Rubicon lockers will not lock. No error lights at all.

[Albertaktm]

I noticed today that when trying to engage front or rear locker, I just get the flashing locker icon on the left side of the display. There is no Service locker message or locker with an exclamation on the right side of the Center display. Just flashes till I shut it off. Both front and back. I did have the gears changed last month to 4.88. The tech who I trust said it worked on the immediate test drive. Drove 1300 miles to MOAB and tried. No go.

Does the failing sensors I read all about fail with no error? Thinking of the Z Automotive fix as I am not into potting anything!

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[calemasters]

You did not specify, but you have to be in low range for the factory lockers to work.

 

[Caliguy]

As calemasters said, you need to be in 4lo. The sensor failed does produce an error light on the dash so that’s not it. I think sometimes you have to roll forward a bit and try again

 

[Albertaktm]

You did not specify, but you have to be in low range for the factory lockers to work.

Ha, yeah. I’m in 4 low. Tried stopped in 4low. Slowly rolling in 4 low. It’s MT so tried in neutral , Tried front. Tried front and rear, just flashes like it’s thinking about it. No error code ever. Even after I say screw it and push the locker off button.

All the threads I have read say there is a service light which I never have seen.

 

[jessedacri]

Ha, yeah. I’m in 4 low. Tried stopped in 4low. Slowly rolling in 4 low. It’s MT so tried in neutral , Tried front. Tried front and rear, just flashes like it’s thinking about it. No error code ever. Even after I say screw it and push the locker off button.

All the threads I have read say there is a service light which I never have seen.

I figure you've tried all sorts of things but the OEM lockers do sort of require the drivetrain to be "cycled" in a sense, from driving to coasting, for the mechanism to engage or disengage. Hit the locker button and then give a little throttle to move you forward, and then 100% off the throttle so you feel the engine braking sensation, repeat until engaged. The mechanism is essentially like a weak solenoid that pushes a metal shaft into a hole. The hole isn't always perfectly lined up, and the shaft doesn't have enough actuating power to move if there's too much load already on the differential. That being said, when I need lockers in a sticky situation or obstacle I always just hit the button without thinking about trying to do anything specific and almost never experience much of a delay in their engagement. I would take it back to the shop that regeared and work with them on a solution if you truly can't get them to engage in any scenario.

 

[Albertaktm]

I figure you've tried all sorts of things but the OEM lockers do sort of require the drivetrain to be "cycled" in a sense, from driving to coasting, for the mechanism to engage or disengage. Hit the locker button and then give a little throttle to move you forward, and then 100% off the throttle so you feel the engine braking sensation, repeat until engaged. The mechanism is essentially like a weak solenoid that pushes a metal shaft into a hole. The hole isn't always perfectly lined up, and the shaft doesn't have enough actuating power to move if there's too much load already on the differential. That being said, when I need lockers in a sticky situation or obstacle I always just hit the button without thinking about trying to do anything specific and almost never experience much of a delay in their engagement. I would take it back to the shop that regeared and work with them on a solution if you truly can't get them to engage in any scenario.

The shop is pretty good. The test drive/seat in of the gear, the foreman said it engaged ok to the point of wheel hop on a tight corner. After
I called them literally on the trail at Moab, They did the research and found the Z Automotive fix and faulty sensors. They aren’t washing their hands on this yet. With just an hr of research I sure found alot of sensor issues. As mentioned the test drive by them went ok 3 weeks ago then I basically hopped in and drove 1300 miles before I tried it. I did see a couple posts of guys just driving along in 2WD and suddenly their locker indicators on the screen and button start flashing. No error message. I will get under it when I get home in a week and have my shop to work in. I have ordered a Z loop back cable just to be sure.

 

[GATORB8]

I’d be surprised if both sensors went out at the same time. Any chance the wheel hop they experienced was the binding you get just putting it in 4low on a hard surface?

Is the Jeep correctly reprogrammed for tire size and gear ratio?

 

[Rubi6mt]

Did you change the gear oil after the first 500 miles? My lockers felt "sticky" until I had the oil changed. Manual and 4.88 gears here.

like others said sometimes I have to roll fwd and coast backwards before they engage if im just testing them out..

 

[Whaler27]

Please keep us posted on how it turns out.

 

[chevymitchell]

The shop is pretty good. The test drive/seat in of the gear, the foreman said it engaged ok to the point of wheel hop on a tight corner. After
I called them literally on the trail at Moab, They did the research and found the Z Automotive fix and faulty sensors. They aren’t washing their hands on this yet. With just an hr of research I sure found alot of sensor issues. As mentioned the test drive by them went ok 3 weeks ago then I basically hopped in and drove 1300 miles before I tried it. I did see a couple posts of guys just driving along in 2WD and suddenly their locker indicators on the screen and button start flashing. No error message. I will get under it when I get home in a week and have my shop to work in. I have ordered a Z loop back cable just to be sure.

Send a video of exactly what you're seeing, please.

 

[calemasters]

Ha, yeah. I’m in 4 low. Tried stopped in 4low. Slowly rolling in 4 low. It’s MT so tried in neutral , Tried front. Tried front and rear, just flashes like it’s thinking about it. No error code ever. Even after I say screw it and push the locker off button.

All the threads I have read say there is a service light which I never have seen.

On my Rubicon, I can lock rear only or rear and front. I cannot lock front only. Also, the left and right axles have to be rotating at same speed (going straight) for locker to engage. So if I am in a turn when I engage locker(s) there is a engagement delay until I go straight.

 

[Albertaktm]

I’d be surprised if both sensors went out at the same time. Any chance the wheel hop they experienced was the binding you get just putting it in 4low on a hard surface?

Is the Jeep correctly reprogrammed for tire size and gear ratio?

Yes, all the Tazer values have been entered. Rebooted. All that’s fine. Did that right after the gear change. Never tried the lockers after the gear change. Never thought of it. As I have mentioned, no locker error lights ever. Even now.

 

[Albertaktm]

Did you change the gear oil after the first 500 miles? My lockers felt "sticky" until I had the oil changed. Manual and 4.88 gears here.

like others said sometimes I have to roll fwd and coast backwards before they engage if im just testing them out..

The shop did not recommend changing the oil after. I asked 3x. You sure? Yes. Only in a big truck hauling 20,000 lbs. Your fine. They said.

 

[Albertaktm]

On my Rubicon, I can lock rear only or rear and front. I cannot lock front only. Also, the left and right axles have to be rotating at same speed (going straight) for locker to engage. So if I am in a turn when I engage locker(s) there is a engagement delay until I go straight.

Tried all that. No go joe

 

[Albertaktm]

Send a video of exactly what you're seeing, please.

Ok. Later today. I have seen lots where the lock up right away. I only tried it once a few months ago after I bought it. They worked. Just in and out. I spent 1/2 hr yesterday trying. Low gear. Level flat ground ( eventually). Stopped in neutral. Rolling slow forward. Rolling slow backward. Nothing. Just the dash light and switch LED flashing. Tried rear only, Tried front and rear. Nothing. Just flashes. No error.

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