Front Locker

N2DFIRE · Post by **N2DFIRE** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:35 pm

So around May of last year I was out on a trip in the eastern sierra's up in the hills round lone pine. I was at the end of a 21 mile trial, and had not been in four wheel drive for at least 10 miles. While cruising about 10mph, on a flat gravel road, now mind you I am in 2WD, the front locker accuated and all the metal from the locker exploding went into all the bearings and front axel completely locked up. I was lucky to have the dodge parts manager and some dodge mechanics were on the trip with me. So after disconnecting the front drive line, the pumpkin was still not moving... After spending the night in my truck, a 1200.00 dollar tow, and 3800.00 in parts , work done at Dodge, I got the truck back and all is well. Now nearly a year later the front locker is not actuating, the light just blinks on the dash forever...the locker does not enguage. The dealer had the truck for the last three days, and still no resolution....the gear guy is stumped....Who by the way is an awsome mechanic....salty. So next week the gear guru from chrysler is coming out from Michigan to check it out and hopefully fix it for good....Just thought I would let you guys know whats going on and wondering if anyone has had similar issues....By the way, it is all covered by the warrenty from the first fix...Thank God. I am the second owner, so I get the 3 year 36000 mile grab ankles warrenty.....its an 08 and has 56000 miles.

Post by **SilverWagon05** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 12:54 am

Looks like your truck is lifted, with possibly 37" tires....and it was fixed under warranty?

fbenross · Post by **fbenross** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 5:22 am

your front axel was assembled on "bring a retard to work day"

Dawizman · Post by **Dawizman** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:53 am

fbenross wrote:your front axel was assembled on "bring a retard to work day"

So was mine :s It sucks! Hopefully they can get it figured out for you!

06powerwagon06 · Post by **06powerwagon06** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 2:22 pm

N2DFIRE wrote:So around May of last year I was out on a trip in the eastern sierra's up in the hills round lone pine. I was at the end of a 21 mile trial, and had not been in four wheel drive for at least 10 miles. While cruising about 10mph, on a flat gravel road, now mind you I am in 2WD, the front locker accuated and all the metal from the locker exploding went into all the bearings and front axel completely locked up. I was lucky to have the dodge parts manager and some dodge mechanics were on the trip with me. So after disconnecting the front drive line, the pumpkin was still not moving... After spending the night in my truck, a 1200.00 dollar tow, and 3800.00 in parts , work done at Dodge, I got the truck back and all is well. Now nearly a year later the front locker is not actuating, the light just blinks on the dash forever...the locker does not enguage. The dealer had the truck for the last three days, and still no resolution....the gear guy is stumped....Who by the way is an awsome mechanic....salty. So next week the gear guru from chrysler is coming out from Michigan to check it out and hopefully fix it for good....Just thought I would let you guys know whats going on and wondering if anyone has had similar issues....By the way, it is all covered by the warrenty from the first fix...Thank God. I am the second owner, so I get the 3 year 36000 mile grab ankles warrenty.....its an 08 and has 56000 miles.
SwanseaPW1.jpg

If I'm not mistaken....the flashing light issue can be solved with a new smartbar? Maybe ask the dealer to try that first before they tear the whole front end apart again? Pitslave has fixed some of them himself but if your dealer is working with you on this one then try the smartbar first. Hopefully they cover it.

N2DFIRE · Post by **N2DFIRE** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:30 pm

Its not the smart bar, and when it was fixed the first time, I had everything replaced from the dash switch to the locker because I didn't want anything like this happen again in the future.....I also had the parts manager look at how often the parts are ordered nation wide for ram 2500...its .06 per year......so it is really never happens. Than again how often do power wagen owners really use the front lockers anyways....guessing the majority rarely do, and the day it let go I did not use any lockers or 4wd low. Just thought I would see if you guys have heard of any such things.....luckly they are working with me on this one....The lift does not impact how the locker actuates, so that would not be the problem. I am running 35's also.

TwinStick · Post by **TwinStick** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:47 pm

Lockers not working properly ? This IS a common problem. I don't mean the exploding part. I am sure that is why they are saying 0.06 per year. Those exact circumstances are what makes it seem so rare.

GunniPWguy · Post by **GunniPWguy** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:59 pm

Welcome to the fire.. N2Dfire. I don't have an answer to the exploding front diff but I can sympathise (sorry no spell check)

Locker actuators and electronic swaybar BS plague us all. Time for RAM to step up and take control of this BS!

N2DFIRE · Post by **N2DFIRE** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:26 pm

Thanks for the input fella's I have not had any problems with the rear locker or the sway bar disconnect. I will update you guys when I know more.

GunniPWguy · Post by **GunniPWguy** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:19 am

truck looks bad ass! what kind of suspension/lift are you running?

N2DFIRE · Post by **N2DFIRE** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:28 pm

BDS 6 inch long arm/ fox socks (non reservor) / 35 Nitto Mud Terrain....This truck rides so nice...very smooth on the highway. Most of the off road driving I do is Desert Roads or sand dunes.....I dont go to crazy since I dont want to scare the shit out of my wife and young kids....but for what we do it is absolutely awsome. We drive some long distances to the eastern sierra's and it is like a car smooth....I can get up to 12 MPH at 65 mph.....on those trips. The best I ever got was 13.8 mpg , but as soon as I go 70 it drops to 9 mpg.....Its been a great toy, I have had many jeeps prior to this and actually miss the wrangler JK very much, but I cant beat the Power Wagen for comfort ,interior space, and over all capability , tow, and still run the jeep trails and sand dunes we like to do......

GunniPWguy · Post by **GunniPWguy** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:18 pm

2wagons1driveway · Post by **2wagons1driveway** » Wed May 22, 2013 4:20 pm

beauty truck looking at that exact kit right now

!!!! (bds 6 " la) for my '12!

2wagons1driveway · Post by **2wagons1driveway** » Wed May 22, 2013 4:26 pm

personally just a response to this topic in general! i had about 15000km on my truck when the front swaybar actuator decided to ingest some water and disable all my pw controls! no problems with the diffs yet i think its all about fines" and how hard you are on them. if you give the parts time to engage and disengage before WOT climb to the top of the hill speed of sound acceleratating rock crushing hemi power unleashing blurr....seems to help them last a bit longer

coder · Post by **coder** » Wed May 22, 2013 6:58 pm

I wander if the front differential is bad was that replaced when it exploded the first time?

TwinStick · Post by **TwinStick** » Thu May 23, 2013 12:37 pm

I wonder if a wire rubbed through/shorted somewhere & caused it to actuate. Is there a locker bypass on it ?

Power Wagon Registry

Front Locker

Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker

Re: Front Locker