air locker issues

[decavo]

I had front lockers installed 6 months ago or so ..They worked flawlessly .. until...

I engaged them and the comp ran constantly .. turned them off drove a little bit turned comp back on every thing was o.k. NOw they engage and the comp runs every 30 seconds .. Then the next time i used them everything works o.k. The comp only comes on every few miles .. the diff breather is extended to the engine comp with the oem valve .. I paid to have the locker installed the guy is competant or so I thought

I dont see any leaks outside of the diff housing ..

any ideas ??

 

[Turbo Turtle]

Try spraying the air line with soapy water when the locker engaged to locate any potential air leaks. Also if your locker is leaking inside the dif it will either push grease out one end of the axle or possibly the breather end. pop a little balloon on the end and see if it expands. I havn't heard of the dif breather being a potential air path, but what the hay, it's worth an extra moment of diagnostic time before you start asking Q's with the installer.

 

[alvarorb]

Decavo,

Does the compressor cycle when the lockers are engaged or when they are disengaged?
If they cycle when they are disengaged, it's a easy fix. The problem is within the compressor and the solenoids that control airflow to the lockers.
If the compressor cycles when they are engaged, it could be that the o ring seal inside the locker has gone bad.

I had to replace the inner o ring seal on my rear locker.

Regards

Alvaro

 

[decavo]

the only time the comp cycles is when the lockers are engaged ..i hope i dont have to replace the inner seal after only 6 months of light use ..

 

[alvarorb]

I had the old style o-ring seal and had to change it about 6 months after it's initial install. After that, with the new style seal it's been rock solid. No leaks.

If you engage jus the rear locker, does it cycle?
Can you move the air lines around or the solenoid cables so you can engage only the front. It would be interesting to see where the leak is coming from (front or rear).

Regards

Alvaro

the only time the comp cycles is when the lockers are engaged ..i hope i dont have to replace the inner seal after only 6 months of light use ..

 

[decavo]

I had the old style o-ring seal and had to change it about 6 months after it's initial install. After that, with the new style seal it's been rock solid. No leaks.

If you engage jus the rear locker, does it cycle?
Can you move the air lines around or the solenoid cables so you can engage only the front. It would be interesting to see where the leak is coming from (front or rear).

Regards

Alvaro

it is the front for sure as it is the only lockers installed .. i hard birf soup pouring out so when i had the front axel serviced put in lockers .i guess that i have the new style gasket as the locker was bought less than a year ago ..

to replaace the seal do u need to remove the locker .. i did not do the work .. is it a easy job

 

[decavo]

wtf now the thing is working what to do .. could there be crud in the transfer case causing this ??

 

[jamisobe]

I have had my O-ring seal around the end of the compressor leak. I loosened the 1/2" bolt on the same end and wiggled the cylinder a bit before retightening and it was fixed. I had it happen again more recently and it was the same issue. I could feel the air escaping.

 

[alia176]

Just one more diagnostic check, if you don't mind:

1. turn on the air compressor and tell us if it cycles on/off. If so , what is the cycle time.

2. Turn on the air compressor AND engage the front air locker. Make sure that the engine is not running. Climb underneath the vehicle and listen for air leaks. Spray windex or similar soapy solution around blue air hose entering the front diff. Do the same thing on the air fittings near the air compressor and look for leaks.

I don't know when the "new" style of O rings came out but I have had no leaks with one set of lockers installed in '98 and another set installed in '03. However, if the O rings were twisted during installation then you'll have leaks. If this was the case, you should've seen this from the beginning.

Does the blue hose enter your diff at 12 or 6 o'clock? If 6 o'clock, could something have pulled the hose out a little during wheeling?

Good luck.

 

[topend yobbo]

I had a problem very similar to this not long ago with my ARB locker.The drama was the electrical connection that screws into the compressor with the two wires on it was leaking between the steel outer and plastic inner section.
NOT LEAKS AT THE THREAD OR AIR LINE.
Anyway worth a look .And ARB did change it no questions asked.
Can someone please show proof,ie, part numbers or a written write up with ARB letterhead showing existence of this NEW o-ring or is it an urban myth?

 

[decavo]

I had a problem very similar to this not long ago with my ARB locker.The drama was the electrical connection that screws into the compressor with the two wires on it was leaking between the steel outer and plastic inner section.
NOT LEAKS AT THE THREAD OR AIR LINE.
Anyway worth a look .And ARB did change it no questions asked.
Can someone please show proof,ie, part numbers or a written write up with ARB letterhead showing existence of this NEW o-ring or is it an urban myth?

that is interesting .. but the problem is so intermediant

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I had a problem very similar to this not long ago with my ARB locker.The drama was the electrical connection that screws into the compressor with the two wires on it was leaking between the steel outer and plastic inner section.
NOT LEAKS AT THE THREAD OR AIR LINE.
Anyway worth a look .And ARB did change it no questions asked.
Can someone please show proof,ie, part numbers or a written write up with ARB letterhead showing existence of this NEW o-ring or is it an urban myth?

I have seen it at or local diff place. The old main seal was a huge U shaped rubber o-ring. THe new seal is a series of plastic rings with a small o-ring around the perimeter.