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Sway bar problem

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sway bar
16K views 20 replies 11 participants last post by  rododle 
#1 ·
Sway bar module has gone out again. Second time in 3 years. This time it took out the fuse block and the main computer. Can you just bypass this module? Already cost over $2,000 and the sway bar will be almost $2,000 more. So can it just be bypassed and made do without.
 
#5 ·
Holy red flags batman.

Am I reading into this right? You took it in because the swaybar was not functioning right and they told you the TIPM was bad so it needed replaced now they are telling you the swaybar assembly is the problem and they need another 2 grand to fix it?

I hope I read into this wrong. If I did you got took for a ride. Even if the TIPM was bad you can replace it yourself. I did a bit of searching and replaced mine for 200 bucks, no the dealership does not have to do it and yes a used one will work no matter what they tell you.

As far as the sway bar goes.... every time mine has went hay wire on me I have droped it, took it apart, cleaned and greased it real good then put it back on. I have done this twice in the last 5 years.

When I read your post in this thread I envision you taking it to the dealership because the swaybar light is on, they say "Well the unit is new so it has to be the TIPM", they swap the TIPM and the swaybar light is still on so they say you have to change the swaybar. Now they are telling you have to have the swaybar in or the jeep will not run without it.

Yeah, yeah I know I just went blah, blah ,blah on you so to awnser your original question. YES you can do away with it. Thousands of others have either with an aftermarket sway bar system like the antirock or with the manual bypass like that was linked above. The only issue is that the light will stay on and that can easily be fixed with a procal.

I really hate dealerships, they are only worried about their pockets.
 
#6 ·
Hi, Thanks for your reply yo my post. The jeep completely quit running is why I took it in. The swaybar light was flashing but I can live with that. Jeep place said it was the fuse block so I had them replace it. $1100. Then he said the wiring was messed up do he did some work on the wiring, $200. Then he said the pcm will have to be replaced because the ok one wasn't communicating with them. So far a little over $2000. Now they said the swaybar is the cause of all the other stuff going out. I asked if he could put a manual lockout in it and bypass that module. He said no he can't and without that module it will start and run but won't accelerate. What would you do? He said it would be a week getting parts in so I have a few days.
 
#9 ·
Not exactly. The swaybar sends a signal to the nanny computer - the one that tells it "vehicle is going more than 17 mph so reconnect before the driver hurts himself". I suppose you may have a computer problem is what they are trying to say - ie when the swaybar went somehow it hosed the computer. So the issue is the computer not the swaybar. Again, the swaybar can be entirely removed, the vehicle will accelerate and all that other stuff it's supposed to do just like normal - pull the fuse (to get power out of the whole swaybar loop) and the only thing "wrong" will be your blinky light from the pissed off nanny. The dealer and iirc some of the aftermarket programmers can flash the computer to turn off the blinky light.
 
#10 ·
AEV procal will allow you to either add or remove an electronic disco.
 
#11 ·
I appreciate all of the post. The jeep place replaced the fuse block and then did some rewiring and then replaced the main computer (at least that's what I understood). Now they are saying the swaybar module has to be replaced because the accelerator won't work unless it is replaced. Is this module a separate computer? Is it separate from the swaybar motor? And is all of this something I can do? I haven't worked on a lot of vehicles but I can usually follow instructions and get it done.
 
#12 ·
I have absolutely no idea what they are talking about that would affect acceleration. Like I and others have said, you can remove the swaybar altogether and the Jeep is just fine. Maybe ask the dealer for the part number of what they want to replace and someone here can translate. All I can think of is the nanny module that sends the signal to automatically reconnect over 17mph or "only work in 4LO" but how this would affect accelerating stumps me. It would only connect or disconnect the swaybar, not shut down the engine?
 
#13 ·
OP;

Is this "Jeep Place" you refer to a dealership or an independent shop?

I don't have any input on how to fix your problem, but from the knowledgeable responses you've gotten, I do know I'd be looking for another dealership or shop for a second opinion.
 
#14 ·
They are jerking you around. My sway bar motor got stolen. 3 bolts and boom, the thieves walked away with 1600$.

