Sway Bar Disconnect - issue after water crossing

[Slipshodman]

Morning all,

well it is here.
I was off-roading on the weekend, sway bar disconnected on the JTR
After the second water crossing (maybe 2-3 ft deep) the sway bar went "stupid", I probably noticed after 5 mins or so after the crossing
But for the next 10 minutes after that the sway bar light flashed, the alert popped up on the dash - "Sway Bar Disconnecting" - then "Sway bar connecting" over and over.
It didn't matter what I did, it continued to disconnect then connect .
It finally stopped at Disconnect.

Has any one else had the issue, I assume some water got into a sensor or something and confused the electrics.
I am concerned if there has been water ingress into somewhere it shouldn't, it may cause other damage/issues or even longer term problems.

Cheers

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[Lost1wing]

I am sure you were driving with in the parameters. Also could be it didn't fully disconnect before you started you water crossing. I had to have pretty much an even load left to right for mine to disconnect.

 

[Vtur]

I hate to say this but i think water got in and shorted out the controller board. Undo the 3 bolts, remove and inspects.

 

[m-l_johnny]

Presuming it's essentially still the same electronic disconnect that was used on the JK's, they are prone to failure from water ingress. It's about $2K to replace the unit. Most folks (myself included) opt for a manual disconnect replacement.

 

[Slipshodman]

I am sure you were driving with in the parameters. Also could be it didn't fully disconnect before you started you water crossing. I had to have pretty much an even load left to right for mine to disconnect.

Yeah, don't think I was over doing it at all , but the sway bar had been disconnected for the last couple of hours before it started playing up

I hate to say this but i think water got in and shorted out the controller board. Undo the 3 bolts, remove and inspects.

Unfortunately I "think" I am more mechanical savvy than I am, so nowadays try not to pull things apart unless I "actually" know what I am doing
Will give it a shot if it plays up again or just complain to the dealer next time I am in there and get them to check it

Presuming it's essentially still the same electronic disconnect that was used on the JK's, they are prone to failure from water ingress. It's about $2K to replace the unit. Most folks (myself included) opt for a manual disconnect replacement.

2K, now that's an ouch
And likely means 4K over here.
If it is going to die it better happen while its still under dealer warranty
Might have to take it for a swim more often to test it "make or break"


Thanks all

 

[Lost1wing]

I have not had my Rubicon swimming in deep water. I'm sure I splashed some water up there but never immersed.

I started out disconnecting it with no issue. Like you, I drove for half hour or so. I picked up a bit of speed and it reconnected. After slowing down, I got a flashing disconnect message and it remained connected. I was not on an even trail when that happened. When the trail leveled out I tried it again with the switch and the Rubicon was happy and it disconnected. It only happen that one time. So now I slow down a bit when the trail levels out so the disconnect goes smooth.

 

[kingsize]

I've lost a countless amount of the electronics in these swaybars. We just end up running the EVO MFG No Limits manual disconnect and a Tazer Mini to turn it off. NO LIMITS MANUAL RUBICON SWAYBAR DISCONNECT JK/JL/JT | EVO Manufacturing (evomfg.com)

 

[Proximo]

Presuming it's essentially still the same electronic disconnect that was used on the JK's, they are prone to failure from water ingress. It's about $2K to replace the unit. Most folks (myself included) opt for a manual disconnect replacement.

This is the Main reason I didn't order Rubicon. Bad experience with JK. I just manually disco my JT

 

[BearFootSam]

Now if it's a connector issue, wouldn't a dollop of dielectric grease every now and then preclude this? The disconnect hardware is all below the rated fording depth so ostensibly it should be well sealed.

From what I've come across this isn't a common failure, either it comes down to getting a good unit or perhaps there aren't that many jeepers fording rivers on the regular.

I could see that mud or grit in combination with a rotating seal would lead to ingress. I might start paying closer attention to the module when I give the truck a periodic bath.

 

[Minty JL]

I have the MC disconnects now, but I have the Apex disconnects arriving tomorrow

 

[JTR SPARTAN]

Yeah, don't think I was over doing it at all , but the sway bar had been disconnected for the last couple of hours before it started playing up




Unfortunately I "think" I am more mechanical savvy than I am, so nowadays try not to pull things apart unless I "actually" know what I am doing
Will give it a shot if it plays up again or just complain to the dealer next time I am in there and get them to check it


2K, now that's an ouch
And likely means 4K over here.
If it is going to die it better happen while its still under dealer warranty
Might have to take it for a swim more often to test it "make or break"


Thanks all

I just got hit with a $4300 bill from that damn e-disco. Jeep Canada is trying to push through a "good will" to cover it, especially since Rubicon are notorious for this issue since what???? 2007!....... If they eat the cost, the minute my JTR is back in my driveway, I will be installing a manual disconnect and a tazer mini......but on a side note, jeep should have fixed this issue years ago given the thousands of issues with the e-disco sway bar.

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