Lockers??

[lastmanalliance]

So my lockers aren't working. How much would it cost me to get them fixed if it's just an electrical issue? I have a 2005

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[waldo]

Depends on the why. If you're going to pay diagnostics by the hour make sure you find a service department that's familiar with them. You don't want to be the one paying to educate the tech.

[lastmanalliance]

I was gonna send the truck to my local 4wd shop. I'm honestly just trying to see if it's worth keeping or just trying to get an 07 or 08

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[RustyPW]

On the smartbar. There is a big plug. Try removing and replugging a couple of times. There is electrical connects that crode in that plug. After you are done. Smear some dielectrical grease to the pins and around the gasket. If this don't work. You have deeper problems.

[nts007]

90% of the time it's computer module issues. Hardwire them. You will be much happier.

[PWRider]

One obvious question. How you are testing them? Do you know how to use them. You must be in 4 low. Possibly roll back&forward a bit. Dance your steering wheel. Did they used to work?

[lastmanalliance]

Yes I know how to use my lockers... Every time I try to engage them it just says service 4wd

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[Ducky's Dad]

Uh, dirty magnets would be an easy fix. I wouldn't panic just yet.

[azracer]

If you are going to plug and unplug the smart bar or lockers be sure to disconnect the negative battery cable first and put a rag on the terminal to prevent it from touching while your under there working.

[Mike-H]

Sounds like the sensor on the transfer case. It's the one that tells the truck you're in 4 low amid will allow the Smartbar to engage the lockers. They go out on our work trucks all the time. Not hard to fix and not "get rid of the truck" expensive either.

Good luck. The hard wire suggestion isn't a bad idea either.

[lastmanalliance]

I have a locker bypass kit for the truck. Just haven't had a chance to put it on bc I'm always out of the country. Trying to put the truck in 4LO is hard too. I'm thinking the linkage could be the issue. I'll look into adjusting the linkage and I'll put on my bypass kit and see if that works

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[ACRucrazy]

On my 06 I've cleaned both diff magnets, changed the fluid, replaced the transfer case sensor, cleaned the smart bar connector. Nothing has fixed mine.

Sway bar disconnect works. Service 4wd and flashing rear all the time. The only reason I haven't bypassed yet is I've held out for a plug and play solution for 2 years...

[mdslngr]

I have the same issue with my 06. As soon as you turn on the rear locker the service 4wd light comes on. I work at a dodge dealership as a tech and i found that it was the magnetic ring in the rear diff that was bad. My (discounted) price came up to about $300. You have to pull the rear axles out,take the carrier out of the housing,press the bearing or cut it off the left side,replace the ring,and press the new bearing on.

[Mike-H]

On my 06 I've cleaned both diff magnets, changed the fluid, replaced the transfer case sensor, cleaned the smart bar connector. Nothing has fixed mine.

Sway bar disconnect works. Service 4wd and flashing rear all the time. The only reason I haven't bypassed yet is I've held out for a plug and play solution for 2 years...

Lockers will not work if the Service 4wd light is on. The lockers will only engage if certain parameters are met. 4lo being the first hurdle. If your Service 4wd light is on, you failed the first hurdle. The truck doesn't know it's in 4lo. Again sounds like you're sensor is bad. Replace it.

[ACRucrazy]

Replaced the sensor with a new one a little over a month ago, after cleaning magnets, changing fluid and cleaned sway bar connector. I don't see how my sensor is bad.

Service 4wd is on all the time and rear locker is flashing all the time. Regardless of it being on 2, 4hi or lo.
Switch is in the unlock position.

[nts007]

I have the same issue with my 06. As soon as you turn on the rear locker the service 4wd light comes on. I work at a dodge dealership as a tech and i found that it was the magnetic ring in the rear diff that was bad. My (discounted) price came up to about $300. You have to pull the rear axles out,take the carrier out of the housing,press the bearing or cut it off the left side,replace the ring,and press the new bearing on.

