Broken ARB diff lock and air compressor switches.

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Has anyone had any problems with the air locker diff and air compressor switches for ARB airlocker diffs.

I was in an ARB shop today pricing a new rear ARB airlocker and when I got home and looked at the positioning of the current two switches, for my front ARB airlocker, I flicked them on (car off) and both switch covers fell out of the dash.

I have looked at the switch faces which fell under my seat and they are the most flimsy pieces of rubbish I have ever seen in my life and cannot be reattached as the flimsy mounts have snapped off and they are only 15 months old!

These switches make Chinese rubbish look like quality!

Does anyone know if I can buy new (not ARB) rocker switches that will operate my air locker!

This is making me seriously question the product quality of ARB diff locker switches and whether the rest of the diff is as flimsy as the switches!

I will be contacting ARB on Monday to see what they say and I will let you all know but in the meantime I would like to source better quality switches as this could have happened when I was in the bush 4 wheeling which could have meant no compressor.

I will let you know what they say!

Any advice will be welcomed.

Cheers.

Kakadu David

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

Hi K-David
Had the same thing happen a few weeks back, with the ARB compressor switch cover.
Looks like the rocker pivots have failed.
The cover is still sitting on the switch and operating the function of the switch, but will inevitably shift in the rough stuff.
Narva do a similar "Carling" type switch.http://www.narva.com.au/sitebuilder/...-4wd-intro.jpg
Will check to see if its a straight swop.
Cheers
Troy

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Thanks Troy for for your feedback.

This sounds exactly the same as what has happened to my ARB switches.

It is a shame the diffs are guaranteed for 5 years but the switches last for a little over 1.

I will have a look at the website you quoted and let you know what ARB say.

Opposition stores like ORE love these kinds of stories and ARB need to be aware of these comments as there is now a lot of competition in the 4 wheel drive parts business.

Cheers.

David.

[DGW Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DGW]

The same happened to both my switches and both were replaced by ARB, the rear locker switch after about 18 months, the compressor after a 2 years. Apparently this is very common and I am all ready been looking at other switches for when they break again as they are, in my opinion, very poorly designed and made.

[Mule Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mule]

Same with one of mine. I was able to take the cover off another switch and it worked fine. Air Onboard do a great range of switches including 150 series style switches, would be my suggestion if you want to swap out.

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

UPDATE:

Spoke to ARB today and they replaced the switches but were reluctant to admit it was their crappy product's fault. I mean you only have to look at the rocker cover pivots to see they are absolute crap.

The rep tried to tell me they may have been damaged by another driver (told him my Prado has only ever been driven by me), that I may have knocked the switches when getting in and out of the cab (told and showed him the switches are near the radio so way out of the way of entry and exit), and that he would put in a claim in for warranty (I said just as well as I am certainly not paying for more crap and would prefer to pay more somewhere else for durable switches).

When I told him that I had just this morning spent $950 at Opposite Lock to get a spare compressor (in case ARB compressor switch broke again which of course may leave you with no compressor) and other bits and pieces I think the penny dropped that maybe he should show some interest for someone who spends lots of $$$$$$$$ equipping his new 4x4 ($30,000 so far!) - sick I know but better than makeup and jewellery for the wife!

These guys need to realise that the 4x4 industry is very competitive and in my case, I have 8, 4x4 parts shops like ARB (2), Opposite Lock (2) ORE (1), TJM (1), plus several others within 4 klms of where I live.

What I have spent equipping the 4x4 so far in one year is probably more than half what this guy would earn in a year so they should realise that without repeat customers, they would not have any jobs.

It is amazing that this fact seems to be forgotten by so many salespeople and owners.

Anyway I now have temporary replacements and am now going to source high quality, replacement switches so thanks to those people above who have provided alternative product advice.

Regards.

Kakadu David