When I put the clearance lights on my 02 there was not a wiring harness above the headliner. I wish there had been because I would also like to have the overhead computer.

 

I was thinking of that as well. I looked in the FSM and it has 2 different connectors up but the mirror. one with the 'puter and one with just the lights. Mine has just the lights so its has the smaller connector. I didnt think much more about it after that fact.

 

need12v

When I added the overhead computer console I got the parts off a 1500 SLT. I'm not sure of the year but I believe it was a 2000. The parts taken for the upgrade were the console with computer and the computer to underdash cable. I also took the auto-dimming mirror and lighted sunvisors because they were there and used the same harness. You don't need the entire console since the computer will bolt into the base console. The harness has a 12 pin connector at the computer end and 2 under dash connectors.

Connector C3 is a 14 pin connector that plugs into the junction block on the back of the dash fuse panel (lower forward connector). Remove the existing connector and replace it with the new harness.

The second connector is C358 which is a 4 pin connector that plugs into an empty connector next to the large connector at the base of the steering collumn. The black wire from the CTM is for the anti-theft system which the baseline CTM doesn't support.

My donar truck was front ended so the temp sensor and harness were not available. I picked up a sensor and connector off another chrystler vehicle and built my own harness from the sensor to the plug next to the underhood light. I also built a bracket to mount the sensor behind the grill. I don't think location is important as long as it has air flow.

The hardest part of the job was removing and rerouting the harness without tearing it apart. There's not much room behind the dash to get the connectors in and out. It also helps to see the routing and connector locations in the donar truck.

Good luck and respond if you have more questions.

 

Think its worth it to swap in a the computer? Since this came back up, I'm thinknig of looking for the parts again.

 

Sounds easy enough just requires some time. The hardest part I've had is finding parts.

 

I don't use all the functions of the computer. From what I've heard the mileage function is not very accurate. I do like the temperature and compass function and leave it in that display mode all the time.

I also had a hard time finding the parts at wreckers here in so cal. I guess Dodges never wear out because the yards sure don't have them. I've seen the consoles on e-bay but they go for big $$ and most don't come with the harness.

 

I bought one off ebay a few months back and put it in easy enough. I asked the guy to include the wiring harness and temp sensor under the hood so he cut back 6 inches on the harness for me.

The harness stops about halfway up the drivers side window pillar so all you have to do is extend it from there. I couldn't get the harness through dodge so it would have to be an auto wrecker special if you wanted it factory.

There are only 4 or 5 wires to connect up total, 3 for the lights and power to the mileage computer and 2 for the PCI communication bus. I downloaded a complete service manual including wiring schematics and sliced it all in quite simple.

After everything was connected I had to cycle the batteries to get the main computer to recognize and start updating the trip computer info.

I'm at work so I can't give more detail but if you need more info I can always round up the diagrams for you and put together a walk through.

 

If I were looking for the temp sensor, can anyone tell me what it would look like. You have me curious as to whether I can install this in mine. I think it would be nice to have.

 

on my 2004 it is mounted between the rad support and the rad on the drivers side about 3/4's up the rad. The harness was fully intact with a grey plastic dummy inserted into the plug to keep it clean because my truck didn't come stock with it.

The sensor is about 2 inches long total and plugs directly into the harness, the other end has a short stubby protrution that contains the sensing element. It is mounted directly onto the drivers side rad support.

 

The sensor is black plastic about the size of a 2" long pencil with a 2 socket connector and mounting tab. I think they are universal to all Chrystler vehicles since mine came off a Dodge mini-van.

 

Does anyone have a source for the overhead console with the computer? Sounds like a nice upgrade project. Ths!

 

They come up on ebay quite regularly. Ask that they include the temp sensor and as much of the wiring harness as possible. It should be possible to get the harness all the way down to the door pillar.

 

Can you advise what exactly to search for on eBay to find one? My terminology must be off. Thks.

 

http://search.ebay.com/search/search...p=1%26fsoo%3D1

"Dodge Ram Overhead" got me these hits.

 

Torque,

Search for other posts titled overhead console, or search posts from my username. I did this very upgrade to my truck and on a past post listed all the parts with factory part numbers. You will have to buy 2 wiring harnesses to make this work. The installation was not that hard, I felt it was worth the upgrade.