HSKR
Dodge Dakota
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4/26/2003
23:07:28
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 Subject: overhead console swap works!!!
IP: Logged
Message:
Well, I decided to tacle the overhead console swap today from my '99 with the overhead computer to the '00 that idn't have the overhead computer. Started off by pretty much totally destroying the wireing harness on the '99. I'm never going to fix it, so why bother keeping it in one peice. Tried removing the whole dash, but it was too heavy to remove by myself so it's just sitting in the truck loose from the cab held up by the steering column only. Gave me enough room to rip out the wiring hraness enough to chase wires. Pulled the connector for the overhead console and autodimming reaview mirror(the '00 had neither) and pulling the wiring harness all the way down to the dash. Then reached under the dash and removed all the connectors with wires went to so I coudl get it pulled out to where I coudl work on it. Cut every wire not used for the overhead console to make it easier. Then cut the connectors off completly so I could just take them over to the '00 with me for a guide to hook the wires back up. Next, I went and ripped out the overheado console out of the '00 and the A-pillar cover. Only wires up to overhead consle on '00 were the 3 wires for the lights. cut off the connector for the '00 overhead console lights since it wasn't needed, and spliced the wires for the '99 console into the '00 harness. Then, removed the bottom peice of the dash uner the steering column for easier access to connectors under dash. There are four wires to a fuse box connecotr and three to one next to the large main harness connecotr under dash. Pulled he fuse box conector I needed, and found the wires on the other connector I needed. Now here is where I had to search a little. On the '00, the three wires on the non-fuse box connector where in different spots than the '99 connector so I had to search for the right wire colors and hope they were the same. Luckily the wire colors were the saem, just in a different spot. I used an inline splice to hook those wires up. The four wires to the fuse box, I just shoved into the empty pins on the connecotr since unless you have the overhead computer, they are not used. Luckily, once again, the pins were the same for the '99 to the '00. Got everything hooked up, and connected. Then turned the key on to test it. FALK!!!! Doesn't work, and odo is reading "no bus". What the hell did I falk up!!!! I removed the connector form the overhead console and the autodimming mirror, and tired again thinking maybe something was shorted. Still nothing. Then I remembered, I had forgot to unhook the battery when I cut the wires for the factory overhead consol lights. Checked the fuse box, and sure enough I blew the main interior lights 15 amp fuse. Replaced that, hooked everything back up and it worked!!!!!!!! Only thing not working right is the compass which just needs calibrated so I will have to resort the the owners manual for how to do that. But everything telse worked great. MPG reading was working, DTE was working, and the trip meter was working. Oh, the temp sensor was also working, but I had already hooked the sensor up the the connector under the hood a couple weeks ago knowing i was going to try the overhead console swap. So for anyone who wants to try this, go for it!!!! Took me about 3 hours total time. Hardest part woudl be finding a donor truck for a overhead computer. I had been told the '00 wiring was different not allowing a '99 console to be wired in, but they were wrong.
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