[Rant/On]I ordered a pair of replacement "Heavy-Duty" switches from Amazon for my lockers 9/18 to replace the lighted switches I installed nearly ten years ago. This is the replacement switch I bought... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058BNGTS/?tag=wranglerorg-20
I replaced both lockers switches 9/18 with that one out of an abundance of caution. That backfired on me. My constant worry was the original locker switches I installed had a lot of plastic content. Even the toggles were plastic and that nagged me ever since I installed them. So I replaced them with the above "Heavy-Duty" switches, I was much relieved after doing so and figured they were two less things to worry about.
Yesterday I'm heading out for a pretty tough rock crawling trail that requires both F&R lockers. I tested both before leaving my house and they worked fine. Then early on the trail the front locker stops working. The effing new switch had come apart internally. Instead of it only moving up/down, the toggle could be moved 360 degrees. No effing front locker!!
The trail was tough enough that not having both lockers really caused me problems. One spot in particular is a very steep climb up & over a rocky ledge, it's about a 10' climb. I normally lead groups up that trail and climb and never had a problem until yesterday. The rear locker by itself wasn't enough to make it. I finally had to give up and use the winch, it was embarrassing.
I'll buy a three replacement switches locally today at Fry's Electronics (EDIT: Fry's was a waste of time, they hardly have any switches there and none were suitable) so I can see and test them before deciding. Two to replace both switches and the third one to carry in my electrical repair bag I carry in the Jeep.
The moral of the story is that even small seemingly insignificant parts can nearly ruin a day on the trail when they break.
I replaced both lockers switches 9/18 with that one out of an abundance of caution. That backfired on me. My constant worry was the original locker switches I installed had a lot of plastic content. Even the toggles were plastic and that nagged me ever since I installed them. So I replaced them with the above "Heavy-Duty" switches, I was much relieved after doing so and figured they were two less things to worry about.
Yesterday I'm heading out for a pretty tough rock crawling trail that requires both F&R lockers. I tested both before leaving my house and they worked fine. Then early on the trail the front locker stops working. The effing new switch had come apart internally. Instead of it only moving up/down, the toggle could be moved 360 degrees. No effing front locker!!
The trail was tough enough that not having both lockers really caused me problems. One spot in particular is a very steep climb up & over a rocky ledge, it's about a 10' climb. I normally lead groups up that trail and climb and never had a problem until yesterday. The rear locker by itself wasn't enough to make it. I finally had to give up and use the winch, it was embarrassing.
I'll buy a three replacement switches locally today at Fry's Electronics (EDIT: Fry's was a waste of time, they hardly have any switches there and none were suitable) so I can see and test them before deciding. Two to replace both switches and the third one to carry in my electrical repair bag I carry in the Jeep.
The moral of the story is that even small seemingly insignificant parts can nearly ruin a day on the trail when they break.
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