How To Reset A Jeep Wrangler Radio (Step-By-Step)

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If you are looking for information on how to reset the radio in your Jeep Wrangler because you are experiencing issues with it and you want to know how to do it, you have come to the right spot.

There have been various reports of radios in Jeep Wranglers behaving strangely, so in this article, I will discuss the factors that lead to this issue as well as the solutions you can employ to fix it.

I am going to teach you how you can solve this issue by simply doing a reset.

In Jeep Wranglers, performing a radio reset can be done in several different methods. Some of the steps I will describe in this article are compatible with both conventional radios and sophisticated versions like UConnect systems.

Contents

Jeep Wrangler Radio Problems

Jeep Wrangler owners have had radio issues throughout the years. In older systems, this can manifest itself in various ways, such as the radio sound skipping, or in some instances, the system not coming on at all.

These issues can be traced back to a variety of potential reasons, including blown fuses, issues with the software, or unstable connections, among other possibilities. I will walk you through the steps you can employ to reset your radio, which should hopefully fix the issue.

How to Reset Radio on a Jeep Wrangler

Now, let’s have a look at the different methods involved.

Method One

  • Start the ignition.
  • Turn on the radio.
  • Turn off the radio after ten seconds.
  • Hold the power button down until the radio resets.

If this approach does not work, you can try either of the following methods:

Method Two

  • Press the voice and phone keys simultaneously for 10-20 seconds.
  • The radio will reset and reboot.

Method Three

  • Disconnect the negative battery terminal for at least five minutes.
  • Connect the battery cable.
  • The radio will reset, and may request a code.
  • Enter the vehicle-specific code located in the owner’s manual or on a label in the glove box.
  • Entering the code will activate the system.

In rare cases, the issue can only be fixed by removing the radio from the dashboard and manually resetting a chip located inside the radio. This method is more complicated and will require you to have some experience with electronics.

To get to the radio in your Jeep, you must remove the entire panel covering the dashboard. To perform this operation successfully, you need to have a solid understanding of what you are doing; otherwise, you will wind up causing more damage to your Jeep and radio.

How to reset a Uconnect System

The reset procedure will be slightly different if your Jeep uses a recent version of the UConnect system. If the methods we’ll discuss below don’t work, you can try Method 3 above.

Your UConnect system and the firmware that you are using will determine which ways are available to you. When it comes to the UConnect system, the challenges you encounter will vary depending on the nature of the issue.

You will need to first understand the nature of the problem before attempting to solve it, because the difficulties can range from those related to the program to those caused by physical damage.

Method One

  • Press the upper right corner of your UConnect screen until your vehicle’s logo appears.
  • The screen will go dark for a few seconds.
  • The screen will then display your vehicle’s logo once more.
  • You would have completed resetting your UConnect system at this point.

Method Two

Works for UConnect 730N (Soft Reset)

  • Hold down the phone and voice recognition buttons on the steering wheel for 30 seconds.
  • Let go of the buttons and turn off the engine.
  • Open the driver-side door and leave it open for 30 seconds.
  • Close the door and start the engine, and the system will reset.

Method Three

Works for UConnect 8.4 System

  • Put the vehicle in Park and “run” mode.
  • Press and hold the volume and tuning controls for 10-20 seconds
  • The screen will display your Jeep trim logo before going dark.
  • The display will restart and display your trim logo again.
  • Then, your system will reset.

How to do a Full Factory Reset on your Jeep Wrangler UConnect

Sometimes a full factory reset is necessary to fix the issue. If you have programmed some settings into your UConnect, those settings will be deleted, and your system will return to the firmware state it had when it was first installed. The following are the steps to perform a full factory reset:

  • Press and hold the hot and cold buttons until the menu appear.
  • Select reset radio
  • Then select the reset factory default option
  • Your UConnect will reset to default settings.

In most circumstances, either of the above techniques will reset your UConnect system and should resolve your issue.

In cases where your UConnect has a frozen screen or the screen on your UConnect does not always respond.  It could be a software glitch or a hardware issue and may require you to replace the touch screen on your UConnect.

Another common issue is when your UConnect system stops on the boot screen. Disconnecting the battery for 5 minutes or longer can help with these issues.

Disconnecting the battery will allow the power stored in capacitors and other components to drain fully. Such that when you reconnect the battery, the system will reset.

Conclusion

Sometimes a firmware upgrade or hardware replacement is required to resolve a problem. It will cost you some money, but it will most likely be less than the potential damage and time investment of doing it yourself.

If all the methods described here fail to solve your problem, you will need to take it to the dealership to have it diagnosed and repaired.

Published by Regan