sounds. Mine is pretty random as far as when the MIL goes off. However when it does, it is always a left turn or speed bump/pot hole. Where I work there is a road with 3-4 speed bumps in a 1/4 mile stretch and it went off on each bump (really annoying).
I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to let y'all know that they fixed the "service shifter" problem with my Jeep. It no longer dings or tells me to service shifter when going around left hand turns.
I was doing the Lemon Law route, and GA law says the dealer gets one more chance to fix the problem. Apparently they called in an expert on the Jeep electrical systems and they found a pinched wire on one of the buses that sends signals to the transmission. When the steering rack moved or hit a bump I guess it was causing the pinched wire to send a faulty signal or something like that.
Anyways its fixed. It would have been difficult to sell otherwise. Now I will either trade in/sell and get a '17 Trailhawk I have on order.
Mr. Plow, thanks for validating my long term strategy: someone, sometime, somewhere is going to find something that seems to fit my experience, and yours does. Pinched wire really fits the data, not just turns but bumps when turning (I think the parallel is how my back acts when I move too quickly when bending and kazaam, pinched nerve every time). I had not thought of invoking lemon law--I've taken mine in twice with same problem...
Yeah I'm pretty sure the dealer would have kept me coming back and changing components here and there until I got sick of it and quit. It seemed silly to use the lemon law for such a minor issue, but it forced them to go "all in" and bring in an expert to fix it. In the end it was a simple fix, just difficult to find and diagnose. I'm happy it was not a potentially serious issue and that it is over with. There are certainly those out there that have had far more frustrating situations, so I consider myself fortunate.
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