Flashing rear locker after being on the highway, sensor out?

[08TwinStickPW]

Howdy,

Just got back from a 600mile round trip and about halfway in on the trip out the rear locker light started flashing. Got there and driving around town the next day the light never came on (mostly around town with a little 55mph). Coming home after driving around town again and about 30 miles in the light started flashing again.

No towing or real weight in the bed, cruzing at 55-68 depending on the speed limit, fresh amsoil in the spring, 43K miles on it.

From what I have found via. searching is that the rear sensor is shot or on its way and to fix it the rear needs to come apart.
(Thankfully I have the Added Care + service contract!)

Anything else to look for?

[TwinStick]

Same exact thing happened to me, except I was towing my camper. They ended up replacing the "tone ring". Yes, it was inside the rear end & everything had to come out.

BUT..................................

I asked them to clean the magnet FIRST. They did not. It could have been as simple as just carefully cleaning the magnet. The computer senses ohm's or volts (can't remember which) & it has to be within a certain range. If not, then lights flash to let you know there is a problem. If it is all gunked up with the silvery fine metal particles (from wear), then the proper volts/ohm reading will be off.

You can narrow it down by doing this: Start up the truck & go somewhere that the tires can slip (gravel parking lot is what i use). Put it in lo range & lock the rear, then the front. If it locks up, then you KNOW it is NOT the T-Case Position Sensor. If the T-case position sensor is faulty, the computer won't allow it to go any further & let it lock up. Mine would still lock up, so i ruled that out. I would clean the magnets first. If it still messes up, then take it in. I was still working when mine messes up. I did not have the time to do it & need my vehicle to get to work, plus, it was winter.

For some reason, Dodge axles sheer the oil pretty fast. I change out the oil every 15-20k. Get you one of these http://www.lowes.com/pd/General-Tools-I ... 703f6b5066 and use it to keep an eye on the fluid temp. It was an eye opening experience for me !!! The factory "full synthetic" oil was reading 315*, on a 95* day pulling our 10,500 lb toyhauler. I changed out the oil right after that trip. Temps don't lie. Cooler temps mean less friction, which means better oil.

This is a good article to read: http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/trans ... wing-axle/

http://www.mag-hytec.com/oil.htm

[08TwinStickPW]

Thanks for the tips, the oil is fresh, and I cleaned the magnets when I was in there as well as adding a filtermag.

The oil was dirty however not that bad (original oil at 40K, no towing or hauling).

I will keep an eye on it, if it only happens on the highway my suspect is heat causing an issue.

[waldo]

Sensor went out in my 07 and it's part of the coil.

[RustyPW]

All that sensor is, it's a magnetic switch. The magnet moves the switch either open or close. When the magnet is close to the senor, the switch is open, no light on dash, open locker. When the magnet moves away, the switch is closed, light on dash, locked locker. But the signal goes through the smartbar.

[08TwinStickPW]

Little update.

Was talking to my guy at the dealer about this and he asked me about the fluid level and I told him its almost to the hole.

He commented that its overfull and might be foaming from being overfull, he recommended taking some out.
Gonna give it a try.

[flattire]

Mine has been going on and off while highway driving. Somewhere between 20-30 miles it will switch good/bad/good etc.

Just go through pulling smart bar connector to check it. Looks perfect. It's back together now and will go for test drive later.

Back from test. Everything was fine until I switched to RR for the locker. Light went green for about 20 yards then SERV light and flashing yellow. Sway bar still works.

[RamGentry]

Mine has been going on and off while highway driving. Somewhere between 20-30 miles it will switch good/bad/good etc.

Just go through pulling smart bar connector to check it. Looks perfect. It's back together now and will go for test drive later.

Back from test. Everything was fine until I switched to RR for the locker. Light went green for about 20 yards then SERV light and flashing yellow. Sway bar still works.

I don't have a SERV light but I have the other symptoms...swaybar disconnects but cant get a locker to engage. Also have the same deal when driving. It will go from unlocked solid green, to blinking rear locker, back to solid green without me touching the dial, just normal DD.