Damaged OBDII reader plug and cluster function affected
 

This morning when I went to set my park brake I caught the OBDII reader outlet with my foot and pulled the outer shell off. A couple of pins were touching when I got down to look at it. I realigned them the best I could tell was correct and reassembled it. Now when I go to start the truck there is a 3-4 second delay between when I turn the key and the dash lights up. It still starts and seems to run just fine but I'm sure just wondering what I may have fried. I'm hoping that there is a second cluster control module that won't be as expensive as say an engine control module...

I was dropping the truck off at the dealer and my ride was waiting so I didn't get to spend too much time with it or even get to checking fuses, lets hope for an easy solution first but until then does anyone have an experience on this subject that may be helpful?

If you have a mod-friendly dealer, they might cover it under warranty.

I must have been unclear, I am talking about the stock plug that resides under the dash where they would plug their computer into. No mods what so ever.

Well, your sig looks to be full of mods; those were the ones I was thinking of...

Gotcha! I meant the damage wasn't mod related but I see where your going now.

I only have engine warranty left and I'm not sure if it covers electronics at this point, just lubricated engine components. I've got a copy of the manual with all the schematics and pinouts to go through and at most it looks like I could have fried the integrated power module. I'll go through it tonight and do some diagnostic I guess.

I won't reccommend letting my dealer troubleshoot electrical components because they'll just replace components, expensive ones first, at my cost, until it's fixed. It's a sure fire way to go broke in a hurry.

Maybe you should see if you can get any trouble codes from the truck first? I think my first action would be to take off the battery cables and let the ECM and PCM "lose consciousness". Perhaps they will then "forget" what caused them to get confused, since it was a one-time short.
-P

I'll try that tonight after I repair the Data Link Connector. I have to repair it before I can plug in my Bully Dog and read the codes.

I also have the Daimler/Chrysler shop manual that explains how to troubleshoot and diagnose the entire truck so it should prove an interesting night.

Do you have the paper manual or the CD?

I have the complete manual in .pdf downloaded from here;

http://www.hemitruckclub.com/

I've got the CD manual for the '05, but I like the heavy factory books for my '98 much more!

I think a CD can not replace a paper manual completely, just like a GPS can not replace a paper topo map. Both are a great complement, but not a replacement.
-P

Each one has the same amount of info, but I find the paper manuals much easier to use... and I don't have to get my greasy fingers all over the laptop!

First off the cd is a great way to go because it's portable and communicable and you can print off a paper copy whenever you get your dirty fingerprints all over a page. I even laminate the pages I use frequently.(more so on my watercraft manual than my truck).

Second, When I picked up my truck tonight I found I had no radio, courtesy lights, and a 4 second delay on my cluster function. I checked fuse #51 and found it to be blown. Replaced it and problem solved! Thankfully I got lucky and the fuse did it's job.

Thanks for all your support guys. [guitar]