Prime Day deal on axle sensor $93

[RubiDukkie]

Passing this along in case anyone else is interested. Manufacturer is listed as WildGear, but that is the seller's store name. They appear to be the same as the one's in the Mopar kit. Only a couple of reviews so far. On the drive back from Moab this year, my rear locker light lit up on the dash for a minute, then went away. Never happened before, but I ordered this kit just in case I ever get a failed locker position sensor. I do have the Z-Automotive bypass in case of a failure out on the trail, but that is just a band-aid.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCV7MXDC
Differential Locker Sensor Kit for Jeep Wrangler JL Rubicon 2018-2024 / Jeep Gladiator Rubicon 2019-2024# 68544629AA

https://www.amazon.com/stores/WildGear/page/E125388C-14EF-42E4-B6A0-9DFA93723C80

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[Hootbro]

I would be cautious. The actual MOPAR ones are made in USA. These are China made.

 

[RubiDukkie]

I would be cautious. The actual MOPAR ones are made in USA. These are China made.

You’re probably right about them being made in China, although I did search for that and couldn’t find that on the Amazon product page. From what I have read on forums, Mopar has not fixed the original manufacturing defect, so if I went that route I would probably end up potting them anyway. With these knockoffs, they claim to have fixed that defect. Easy to say I know. Only time will tell, assuming I ever have to replace mine.

 

[RubiDukkie]

Slight correction, i just read on the JLWrangler forum that Mopar did change the design of the sensors for later models, but they are not backwards compatible.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...ion-sensor-potting-dana-44.59581/post-3157465

 

[DanW]

I would be cautious. The actual MOPAR ones are made in USA. These are China made.

Even the older ones? That is shocking to me that the OEM sensors were USA made. Cheap pieces of crap. I´d have sworn they were made in China.

I´d take my chances. They´d have to work hard at being worse.

 

[Hootbro]

Even the older ones? That is shocking to me that the OEM sensors were USA made. Cheap pieces of crap. I´d have sworn they were made in China.

No clue about the older ones but of all the reference packaging for the MOPAR replacement kits showed made in USA.

 

[Badunit]

The seller is from China. The product write up is definitely not from a native English speaker. The seller has few ratings and reviews and many are 1 star (the negative ratings have been removed from the ratings bar chart for some reason but show up in the reviews). The Wildgear store also appears to be from a non-English-speaking location. You can buy the real deal from a Mopar store for only a little more. If the copy from "Wildgear" fails early you'll spend a lot more on differential fluid than if you had put in an OEM one (assuming they are any better) so it may actually end up costing you more money (and time) to use the chinesium copy.

 

[DanW]

The seller is from China. The product write up is definitely not from a native English speaker. The seller has few ratings and reviews and many are 1 star (the negative ratings have been removed from the ratings bar chart for some reason but show up in the reviews). The Wildgear store also appears to be from a non-English-speaking location. You can buy the real deal from a Mopar store for only a little more. If the copy from "Wildgear" fails early you'll spend a lot more on differential fluid than if you had put in an OEM one (assuming they are any better) so it may actually end up costing you more money (and time) to use the chinesium copy.

You say a little more from a Mopar store? How much? What I´ve seen is that the Mopar kit is pretty expensive.

 

[Badunit]

https://parts.allmoparparts.com/search?search_str=68544629AA

Plus around $10 shipping. In total it is about $50 more. You might find it cheaper at a different site. $50 isn't much these days and would be worth the extra cost (to me, anyway) to save the cost of doing it again (fluid, time, frustration, and purchase of yet another axle sensor kit) if the copy is inferior to OEM or is total trash from the start.

Just like with tools, I'll pay more for quality to save the frustration. In this case, though, I don't know if these copies are better or worse than OEM. I just don't trust much of anything from China if it doesn't have a well known and respected US company backing it up (Amazon doesn't count as "respected", they allow all kinds of knock off junk to be sold).

 

[DanW]

https://parts.allmoparparts.com/search?search_str=68544629AA

Plus around $10 shipping. In total it is about $50 more. You might find it cheaper at a different site. $50 isn't much these days and would be worth the extra cost (to me, anyway) to save the cost of doing it again (fluid, time, frustration, and purchase of yet another axle sensor kit) if the copy is inferior to OEM or is total trash from the start.

Just like with tools, I'll pay more for quality to save the frustration. In this case, though, I don't know if these copies are better or worse than OEM. I just don't trust much of anything from China if it doesn't have a well known and respected US company backing it up (Amazon doesn't count as "respected", they allow all kinds of knock off junk to be sold).

Wow, thanks! That´s a lot cheaper than they were when these kits first came out.

Is that kit good for the earlier model years?

 

[Badunit]

I don't know what all it fits. I searched by the part number from the Amazon listing. It is what my 2023 takes.

There is another part number, 68638089AA, that is far more expensive. It is the sensor "assembly". Maybe that is what was available at first, or second, after they figured out that replacing the entire axle was stupid?

 

[Badunit]

If there are no instructions on which of the 5 sensors to use, here are some.

AXLE LOCKER SENSOR SELECTION

NOTE:
When replacing the sensor, there 5 possible sensors to select from. The new axle locker sensors are marked #1 through #5. Use the axle locker sensor selection process to determine the correct sensor to install. Begin the process with the sensor marked #1. Sensor #1 is the most used variant and will be the correct sensor in most cases.

NOTE:
Super Lube® Silicone Dielectric Grease is required due to known resistance of the temperatures and fluid properties encountered inside of the
axles.
1. Apply Super Lube® Silicone Dielectric Grease into the axle locker sensor wire harness connector cavity.
2. Connect the axle locker sensor marked #1 to the harness connector.

NOTE:
Do not bend or damage the magnet plate.

3. Using a trim stick, carefully move magnet plate towards the ring gear while installing the axle locker sensor into position.
4. Install the axle locker sensor mounting screw and tighten securely.
5. Lower the vehicle.
6. Turn the ignition to the ON position and check for Service Axle Locker message:
The Service Axle Locker message is NOT present, turn the ignition OFF and continue with Installation.
The Service Axle Locker message is present, turn the ignition OFF and replace the axle locker sensor as necessary in consecutive order from #2 - #5. Retest for the Service Axle Locker message after each sensor is installed until message is NOT present when the ignition is turned ON and then
continue with Installation.

 

[Figmo]

Question: what risks are there in running the bypass forever?

(just got hit with this failure and I’m about to install the bypass)

 

[RubiDukkie]

FYI, I did a return on the sensors I bought on Amazon. When I opened the box, I found that one of the sensor's white cover had broken off. That didn't inspire a lot of confidence in the quality. On the plus side, I could see that these sensors are fully potted. Here are some pics I took prior to the return.

Original Box clearly marked made in China.

Instruction in Chinese.

Instructions in English using my iPhone Translation app:

Sensor #1 of 5.

Sensor #2 with the cover broken off (fully potted inside).

 

[Badunit]

Might be bad having that floating around in the differential.

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