Jeep Wrangler Driver Door Not Unlocking? Fast Diagnostic & Fix
Contributed by:
Reviewed/Verified by:
Today’s customer brought their 2018 Jeep Wrangler into the shop, complaining that “The driver’s door keyless entry is not unlocking properly.” After confirming that the driver’s side door would not unlock properly, it was time to get to work.
I connected the Jeep to my wiTECH full system scanner, similar to the YOUCANIC UCAN-II scanner, and found an active code in the RFH (radio frequency hub module) for the front left door handle sense circuit, short to ground (B259A-11). The next step, as outlined in my diagnostic flow chart for the code, was to verify that the magnetic end cap for that door handle was still magnetized. The end cap was still magnetized (the chart recommended using a paperclip, but the only thing I had on hand was a pick).
The next step I took was to swap both front door handles and end caps, because the passenger side was still functioning correctly. Once the handles and caps were switched, the problem persisted on the driver’s side. Since the components were good, the issue had to be something electrical.
🔧 Stop paying the dealer for every warning light
Get dealer level diagnostics at home with the YOUCANIC Full System Scanner.
- ✔ Works with all makes and models, including most luxury brands
- ✔ Topology map view shows all vehicle modules on one screen for faster diagnostics
- ✔ Bi directional controls to test fans, pumps, actuators and more so you do not have to guess
- ✔ Special resets and calibrations such as ABS bleed, EPB service, battery registration and more
- ✔ Free lifetime updates with no recurring fees
I consulted the wiring diagram for this particular car and found that the wiring runs from the door handle to the door harness connector, then to an inline connector under the dash, and finally stops at the RFH.
I tested for continuity between the door handle connector and the door harness connector in both circuits that control the door handle(P124 and P125). Circuit P124 was showing 0.4 ohms, and circuit P125 was showing O.L. or open/out of limits.
Once I found the open circuit, I removed some of the door harness shielding to find that wire P125 was broken, and wire P124 was chaffed but still had a good electrical connection.
I repaired the open circuit by stripping and soldering the open wire back together, and went ahead and fixed the circuit that was chaffed to prevent future damage or issues.
Once both circuits were restored, the connector worked as it should, so I reinstalled the door handle/end cap. When I scanned the car again, the once active fault code, B259A-11, became a stored code, and the driver’s side keyless entry was operational again.
Additional Images
