2nd Gen. Dodge Ram - No Drivetrain Discussion for all Dodge Rams from 1994 through 2002. Please, no engine or drivetrain discussion.

Electrical Problems

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 17, 2005 | 07:26 PM
  #1  
gregway's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Claremont, CA
Electrical Problems

Preface - 94 CTD, 2wd

I just did one of those dumb, brain fade accidents that will cost me a lot of down time and or money. I was trying to fasten the rubber weather stripping at the back of the engine compartment that seals the rear most part of the hood just behind the windshield wipers. I drilled a few holes and stuck a nail just to hold it in. While I was drill the hole, I was holding the strip up and hiding the wires behind it and of coarse I drilled through big bunch of wires. That wasn't so bad but when I put the nail in, it touch most of the wires where the drill scraped away the sheath and basically shorted them all out. Great.

Here's the after effect. I have no tach, speedo, air conditioning, overdrive nor torque converter lockup. The truck runs just fine as long as I don't go on the freeway.

Upon inspection, there are no blown fuses and none of the wires where completely severed. What I need is to find a wiring schematic and what systems I screwed up. I need to find out the computer, relay, fuse, whatever it is that was shorted so I can try to fix it. I also want to avoid taking it in because electrical work is expensive.

Thanks

Greg
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2005 | 08:10 PM
  #2  
rockwithjason's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
The best thing for you to do is to buy a factory repair manual. They have all the info you requested in them. As for the repairs, you probably have wires shorted together even now. The arc may have broken the current path in the circuits in question. Try making the appropriate splices and insulate the wires. That may solve alot of your problems.
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2005 | 09:39 PM
  #3  
high country's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 735
Likes: 0
From: spokane/N. ID
It sounds like you got the vacuum line as well, no cruise, ac are give aways
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2005 | 09:53 PM
  #4  
gregway's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Claremont, CA
It's not the cruise it's the overdrive doesn't work. Actually, the button doesn't even light up when I press it.
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2005 | 10:48 PM
  #5  
gregway's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Claremont, CA
I just tried to put electrical tape around the wires were nicked and nada. I disconnected batteries hoping it might reset any computers that might have been compromised and will reconnect them in the morning. keep your fingers crossed.
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2005 | 08:51 AM
  #6  
CarlJensen's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
From: St Augustine, Florida
You need a wire scematic in the worst way. Where are you in relation to San Diego? You can go online to SOCAL Rattlin Rams web site here;

http://www.socalrattlinrams.org/

and see if someone is close enough to let you look at a diagram. Then it's just the time to do wire repairs and replace fuses. There are a lot of people in the LA, San Diego area that would probably lend a hand.
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2005 | 09:23 AM
  #7  
infidel's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 14,672
Likes: 9
From: Montana
You won't find a schematic for the inards of the pcm anywhere, but here's the wiring.
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...sort/1/cat/500
click on picture to enlarge

There are some self resetting breakers in the PCM that may be still tripping from a slight short. The problems you exhibit point me to the engine speed sensor, the nail could have shorted and fried it. The pcm is very tough though, doubt if that's the problem.
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2005 | 02:26 PM
  #8  
gregway's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Claremont, CA
I think it is the PCM. I unplugged it and the same results. I have one on order so I will let you know what the results are.

Thanks for all the advice.

Greg
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2005 | 06:40 PM
  #9  
infidel's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 14,672
Likes: 9
From: Montana
I've worked a lot on the electrical systems on these trucks and have never seen a pcm fail except in the part that regulates battery charge only. Hope the new pcm fixes yours but don't hold your breath, the dealers love to throw a new pcm at them with no results. I know a few guys who have extra perfectly good pcms because of this. The pcm has internal breakers, it protects itself.
You didn't mention if you unplugged the pcm to fix the damaged wires. I've run across several that didn't make good connection when the pcm has been disconnected a few times, the female connectors seem to stretch out. This problem totally mimics a bad pcm. Fix is to take the plug apart and squeeze the connectors back together tighter.
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2006 | 09:16 PM
  #10  
Austin'sDodge's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield,Texas
Question

Gregway, did you get the problem resolved. What was the fix?
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
DJ Turbo.
1st Gen. Ram - All Topics
40
Oct 13, 2011 09:11 PM
David Kee
HELP!
2
Oct 11, 2003 08:33 AM
FastSS
2nd Gen. Dodge Ram - No Drivetrain
6
Sep 8, 2003 01:47 AM
FastSS
2nd Gen. Dodge Ram - No Drivetrain
5
Jan 8, 2003 05:53 PM
TurboAZ
1st Gen. Ram - All Topics
5
Oct 11, 2002 12:34 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:18 AM.