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1st Gen. Ram - All TopicsDiscussion for all Dodge Rams prior to 1994. This includes engine, drivetrain and non-drivetrain discussions. Anything prior to 1994 should go in here.
Well, I get to say it again..... "Thanks Jim Lane"
Don't remember how many times I've uttered those words.
Sticky helped mucho. Ordered a new lock cylinder, as mine was sloppy after 20 years. It had the same "roll pin" that yours did in the first post of this thread. I pushed it in as it wouldn't come out at all, but the lock assembly fell out like yours did.
Messy huh ? My shifter boot / slide plastic cover broke about 3 months ago when I put in my tach. Amazing how much crud got in there in just a couple months...
Old cover
New Cover installed..... (actually it's from an 87 Ramcharger, but it was in pristine shape, so I took it. Cost me $ .50
I did, however find that my harness (at some time in the past) had heated up.... Luckily, I took your advice and put those headlamp relays in there before this truck became one of those "melted down casualties" that we've all seen
After cleaning and lubricating the terminals with De-oxit, everything went back together relatively easily. Luckily the wires weren't damaged in the harness..
Thanks again for getting me out of trouble, Jim. Buy you an imaginary Internet beer, my friend. Happy Friday...
I was just going through my Photobucket account trying to find a picture, I have over 800 pictures of some form of work or in the process of teardown that I have preformed on my truck when I saw the ones for the ignition lock so I thought it was not a better time to show you how I did the job.
When you reinstall the lock pay attention the shifter lock, I got it all back together with the covers on and found that I could not take it out of Park.
I rarely make mistakes and I know where it had to go I must have moved it when I applied the grease.
Also look at the front side of the switch and if you see any part where the plastic has discolored, it has overheated because something drawing too much current through the IGN circuit.
This is usually the Blower Motor, mine was burned up and I had to replace the switch.
One time I had turned the key to start and the switch stuck in the start position and I could not stop it from cranking and I had to pull the battery cable.
Also if you look at the bottom plastic cover you might find that it has melted from the wires in the harness getting hot, this was my first clue, I felt it was hot to the touch.
I took the load off the switch and controlled the ignition section of the fuse panel through a relay, soon after this is when I set out to design a circuit to put the blower on relays.
Now that I Start and Stop the engine from a switch on the dash it can never stick in the Start position again.
I guess that I am a bit weird about my truck, I am constantly looking and listening for anything unusual and analyzing where it is coming from, if I know that it is not normal I cannot sleep until I find what it is and fix it.
I have placed contact microphones and remote video cameras under vehicles to listen and watch for problems that are hard to see, I also use them to see into crawl spaces and to inspect the inside of air ducts.
I have looked at new wireless video cameras for your pet, if I could just train a hamster to go where I want them to and to return I think I might have a good diagnostic tool.
Jim
Great Write up Jim...Helped me clarify a few things but wondering..my 93 was starting fine then went to start in AM and the key would turn all the way and light up dash but did not have that last t 1/4 inch spring action to actually a get the starter going no click nothing..went to the 2 wire connector and jumped from battery and started right up but charging less then normal...could the switch not working correctly cause the charging to be less then the normal 13.3-14 amps as well as not actuating the starter motor? or am I looking at 2 separate issues? Hope not!! also the same ignition switch will work on non tilt as well as tilt? cause I can find the non tilt replacement part but not the tilt one IF there is a difference..
Thanks again for a great write up Jim!!!
PS mine is a 5 speed Getrag but I'm assuming it is all the same other then the lubricating points for the auto shifter right?
LIKED the article? Man you saved my bacon!!! THANKS a bunch..I was able to follow along with the pics..found the broken pot piece and now off to buy the part for the truck You are a godsend! Thanks again!
CHANGED IT OUT AND NOW RUNNING PERFECT!!! LONGEST PART OF THE WHOLE JOB WAS WAITING FOR THE LONG TORX TOOL LOL..Travelling in Mexico with the old goat! my broken piece found due to Jim's great article and replaced and working like a kitten again!
Last edited by Federic; Feb 27, 2020 at 02:42 PM.
Reason: misspelled
Speaking of - anybody heard from Jim lately?[/QUOTE]
last time I inquired Jim came on and said he, and family were battling some issues.
That’s been quite awhile ago. I sure hope Jim, and family are doing ok.
Dynamite guy, so knowledgeable, giving, and educated. Very helpful.
