I just installed a used rubicon sway bar, new wiring harness, and new dash panel in my 2008 sahara. Sway bar was used but was working at time of removal. I’m pretty confident I installed the harness correctly and I activated the sway bar with my procal.

Unfortunately, it’s not working for me. When I press the dash button, the swaybar motor makes a quick chirp sound and otherwise does nothing. The dash light illuminates once and goes off. If I press the button a few times, the light will begin blinking and won’t go off until I restart the Jeep, where it’s off again. The swaybar is connected and has not disconnected at all. I’ve tried rocking the Jeep and driving it. I put the Jeep in 4-hi and 4-lo. Any idea where to start diagnosing? I’m aware I can convert it to a manual system but that’s not the advice I’m looking for at this point.

 

First double check things: I would start by disconnecting one of the front sway links for a test (parked w/ key at run). In 4LO (it only disconnects in 4LO) press the button. The lamp should either blink indicating that it's NOT yet in the commanded state, or go solid on indicating it has successfully disconnected. If it blinks, wiggle the loose sway link and see if the lamp turns on solid, and in either case move the loose sway link and check if it actually disconnected.

To re-connect, press the button again. The lamp should either blink indicating that it's NOT yet in the commanded state, or go OFF indicating it has successfully disconnected (raise/lower the loose sway link to re-connect and verify). Driving faster than a certain speed, re-starting the engine, or shifting to anything besides 4LO re-connects -- Full details are in the owners manual.

The blinking indicator lamp meaning that it's NOT in the commanded state has confused several people I know, and it applies to the e-locker as well.

Another thing I'd try (again) is activation with the Procal, it may not have worked the first time.

See what happens and and we'll go from there.

 

Thanks for the reply. I’ve lost daylight here but I’ll try again tomorrow. So far, I was trying with it in 4-lo and I did check that it has remained connected by pulling one of the links. The swaybar is definitely connected. Throughout, testing I’ve gotten the single blink with nothing happening. Only if I press the buttons several times, I can get flashing that will not stop - during the flashing I’ve driven and rocked the Jeep. I have not tried that with the link pulled, and I’ll give that a go, but I’ll not too optimistic. I’ll double check the activation, but before activation the button did nothing with the dash. Also, I’ve noticed that if I unplug the harness at the smartbar, the dash light flashes. So my wiring at least recognizes the swaybar as attached.

 

Maybe the diagram below will help too, it looks like can bus and two fused B+ circuits. OBD2 Software (Appcar DiagFCA) that can activate it directly for a test, and read the switch input might be handy -- I'll double check DiagFCA has this capability if your thinking more diagnostic tools will help. There might be some advanced error codes (not readable with the key dance or typical readers) that will help as well. But I'm kind of thinking that if fuses are good and you hear some motor action in the swaybar, the problem is in the swaybar itself. Somewhere (maybe from RonJenx) there was some info on opening it up for cleaning and greasing. If mine begin failing, that's the direction I'd lean.

 

the lockers only work in 4L but smart bar works in 4H and 4L

 

Woops, you're right -- First thing to go is memory, can't remember what's second...

 

Here’s a video of the symptoms. I press the button a few times then rock the Jeep. Does not disconnect (swaybar motor doesn’t seem to be trying other than a chirp coming from the swaybar that can only be heard if laying under the Jeep).

 

have you tried driving around and turning it on?

 

Yes, took it up and down the street

 

Are you 100% sure it was working when you got it? Did you see it work properly before it was removed? If you haven't remove the links and mess around with it.