I originally posted this in the wrong spot- please be patient!

I picked up a '91.5 interciooled CTD last fall, and have been trying to get all the bugs worked out. I think the mechanical issues are pretty much resolved, but the wiring is a real mess. All kinds of extra wires running here there and everywhere under the dash, no horn, radio, power wirrors, cruise, power locks, trailer wiring, and the headlights just gave up on me last week. I didn't quite grasp how much of a mess it was until I looked under the dash of my dad's '93, and was shocked at how little wire there should be under there!

I'm almost thinking it might be easiest to scroung a new dash wiring harness, and start over. Anybody have a link to a how-to?

 

I bought one like that, only most everything worked. When I got the "alarm" system, some sound wiring, and about a dozen suitcase splices removed, it cleaned up pretty nice.

I added in some wiring, like a trailer relay box, but did it right.

 

since pretty much everything don't work the first place you may want to start is at the fuse panel under the dash. you may want to see what fuses have power and which ones doesn't. now remember some fuses don't have power unless the key is in the run position so you may want to test for power with the key in the run position. for testing for power you could use either a voltage meter or test light. both will do the job.

personally i like wiring and would probably fix it. plus sometimes tracking down something like a un-molested wiring harness with all the power options may be even harder especially for a diesel. with enough time and patients you could probably fix it all.

 

If someone has been adding stuff, might have smoked some of the fuse holders. They can be bypassed. Doing it neatly is the trick. Like Crazzy says, start there.

Testing there will also quickly find bad fusible links, and ignition switch problems.

 

Members Mark Nixon, Deere Country, and Redlinear just about always have spare stuff laying around, I would contact them to see if they have a spare harness.

And I would make REALLY sure that I had a FSM for a 91.......

 

ya but you could get a new fuse holder off pretty much any 81-93 dodge ram and then just replace some of the connectors and bad wires. it requires patients but can make thing look nice and factory again. i know on my 81 i have used some of the empty slots for to power some of the stuff i have installed.

after fixing everything you may want to look at doing a few wiring upgrades to prevent any future electrical problems like putting your headlights and blower motor on relays. those about about the 2 biggest load on every dodge truck. could even put the wipers on relays if you wanted.

 

And trailer loads on relays.

 

almost sounds like he might need a power distribution center with how many things we are suggesting to put on relays. also wouldn't hurt as a bit of an upgrade. some of the new power distribution centers have fuses that can replace fusible links. i know if i didn't blow up half my power distribution center i would have about 7 relays and a dozen fuses used.