Smittybilt winch no worky

[snj8198]

This winter I bought a new gen 2 Smittybilt XRC 12k winch which I just installed today. The winch powers out fine but wont power in. The solenoid clicks but no motor or drum rotation. All the connections are clean and positive. I think it is a DOA solenoid. Inspection of the solenoid doesn't show anything burnt, shorted, funny smells or out of the ordinary. How does a guy test the solenoid before I call in to Smittybilt customer service on Monday for a replacement?

[mongocanfly]

If you've got a volt meter you could check it that way..

[B. W.]

X2 with mongo or you you can jumper power to the "power out" side of the solenoid (bypassing the solenoid) I'm not familiar with the solenoid setup on this winch, on a warn 8274 there's a 4 solenoid pack that reverses power & ground, if you jump the 8274 wrong you can short it out.

[mongocanfly]

If its a multiple solenoid setup try swapping the solenoid if you don't have a tester

['63GENIII]

Steve, Im thinking there should be 2 solenoids. One for in, one for out or some sort of reversing relay that switches polarity to get the rotation reversed.

Either way, if you shelled out the $$ for a new winch and it hasn't been used, Id be making a call to Smittbilt's tech line. They can probably coach you through figuring it out and you never know, they may warranty it. After all, its new right?

[Brad54]

Agree with what GenIII said: dink around trying to fix or make-work a swap meet or Craislist winch.
Newly purchased? I wouldn't even bother with a phone call--I'd either drive it to the shop you bought it from and show them, or shoot video and show the store manager when you plunk it down on his counter. Then go install the replacement.

-Brad

[jeffahart]

You just tested it, by connecting per manufactures instructions. If you set if set it up correctly, which I'm sure is the case, it doesn't work. I'm pretty sure that new winch has a solid state solenoid. Get a new one, pisser I know. I wired my ancient Hickey with a solid state solenoid, no reason not to.

[obijuan]

drop it off at 4 wheel parts or any smittybilt distributor and get a new one.

[snj8198]

Hey thanks guys. This was a new purchase from 4 Wheel Parts on sale this winter. It's Smittybilt's XRC 12 w/synthetic. I'm almost positive it's the solenoid since the motor and drum does turn in the "out" direction but only clicks on the "in" direction.

Pics of the solenoid:




I'll call Smittybilt on Monday to see if they will warranty a replacement. If for some reason they say no due to length of time or out of warranty, etc, the solenoid is about $50 new if I was forced to buy it.

[obijuan]

Those should have a 3 year electronics warranty

[snj8198]

Originally Posted by obijuan

Those should have a 3 year electronics warranty

was it? Nice, thanks!

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by obijuan

Those should have a 3 year electronics warranty

Thats way cool!

[snj8198]

I forgot that i had purchased the extended warranty with 4 Wheel Parts for $55 but I decided not to use it. 4WP said if I send the winch back under warranty I would have to repurchase the warranty again for the replacement winch. That to me is like a prepaid restocking fee rather than a warranty. I called Smittybilt direct and they are sending me a replacement solenoid. I'll use the warranty on something worse if that case happens in the future.

I used jumper cables to actuate the winch both forward and reverse so the problem must be the solenoid. First time I had a failure out of the box.

[obijuan]

Extended warranty should not be used for manufacturer defect. That's their extreme warranty if you break it.

[snj8198]

That's what I thought and how 4wp explained it. Smittybilt kinda wanted me to return the winch to 4wp but 4wp stated I would have to repurchase another warranty if I used it in this case. So I recalled Smitty and they agreed to send another solenoid.

[Zoomad75]

I'd save up for a different one. Been witness to DirtyLarry's Smittybuilt winch taking a dump at the WORSE possible time. Multiple times no less.

Most recently on our weekend validation run before our big desert trip. Larry's K10 is stuck with it's right side tires off the trail. The smitty is on his rear bumper and I'm running the winch while Larry tries to back out. We got maybe a couple of feet pulled in and snap. Motor still ran, but no in or out. Freespool won't release. We are dang lucky the drum didn't freespool and let the truck ride down a couple hundred feet of mountain slope.

I'll take my Warn Xd9000i any day over the smitty.

[snj8198]

Scary scenario Zoomad75. I agree there is plenty of better quality options but I had been lucky with 2 prior Smittys with one lasting 10 years of general use with 6-10 hard pulls a year so I thought I would try for a third. This is exactly why I don't want to waste my replacement warranty on merely a solenoid that's priced less than the cost of the warranty. I may yet use it to send the winch back for good and put the value towards a Warn VR12. As of now that is still in the cards.

[jeffahart]

I think you will be fine for your basic unstuck type extraction. So for a recovery you need the right guy with the right gear anyway. I'm pretty sure you have to recover vehicles now. The old days of walking away from your vehicle after it topples down a hill is now environmentally unsound, depending on the area. I still see stuff walked away from in Mojave but it's more and more rare, just depends on how remote. National forest... recovery time, and if you don't have the equipment... then pay up. Here's one I recently picked a few things off of. I'm not big into the offroad scene anymore, though I do still get out and cruise around. I've walked away from a couple vehicles of my own. And I've been in a couple gnarly cliff rollovers for that matter. It's always scary for sure. I've been in quite a few offroad and on road rollovers. I rolled a Volkswagen Rabbit off a cliff on Malibu Canyon about forty years ago (thought I was dead for sure) that's another story though, and I won't bore everyone with all my rollover stories. To me, vehicle recovery is after the wreck is over, and the equipment gets recovered. Or stuff gets ditched then recovered. Else, it's basic rock crawler pull me over or get me out of the mud type stuff. If you're remote and taking chances... then you have a chance to walk away from equipment after the big booboo; and then come back later and try to salvage the mess.

Play hard, have fun... and at least try to be safe!

Here's, a fairly recent abandon in Mojave. Looks like high speed wipe out over a small cliff, plus I came down a fairly steep hill, behind my utility vehicle, to get to the bones. Some kid probably.. reminds me of me!