New (used) XJ, funny type of disabler key, what is it?

I think I know what you're talking about, let me give it a shot.

My last Jeep I had used something similar to what you're referring to. Mine was an '89 Cherokee that had a system like you're describing, where you have to put the "key" into a special socket in order for the car to crank. If you don't put in the "key" the car won't crank at all. I didn't have any special car key (gray or black head), at that point I still had two keys; one for the doors and one for the ignition. This system was already installed at a dealership on my Jeep when I got it.

There is a way to bypass it, although I don't know how. My father bypassed it for me when I was having some problems and we though that it might be that system.

Hope that helps.

Hank

The rental place should be able to tell you where they got the part. I think they put it on all the vehicles that have the chip in the key. That way they can reproduce the keys many times without having to pay the $80 a key price that the dealer charges.

You're correct. The sentry key with the transponder in it is thicker than the normal key.

Can't help you with the brand, as there are several different ones that look similar. Most of them just interrupt the crank signal from the ign. switch to the starter/relay. Some use a module, and some don't. Usually they just cut the wire from the ign. switch that activates the starter circuit, and the device is wired in between. With the real cheap ones, the key is nothing more than a 'shunt' to complete the circuit from the ign. switch to the starter circuit.

I didn't buy it from the rental place... I did a Carfax to find that bit of info out. Don't have any idea which rental agency it belonged to... not too critical. Now I know that it's not connected to any super-duper anti-theft module, I'll just bypass it. __ Steve . (ps thanks group, you rock) .