Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2004
14:41:55
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 Subject: Wiring Recall?
IP: Logged
Message:
Alright, I now know for a FACT that Dodge has a serious problem in the Gen1 and Gen2 Dakotas, as well as a certain year-model Ram. This is dangerous and could cause a fire at worst. Now before I get flamed, let me post what I have discovered and see what you guys think.
My '95 Dakota runs fine, except for the headlights. I was helping a friend move and we got to start smelling a lovely burning scent on the way to his place. Once we got there we shut it down and started looking. The green (solid green, no stripe) wire comming from my headlight switch was glowing orange! Needless to say I crashed there, then came home the next day. After tearing apart my dash to get to it, I discovered my switch was burned and cracked (man it must have been HOT) and the plastic connector was melted. I have done no wiring changes in my truck!!
I bought a new switch at AutoZone and put it in. It got hot if I ran the lights. So now I took it out and left the connector haning. Also removed my bulbs. No problems since, except I cannot drive after dark.
Now, I go to Dodge to buy a plastic connector and they won't sell me the $5 piece of crap, they want to sell me a $900 wiring-harness!! I don't need that crap, so I went to a truck salvage yard nearby and was allowed to check out the Dodge trucks section. First I hit a Ram. It's connector looked identical to my mangled one. I figured it was due to a wreck, so I moved on. Next I laid into a Gen2 Dak. It's connector wasn't disfigured externally, so I removed it. The inside of it was FRIED. Now I am starting to see a pattern. Finally, I moved to a Gen1 Dak (solid blue with push-bars). I got into it but couldn't remove it fro the switch, so I took both. I get home, force it apart and guess what? The green wire is burned brown like mine and the inside it slightly burned, but not badly.
I now reference the wiring schematic for my truck. Surprise! No solenoid on my headlight system. No fuse, no NOTHING. The thing is hard-wired fromt he power source, right through the switch, and into the headlights! So now I realize I have ZERO protection from shorts!!
I have seen this on a Ram, two Gen2 Daks, and a Gen1 Dak. I am curious to know if the Gen3 Daks are wired the same way or if they have a fuse or solenoid to deal with the power. This is a MAJOR design-flaw in my opinion, and one that could easily become unsafe. Now before I go to Dodge and bring up this matter, would any of you like to comment or possibly take a look at how your Daks are wired?
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