New to me 2018 Power Wagon

[Shawn.Hayes]

Just picked up a 18 Power Wagon and for the life of me I cannot get the diff lock or sway bar disconnect to work. Everytime I try the either option the light light just flashes really fast and it doesnt lock in. Truck has 45k miles. Am I missing something? Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[thkbaron]

Did you buy my truck? Haha. Say three hail Mary’s before you try. I’d say checking the locker magnets for debris would be a start. Are you in 4 low?

 

[akguy09]

4low, 3mph or thereabouts, try slowly steering left to right

 

[Shawn.Hayes]

Do you need to be in 4 low? If your old truck is black and in Detroit Lakes Mn then I would say yes

 

[thkbaron]

Ram box? I traded it in in Hopkins mn.

 

[thkbaron]

Yea 4 low on the 18 down I believe.

 

[Shawn.Hayes]

Ram box? I traded it in in Hopkins mn.

No Ram box and I know who traded it in

 

[thkbaron]

Not mine then. But yeah my lockers are or were a bastard too. There’s a work around done by a guy that makes a module to make them less finicky

 

[Shawn.Hayes]

Not mine then. But yeah my lockers are or were a bastard too. There’s a work around done by a guy that makes a module to make them less finicky

Does the truck have to be in 4 lo?

 

[IowaPW]

The first hit on a simple google search led me to a thread that had this for a 2018 PW...

"Our e-lockers have a toothed ring locking mechanism. The teeth have to be aligned in order to mesh and lock the differential. The teeth have to be in a no-load condition in order to unlock. The truck has to be moving less than 3 mph in 4LO for the Smartbar to allow a lock-up to happen (to prevent damage from locking at high speed or under load). The front won’t lock until the rear locks."

You might also check your owner's manual. It should tell you what the conditions need to be in order to get the lockers engaged.

 

[thkbaron]

Yeah 4 lo.

 

[jetrinka]

Didn't the pre-19's have issues with this that the Abel Bypass kit solves?

 

[Shawn.Hayes]

Thanks all for your help I finally found the actual instructions on the official Mopar site so will have to try it now that I know what to do.

 

[thkbaron]

That’s the name I couldn’t remember. Yes it does but the op should change his fluid as I’m sure it hasn’t been done and clean those magnets.