Been running like that for over two years. I pulled the fuse and dipped the connector in a vat of plasti-dip several times just to be safe.

I recently just pulled the whole thing off and don't miss it at all, even with all the highway driving I do. Got tired of connecting and reconnecting manually.

Since the main computer was replaced(?) you may need to go to a dealership and have them input the sale code for the sway-bar motor since it was disconnected for a period of time. Other than that everything should work fine.

I did heavy research into swayer replacement options, EVO beat me to the pneumatic system because my partner dragged his feet and would not listen to my concerns.

That shop is ripping you off. As others have stated, the only communication that happens between the computer and the sway-bar is locked and unlocked positions. The rest his handled at the computers end.

When the motor is powered, it is unlocked.

When it is unpowered, it slides into the locked position as soon as you're on level ground due to a manual spring.

All the computer does when you exceed the 17mph range is turn power off to the disconnect motor.
 
#15 ·
I hope the OP comes back and gives us a part number or something concrete to identify what they are wanting to replace. I suspect either a) the OP is misunderstanding the shop and the part being replaced is totally unrelated to the swaybar issue and is meant to fix something else that's broken B) the shop is seriously stupid and looking to upcharge or c) we are all about to learn of some super secret connection no one ever saw before between the swaybar and the power train.
 
#16 ·
Hey all - based on exactly what others have said above, I am talking to people who've had their swaybar motor or gearbox fail in hope of getting Jeep to make good on repairs via recall, TSB, etc.

Personally, my dealer diagnosed a bad motor board and connectors on mine a couple months ago after it failed to unlock on a trip. Mopar lifetime warranty refused to cover it due to "corrosion," which of course was due to water getting where it shouldn't be. No warranty relief even after a LOT of phone calls and emails with Mopar. My argument was (and still is) that this part is exposed to rain/snow/puddles so it should be fully waterproof or water-tolerant. If the connector seal failed causing damage then that should be warranty.

In addition, my swaybar gearcase was so full of water, rust, and bad grease that it failed to work even manually w/ the Evo kit. Just like above, if the gearcase is full of water then something is wrong there w/ the part as well.

So anyway, PLEASE PM ME if you've had an issue w/ this POS part, especially if you've had to pay for repairs. Thanks and feel free to cross-post or share w/ people you may know.
 
#17 ·
Definitely a bad design. My cost to fix it this second time was over $3,700. They should make this right. Really turning me against Jeep. Now for my next problem with the Jeep, the death wobble. Got it repaired at the same time I replaced the sway bar the first time. Now it is back with a vengeance. I could have lived with the faulty airbags but they fixed that problem. guess because of safety issues. But the death wobble is definitely a safety issue. I can't believe a company as reputable as Jeep will not fix their faulty design problems. I'm out thousands of dollars for things that they should fix. Thanks for letting me rant. I won't buy another Jeep unless they start fixing their problems.
 
#18 · (Edited)
If my understanding of this swaybar system is correct then yes, if the light is flashing then the swaybar has not reconnected and is unsafe to drive on the road; thus why the computer won't permit the vehicle to operate at speed. However, if you simply unplug the wiring harness from the swaybar motor the computer no longer knows the status of the swaybar and, while the light will still blink, it will not prohibit you from driving. Additionally, once the vehicle is on level ground (unplugged or not) the sway bar will reconnect. I think most people with this issue just unplug it and install a traditional swaybar or go with the EVO Manual disconnect. Does that sound accurate?

I have not had a problem with mine in the 18000 miles that I've owned by Rubicon, but I am fully prepared for the day that this happens after reading about it. I have disconnected about a dozen times off road (including some water crossings and mud) so far without any issues, but I know it will inevitably fail and then I'll just disconnect the wiring and use manual links
 
#19 ·
Get an AEV Procal (or tuner with equivlent capability) and turn off the idiotic electro-fail sway bar. Either add one of the manual disconnect mechanisms to the electro-fail, or better yet, step up to a dual rate sway bar like Teraflex's or the ORO unit and throw the elctro-fail in the trash.
 
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