Locker Position Sensor Potting - DANA 44

[zw470]

These are the dash lights that will illuminate for the failed position sensor, correct?

I get these warnings about 90% of the time when its warm (almost never when it's cold) out thanks to the body shop putting the wrong front axle in after my accident. Lockers don't function when the light is on, they function normally when the light is off. There is a stored front differential position sensor short to ground code.

The other day this dash light started flashing along with the light next to the rear locker switch.

I've been too busy at work to experiment with anything or pull codes, does this just mean my rear sensor is going out now, too?

Not my pics btw, my Jeep is dirty but not that dirty

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[virkdoc]

From what I have read this means the sensor has oil in it but it maybe still salvaged. Open it up and if you see oil in it make the holes...spray it clean...let it dry and pott it.
hopefully should work. There is a lot of info on this forum. I stii have to do mine. Mine nehaves the same way...when cold its ok....a long drive and when everything heats up the error comes.

 

[rcoe]

From what I have read this means the sensor has oil in it but it maybe still salvaged. Open it up and if you see oil in it make the holes...spray it clean...let it dry and pott it.
hopefully should work.

My front was acting up, pulled it and it was half full of oil. Drilled and drained it then using electrical contact cleaner spray cleaned it out real good. Let it dry for a couple days. Potted it and it works great.

 

[Terrymo]

You could pretty much skip all 70 pages and just read the first post by @chevymitchell. The rest of it is mostly us just repeating what he already said, or saying, hey it worked!

 

[Terrymo]

@roaniecowpony notIce I did say mostly since your situation didn’t turn out to be the common problem

 

[zw470]

You could pretty much skip all 70 pages and just read the first post by @chevymitchell. The rest of it is mostly us just repeating what he already said, or saying, hey it worked!

Oh for sure, I just wanted to see if there was another potential issue that the post in the OP or a pair of Z-Locker harnesses wouldn't solve.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Oh for sure, I just wanted to see if there was another potential issue that the post in the OP or a pair of Z-Locker harnesses wouldn't solve.

In my case, the actuator coil had an internal short. Had to be a latent defect from manufacturing. If it had been in the rear, excess heat could contribute. But overall, probably pretty rare.

 

[Terrymo]

Oh for sure, I just wanted to see if there was another potential issue that the post in the OP or a pair of Z-Locker harnesses wouldn't solve.

Yep not directed at you. Just giving kudos to @chevymitchell and @roaniecowpony for taking the time to post pics and explain things at a level that even I can understand (mostly).

 

[jeepherz]

Hi all. New to this forum but certainly not to Jeeps. I have a 392 that's had the Tcase issue (twice) along with the locker sensor issue (twice.) I've had a really good relationship with my service tech over the years on our Rams and other Jeeps. Yet each time I bring the Jeep in he he tells me the problem is my 37" tires and the Jeep not being re-programmed. Funny thing is he said he did it when some work was done after it was stolen/recovered and my speedo IS correct. Now he says he didn't do it. And he tries to sell me a "reprogram contract." When I asked why it would be that my 37s have been on for another 7 mos after the last issue and nothing happened, he said it takes time. It's SO absurd I can't even argue it.
Does anyone know if there is a TSB or bulletin I can point him to? We all know this is an issue except apparently the dealer. We can certainly do the potting but I am loathe to open up anything on the 392. Also concerned about using the ZAutomotive harness. I have an extended warranty but I feel like he's finding a way to deny service if this happens again.

 

[virkdoc]

So @chevymitchell @Terrymo....we changed the sensor and the light is still flashing. Do we need to cycle something? Or drive it for sometime for the flashing light to disappear?

 

[roaniecowpony]

So @chevymitchell @Terrymo....we changed the sensor and the light is still flashing. Do we need to cycle something? Or drive it for sometime for the flashing light to disappear?

If you have a good sensor of the correct calibration installed, it should extinguish the light.

The sensor is a hall effect position sensor. The Mopar repair kit consists of 5 sensors, each with a different position calibration. I can only imagine this is necessary because of manufacturing variations of where a small steel on the locking plate, moves in and out of the slot of the sensor. The sensor kit has a process of testing to find the appropriate sensor.

 

[virkdoc]

Oh shucks now what? How do we know which sensor it is? And how do we find out ?

 

[roaniecowpony]

If you have the repair kit, it should have instructions as to how to test for the correct sensor.

It may also be a more rare condition where the locker electro-magnet actuator is bad, or the wiring may have a short.

 

[virkdoc]

I don't have the repair kit....I didn't know it existed. I just picked up a sensor from eBay. Looked the same and used it. Also if there is a short where do I start checking ?

 

[roaniecowpony]

Your harness lead to the axle should have a 12v pos, 12v neg, and I think 2 sensor wires. Its been a few years, so my memory may be off. The red and black are the 12v power. Use a multimeter to verify they work at the axle connection.

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