Winch Line Won't Retract

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:37 pm

Hey, anyone, I'm looking for solutions to trouble shooting my winch line. Noticed some corision on the winch plug. Sprayed it with electric cleaner, but my winch doesn't retract or let out. Big problem, because I let some out manually with the lever to get the bumper on. (Yes the brake is back in the proper position) And we're suppose to level for Moab tomorrow afternoon. F me.

F murphy and his stupid law.

FirerescuePW · Post by **FirerescuePW** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:04 pm

Low voltage interrupt, high temp interrupt, corroded connections on the back side of the winch side plug, corroded relays. These are the most common issues.

Have you started the truck? Obvious question- is there power at the winch?

The high temp interrupt has been bypassed on MANY of our winches for this reason. They just fail.

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Post by **DamageWagon** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:11 pm

Mike, I'm not sure what causes it on my winch - most of the time the controls work fine, but sometimes the retract control won't work. What I do is I click the extend button for a moment and then click retract and it will start working again. Try that. If that doesn't work, spray electronics cleaner (or brake cleaner if you have to) I to the control plug on both winch and controller. Clean out the stuff you out on there and try again.

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:31 pm

Yea, I've done that. Notta. Not even clicking. Just totally dead. Cleaned the connections really good. Connections to the winch all look fine, don't see corrosion on either end. To test anything else, means pulling the fucking bumper. I don't have time for that shit. I was hoping there was a fuse or some BS. I guess I'm coming without a fucking winch line now. god damn it.

Post by **DamageWagon** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:35 pm

Wrap the winch line up and zip tie it to the frame. Don't pull it all out. We will check it out when we get to camp. I've got all my electrical stuff with me if we need to remove factory protections. Not sure what that involves but I'm sure it's simple, those are simple circuits. If the line is way pulled out then pull the thing and just bring it with you. Don't worry any more about it. PM me about that bumper.

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:41 pm

This is what I get for being impatient. I should probably just quit tonight. Not in the best thinking mind. Cheers man, appreciate the help.

Time for some Knob Creek.

nts007 · Post by **nts007** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:42 pm

It's most likely the thermal cutout. Those have always been an issue. You can just reverse wrap the spool till you can fix it. Just keep letting line out till it starts going in

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:44 pm

nts007 wrote:You can just reverse wrap the spool till you can fix it. Just keep letting line out till it starts going in

Not sure I follow. Probably should have saved the beers till after the project was completed.

Here's my doodle hanging out.

nts007 · Post by **nts007** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:53 pm

And a nice doodle it is. If the winch still spools in one direction out just keep it spooning out till all the line is out and it starts winding in. Just remember to re wind it the other way before you use it

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 11:13 pm

nts007 wrote:And a nice doodle it is. If the winch still spools in one direction out just keep it spooning out till all the line is out and it starts winding in. Just remember to re wind it the other way before you use it

Oh got ya. No it won't go out either. Unless I have the brake lever off, I can pull it out manually.

nts007 · Post by **nts007** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 11:19 pm

Ah got ya. So it's not moving at all.

olyelr · Post by **olyelr** » Thu Apr 27, 2017 6:27 am

Cant you unlock it and manually spin the drum to put the line back on? Not accessible under the truck with new bumper?

Good luck! Go figure, bumper finally shows up before the big trip and THIS has to dick with ya!

14PowerWaggy · Post by **14PowerWaggy** » Thu Apr 27, 2017 8:36 am

MikeKey wrote:
nts007 wrote:You can just reverse wrap the spool till you can fix it. Just keep letting line out till it starts going in
Not sure I follow. Probably should have saved the beers till after the project was completed.

Here's my doodle hanging out.

On a positive note... That bumper looks killer!!!

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Thu Apr 27, 2017 9:19 am

olyelr wrote:Cant you unlock it and manually spin the drum to put the line back on? Not accessible under the truck with new bumper?

Good luck! Go figure, bumper finally shows up before the big trip and THIS has to dick with ya!

Unless I have the brake lever off, I can pull it out manually.

Yea it's totally accessible. Spin the drum backward manually

well hadn't tried that. Seemed like it'd be a pain with steel, but maybe I'll try that.

Yea, freaking Murphy's law right! Always something man.

coder · Post by **coder** » Thu Apr 27, 2017 12:03 pm

A winch thermal protection switch failure can cause the "wont' spool in" issue, below an thread on dodgetalk.com with an easy and inexpensive fix.

http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250483

stamm20 · Post by **stamm20** » Fri Apr 28, 2017 12:50 pm

Also could be a ground wire at the battery had that issue with mine one time

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LagunaH1 · Post by **LagunaH1** » Fri Apr 28, 2017 7:31 pm

That bumper looks awesome, can't help but imagine it on a MY17 truck with its black grille

I so badly want to head to Moab to hang out with you guys but it's not looking good in terms of getting away

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WV Mtneer · Post by **WV Mtneer** » Sun Apr 30, 2017 2:24 pm

When mine went out, I tried everything including replacing all 4 solenoids. Turns out it was in the plug. Look at the back of the plug behind the bumper. Peel back the rubber and make sure all the wires going into the plug are good. Mine had corrosion on one of the wires and it would spool out but not in.

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Mon May 08, 2017 12:30 pm

Turns out mine is the plug that is bad. The power port has a broken terminal. But was able to test the winch and found to be working. So just need to order a new plug for her. Saves me a lot of headache. Big thanks to Nick who came out to the APWIM 2017 event for helping me troubleshoot my winch.

olyelr · Post by **olyelr** » Mon May 08, 2017 6:19 pm

How do those wireless controllers work? Does something have to plug into the actual plug, or is that by-passed altogether? Might be a good time to upgrade to one, unless you still have to fix it first anyway.

TwinStick · Post by **TwinStick** » Mon May 08, 2017 7:43 pm

I'm thinking that something still has to plug in there, with a mini antenna on it ?

Bill2014 · Post by **Bill2014** » Mon May 08, 2017 7:52 pm

Might even look like this:

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YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Mon May 08, 2017 7:53 pm

Yup, still has to plug in. But only $24 bucks on Amazon. Already ordered.

Post by **DamageWagon** » Mon May 08, 2017 10:15 pm

There is a transmitter that plugs into the factory plug and then the new controller. I prefer hard wired controllers but the wireless is cool too. You just have to keep a hard wired controller for when your wireless dies or starts acting weird.

A wireless controller is only an upgrade to Jeepers that never use their winch.

nts007 · Post by **nts007** » Mon May 08, 2017 10:30 pm

I have the original warn wireless controller. Used it all the time. Was awesome

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