Dakota RT 360ci rear end question..

From : leroy

Q: leroy dodgemanfromhell@aol.com wrote in am looking at a 2002 dakota rt 5.9 to purchase. do all 5.9 dakotas have limited slip differentials or was that an option if option .. can i tell if it has it by the vin if its not limited slip -- dont want it. cant afford to buy a 17 right-rear tire every week. thanks. leroy all 02 r/ts came with a 3.92 limited slip rear. nothing else was available for that particular truck. .

Replies:

From : joe

looking for a painted to match abs or fiberglass cover for my truck. what brands have people been pleased with over the years i have seen way too many with lift systems and locks that dont stay working for very long. they bend get out of alignment lock mechanisms flaky etc. what brands are built to last and well...worth the price you paid i used leer on one of the trucks. well made good fit secure dry bed looked and worked great. but i found them to be very limiting regards use of the bed. it was a pia taking it off and putting it on to the point that it was off. guess if you dont use the bed much they are fine but id go for one of those soft ones that roll back to the cab or something. ymmv roy .

From : leroy

on thu 27 sep 2007 141414 -0700 dimbo spams cuervojoseremove@jps.net wrote thanks so much for the detailed response.........i will work on this and report back.............. lots of luck trying to find the trach bag hook. beekeep noticed the controls for the heater controls are dark. i cant remember old age i guess but are these supposed to illuminate all the other dash lights seem to work. and if they are to illuminate how do i replace or access the light. yes there are three mini bulbs inside the heater control module. unfortunately it doesnt look like theyre servicable. but to check it remove the center bezel by removing the one screw above the trach bag hook just to the left of the glove compartment. the bezel is then held in place by spring clips. grasp the bag hook and pull straight out. work your way around the perimeter of the panel popping it loose. but before doing this lower the ash tray and drink holder - otherwise the spring clips on the center bezel will gouge the face of them while youre disconnecting the electrical connectors. once the panel is off rest it on the cupholders and disconnect the various electrical connectors. theyre all different so theres no chance of mixing them up later. the power to the heater control lamps is on pin 8 of the large connector going into the heater controls. its an orange wire with a gray stripe. check for voltage on this pin with the interior lights turned on. if thats good you might have a ground. pin 5 on the same connector a black wire with a light green stripe is the ground. check for continuity between this pin and a known good ground the dash frame will do fine. you can then try supplying voltage directly to the pins on the heater control that correspond with those on the connector. a 9v battery will do. if you cant get them to light that way its pretty sure youve got a burned-out panel. as i said ive never tried taking one apart before - it might not even be possible. you could chance it and try and see if you can replace the bulbs you can live with it or you can buy a replacement control from either the dealership or possibly a junk yard. .

From : joe

thanks so much for the detailed response.........i will work on this and report back.............. noticed the controls for the heater controls are dark. i cant remember old age i guess but are these supposed to illuminate all the other dash lights seem to work. and if they are to illuminate how do i replace or access the light. yes there are three mini bulbs inside the heater control module. unfortunately it doesnt look like theyre servicable. but to check it remove the center bezel by removing the one screw above the trach bag hook just to the left of the glove compartment. the bezel is then held in place by spring clips. grasp the bag hook and pull straight out. work your way around the perimeter of the panel popping it loose. but before doing this lower the ash tray and drink holder - otherwise the spring clips on the center bezel will gouge the face of them while youre disconnecting the electrical connectors. once the panel is off rest it on the cupholders and disconnect the various electrical connectors. theyre all different so theres no chance of mixing them up later. the power to the heater control lamps is on pin 8 of the large connector going into the heater controls. its an orange wire with a gray stripe. check for voltage on this pin with the interior lights turned on. if thats good you might have a ground. pin 5 on the same connector a black wire with a light green stripe is the ground. check for continuity between this pin and a known good ground the dash frame will do fine. you can then try supplying voltage directly to the pins on the heater control that correspond with those on the connector. a 9v battery will do. if you cant get them to light that way its pretty sure youve got a burned-out panel. as i said ive never tried taking one apart before - it might not even be possible. you could chance it and try and see if you can replace the bulbs you can live with it or you can buy a replacement control from either the dealership or possibly a junk yard. .