I just got a job as a plumber/ drain cleaner and I am using my own truck to haul my tools and gear and I have to track milage for gas coverage, I also have a gps unit to get to the job sites as safe and fast as possibe (garmin on the old amazon great deals) but neither of my plug in power supplies are working either so I am kinda in a jam. It could be a fuse but I am at a loss for time I have worked on another guys truck for my training 50 of the last 90 hours and I have until Wednesday of this coming week to get this fixed and I have no time to mess around, I have time to ask the experts and hope to god it is an easy fix and something me and my pops (Beast2Be) can fix before it goes to a shop to just get it done! any help or tips would be the coolest and most appreciated advise ever! Thanks again for anybody who reads this and any help!

 

First and foremost, check your fuses! The charging plugs run off the fuse block. I'd also see if your cigarette lighter is working. You can run a wire from the battery to them to get a hot wire all the time but you'll need to add a fuse as close to the battery as possible to keep from setting your truck on fire. The odometer not working may be your vehicle speed sensor. 1996 was the last year for OBD I on oil burners so it may or may not go through your computer. How many miles are on it now? Does the speed part of the speedometer still work?

A quick and dirty way to keep track of miles is what I used on my dune buggy. It was street legal and for a speedometer I used a Garmin ETrek. You can set these up to use as a speedometer and it will keep track of top speed, miles traveled, time spent travelling, time spent stopped and so on. You might be able to pick one up for about $100 if not less.

 

speedometer works, the milage on it not is 227,*** miles, i have had to deal with a lot of issues with it already, I have the ability to track milage with my gps but i cant charge it so my first step will be to check fuses and get back on to update! thank you so much grouch for the advise!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If the speed sensor doesn't fix it, you may have a failed gear in the speedometer unit itself. If you have mechanical numbers, the hgear may have failed. If you have a digital odometer, the computer might be the problem. I still would check the VSS first though.

 

I think you should have an electronic instrument cluster. This can be self tested by pushing and holding the trip reset button for 10 seconds until the word "chec" comes up. Then release the button and watch for codes. If you get code 921 thats "cluster not receiving distance pulse msg from PCM. You might have to get dealer to reflash the PCM.
If the dash has been apart recently you could have pulled the plug off the back of the lighter. It is VERY difficult to reach and the harness is short.

 

a 96 will be mechanical. they didnt switch over to the electronic clusters until 98.

if your fuses are good pull the dash bezel off, two screws on the ash tray and 2 on the cup holder, and make sure that the power outlets are plugged in. you might be able to see the back of the outlets just by taking out the cup holder.

 

Thanks, I thought it was 96 for the 2500/3500 and 95 for the 1500.

 

every 96-97 i've seen is all mechanical. all 98's ive seen are digital. i dont know about the 1500's though but i would guess that they are the same.

 

cmac, your right. they where all mechanical until 98. You may want to just try resetting the trip odo several times and see if that makes a difference, I have seen that work before.

 

If the speedometer is working but not the odometer more than likely you will have to replace the gauge. You can try resetting the trip meter a couple times but the chance that it will work is slim.

Look inside the elec outlets for corrosion. I had to clean mine to get good contact. I used steel wool. Be sure to unplug the socket from the back or disconnect the batteries first.