Early Dakota auto shift "wire" for P, N,R D ,D2, indicator?
#3276050
12/14/24 12:29 PM
12/14/24 12:29 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,022 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
OP
I Live Here
|
OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,022
Freeport IL USA
|
I have a 96 Dakota dash in my truck. The little "wire" that connects the shift lever on the column with the transmission position indicator (the P, N R D, 2 & low thing) in the instrument cluster ceased functioning. It reads that it is "low" all the time, and I do not see the wire there at all. I assume that means the wire has broken.
What is that wire called, and what are the chances I might be able to find a replacement, before I go through the effort to pull the instrument cluster out?
The next question is, how is it attached to the spring loaded indicator?
If the "wire" is no longer available, is there a work around that works?
|
|
|
Re: Early Dakota auto shift "wire" for P, N,R D ,D2, indicator?
[Re: nuthinbutmopar]
#3276194
12/14/24 11:09 PM
12/14/24 11:09 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,715 Motor City
6PKRTSE
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,715
Motor City
|
As mentioned. It is a very small dia cable with a crimped on end. Maybe the wire pulled out of the end eyelet. There is also a plastic thumb wheel knob under the column to adjust the PRND21 indicator location up on the dash.
1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute 1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack 1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi 1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383 1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440 1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4 2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4 2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
|
|
|
Re: Early Dakota auto shift "wire" for P, N,R D ,D2, indicator?
[Re: moparx]
#3277006
12/18/24 10:16 PM
12/18/24 10:16 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,022 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
OP
I Live Here
|
OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,022
Freeport IL USA
|
on the Dakota, the shift indicator is installed into the instrument cluster as a unit. It is spring loaded towards the low position. The cable (which looks like a fishing line with wires in it) is connected to the indicator. That cable (that is about 8" long) passes through a hole in the dash mount for the cluster, then down to the column where it hooks onto a slotted bracket that is attached to the column collar on the drivers door side of the column. To install the cable into the slot, the shifter needs to be in low gear as well, then you pull against the spring tension (it pulls harder then one would expect) until the cable with a crimped collar can slide into the slot. when the cable is in the slot, as you put the gear shift into park, it pulls against the spring. Everything on the column has plastic housings that screw together and covers the ign switch, the turn switch, the 4 way flasher switch. the tilt mechanism, and everything else on the top of the column. The only hard tube on these columns is the shaft itself and the outer housing that is about 1.5" in diameter, its nothing like the old stuff had.
|
|
|
Re: Early Dakota auto shift "wire" for P, N,R D ,D2, indicator?
[Re: moparx]
#3277123
12/19/24 01:27 PM
12/19/24 01:27 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,392 Iowa
burdar
Owen's Dad
|
Owen's Dad
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,392
Iowa
|
What is that wire called, and what are the chances I might be able to find a replacement, before I go through the effort to pull the instrument cluster out? Is that part of the "clock spring" or is it a separate part?
Last edited by burdar; 12/19/24 01:35 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Early Dakota auto shift "wire" for P, N,R D ,D2, indicator?
[Re: birdtracker]
#3277183
12/19/24 09:42 PM
12/19/24 09:42 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,022 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
OP
I Live Here
|
OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,022
Freeport IL USA
|
I'm going to have to pull the dash pieces off so I can pull the instrument cluster out. Then I will be able to see what I have to do. Some fool (that would be me) made this all removable, but there are almost 20 Philip head screws that will need to be removed before I can remove the 4 screws and the two electrical connections in order to pull out the instrument cluster. This will be the 3rd time I've pulled the instrument cluster for one reason or another. When I built the truck, this seemed like a great idea, but I didn't anticipate having to pull it apart so often.
I'm kind of hoping the cable is hung up inside the enclosed area and is still attached to the indicator, and that I can attach something to it and make it long enough so it will function again.
Chevy trucks have a similar set up, but the cable pulls the indicator from park towards the gear its in, which is just backwards from this Dodge. The GM stuff is available and cheap, if I need to change things, but I would much rather keep the Dodge stuff.
Pictures 1 & 2, All of this needs to come off. Picture 3, until I get to this point. Then there are just 6 more screws (two hold on the "red" cover, and 4 hold the cluster to the dash fixture) and 2 electrical connections. I'm fortunate, this instrument cluster has an electronic speedometer, or I would have to deal with a speedometer cable as well.
The clock spring someone asked about is between the steering wheel and the column. The steering wheel has cruise control, horn, and air bag wiring, the clock spring allows the steering wheel to be turned without hurting the wiring. The air bag on the wheel was what made the clock spring to be required, the other stuff on the wheel was added just because the clock spring was needed for the air bags. On this truck, the air bags have been disconnected, but the bag and the clock spring is still there. On a Dakota, the air bag was a 1993 addition, the column, the column wiring, and the dash wiring are all different between 92 and 93. This trucks donor was a 96.
|
|
|
|
|