At this point I would hardwire for the cost of some wire and switches. You lose the sensor but oh well. The bypass though just tells the truck its in 4lo so it doesn't matter if the sensor is bad. And with manual t case you do not lose capability. And the sensor would still work. If your magnet ring sensor is still working. If not. Hardwire. You know when its locked. You don't need the sensor lol

[RustyPW]

One of the things you could do is. Jack up the rear of the PW with both rear tires off the ground. Remove the diff cover and drain. Put the transfercase in 4lo, and tranny in N. Have someone turn the key on, but not start the PW. Then have them engage the rear locker. While you are looking at the sensor magnets. The magnets should move apart. You might have to turn one wheel while watching. If it moves. One option would be to hard wired the locker.

[Mike-H]

Replaced the sensor with a new one a little over a month ago, after cleaning magnets, changing fluid and cleaned sway bar connector. I don't see how my sensor is bad.

Service 4wd is on all the time and rear locker is flashing all the time. Regardless of it being on 2, 4hi or lo.
Switch is in the unlock position.

Weird any idea what's setting off the service 4wd light? New sensor, fluid and clean connectors would seem like you've hit all the normal bases. Maybe a cut or shorted wire or a loose connection?

Good luck

[TwinStick]

I have the same issue with my 06. As soon as you turn on the rear locker the service 4wd light comes on. I work at a dodge dealership as a tech and i found that it was the magnetic ring in the rear diff that was bad. My (discounted) price came up to about $300. You have to pull the rear axles out,take the carrier out of the housing,press the bearing or cut it off the left side,replace the ring,and press the new bearing on.

This is what was just done to mine. I have not pulled the camper yet to see if that fixed it though. My rear locker light would only start flashing after towing our 3500 lb camper 100-150 miles on a hot summer day. My lockers were both locking up & my swaybar worked fine but only after i shut the truck off, then restarted it, then the locker light would no longer be flashing & everything worked---that is why i figured thet it was NOT my transfer case position sensor/module. If that was bad, the computer would not be getting the proper info to let the lockers & swaybar work. I bought one anyways & have it on standby, just in case it goes in the future.

Keep us posted.

[trk4sale]

Hard Wire The Lockers! Pull the wires from the back of the locker switch to get rid of the flashing lights and learn to live with the SERV4WD light. At least you know your lockers will work every time.

[GunniPWguy]

I went down this path of the locker fix this fix that a few years ago. ended up replacing both plugs and needing new smartbar and front/rear locker actuators. wasn't cheap. Smartbar assembly is waay less expensive for the 05 rigs than it is for later models though.

[RamGentry]

Interesting thread. I seem to have a common problem but different symptoms. I have a 2010 that was working fine and then on a road trip a few hours in my rear locker light starts flashing. I have no service/4x4 light and my truck shifts into 4hi 4lo and unlocks the sway bar every time. The locker light does not always flash, it seems its more like 15 minutes in or after the truck is warmed up and then it starts flashing. I cannot depend on the lockers locking up, if its flashing they wont lock. I have changed the diff oil and cleaned the magnets. Just seems weird that I don't have all the same symptoms but the same problems.

[azracer]

I'm noticing a trend with folks who tow, having rear locker actuators failing. I would look into a diff cover that will allow for a higher level and capacity of oil. You gotta figure there is a reason that Dodge now puts a finned aluminum cover on their HD trucks now. It's all about heat rejection. More oil will help with that too.

[nts007]

I'm noticing a trend with folks who tow, having rear locker actuators failing. I would look into a diff cover that will allow for a higher level and capacity of oil. You gotta figure there is a reason that Dodge now puts a finned aluminum cover on their HD trucks now. It's all about heat rejection. More oil will help with that too.

It's not just the heat az although heat is the cause. It's poor and cheap oils being used. Once oil hits its flash off temps it loses the ability to lubricate at a lower and lower tempature. It's like tranny oil. Too hot and the oils useable temp gets lower and lower until it degrades and ceases to lubricate. Heavy fleet trucks and heavy tow trucks run heavier duty and synthetic oils to increase the tempature resilience of the oil. Oh and changing the oil regularly helps a lot too. Most rear diffs that pile up due to lack of lubrication have been used hard and have not had regular oil changes. That oil is so damn important. Yet it gets overlooked until something fails.
The fellows that have 500k plus are either really lucky or actually do something called maintenance.