Servicing the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango

As standard equipment, there are only two locks on the entire vehicle - the driver’s side door lock and the glove compartment lock. Some trim packages also include locking compartments in the rear section of the vehicle.

As with a standard FOBIK, an emergency key is hidden inside the FOBIK and this key is intended for use only if the battery has failed. The door lock has seven tumblers in positions 2 – 8. Since there is no ignition lock, cut number one on the key is not used. However, if you get a code for the vehicle, it will include all eight cuts.

Unlocking the Grand Cherokee and Durango

The Grand Cherokee and the Durango both use vertical linkage rods on all doors. The upper end of the linkage on the front door is well shielded, but the lower end is exposed. As you will see shortly, the inner skin of the door is essentially one large molded composite part that holds all of the door mechanisms in place. The upper portion of the inside lock control linkage rod is shielded by this plate, but the lower portion makes a 90 degree bend toward the rear of the vehicle and extends horizontally below the plate and can be attacked with the Tech-Train 1003 tool.

Like most new vehicles, the Grand Cherokee and the Durango use multi-layer weatherstripping, so you will need to use a shim like the one I’m using in photo 10 to protect the lower layers of the weatherstripping as you insert your wedge. This vehicle also uses laminated glass, so you will also want to avoid contacting the bottom edge of the glass with your tool while you are working inside the door. The Chrysler Corporation has announced that it will change to laminated glass windows across the board by the 2012 model year.

Insert one wedge forward of the inside lock button and then gently open a gap just large enough to insert your tool. The short end of the TT-1003 tool shown in photo 11 will be used to grasp and lift the lower portion of the linkage rod. While the rod is essentially vertical, the lower portion of the rod that is exposed inside the door bends horizontally to the rear and that is where we will be attacking it. The rod is exactly 11 ¼ inches below the upper edge of the weatherstripping, so I have placed a mark on the shaft of my tool at that point. Once the tool is inside the door, I will use the mark to position the tool.

In photo 12, I have inserted the tool into the door with the hook pointed forward and then lowered it until my mark is even with the top of the weatherstripping. I’m keeping the shaft of the tool about an inch forward of the inside lock button as I lower the tool. Once the tool is at the proper depth, I’ll rotate the tip of the tool to the inside and then slide the tool to the rear. When the shaft of the tool is in line with the inside lock button, it should contact the linkage and you’ll see the lock button move. If you don’t feel the linkage, probe carefully while watching the lock button until you locate the linkage.

Once you have located the linkage, lifting the tool will unlock the door as shown in photo 13. If you have any problems at this point, make sure that your tool is aligned with the lock button and at the proper depth and then try again.

Photo 14 was taken from inside the door, looking up at the tool as it contacts the horizontal portion of the linkage. Notice the bundle of wires just below the tool and the exposed bottom edge of the glass. If you look closely, you may be able to see the two layers of the laminated glass. Be very careful that you do not slip with your tool and hit that bottom edge. Unlike the tempered glass that we normally see on car windows, laminated glass can develop cracks that will “run” if the edge of the glass is chipped.

Making A Mechanical Key

Making a mechanical key for the Grand Cherokee or the Durango is not much different than from any other late model Chrysler product. The door lock can be decoded with any of the decoder tools for the Chrysler 8-cut system such as the EZ Reader or the Kobra Reader. Many locksmiths also prefer the Chrysler 8-cut Determinator set for these vehicles. If all else fails, you can always disassemble the door as shown below and decode the lock manually.

Programming a Key