Hi Everyone,

I'm having a big problem with my 1995 3.9 liter V6 Dodge Dakota 4x4. A couple of months ago the overdrive started not working correctly. It would shift down into drive sometimes even when going down a hill and I could push the button for it to stay in drive when going up a hill and it would go into O/D anyways. Around the same time low and medium heater control settings stopped working so I only had Off and High. Now I can't get the blower/fan to turn on at all. I read my manual and found out that O/D and heater are all tied into one fuse as well as some other things like the radio lamps and cigar lighter lamps etc. What doesn't make sense though is that all the lights for those things work, I just checked. I replaced the fuses anyways with brand new ones to be on the safe side but the problems are still there. I even checked the fuse in the "electrical power distribution center" box under the hood next to the battery and it was fine. Winter is here in N.Y. and I really need heat at least, even if I have to deal with the O/D not working correctly.

Has anyone had this problem before or have any ideas of how I can fix these 2 issues?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!!

 

It may be related but I don't think so. The blower speed problem is probably the resister pack that is on the passenger side of the firewall under the hood. Check the FAQ for details.

As for the OD, I'm not sure if I know what your problem is. Also I'm not sure if you know what the switch really does. Over Drive is Always active when you get up to speed, when you push the switch it disables the Over Drive from engaging. When the switch light is on OD is off, it resets once the key is turned to off.

 

Yeah it's basically a overdrive off button - keeps the truck from going into over drive. The problem is my over drive does whatever it wants. I took the button apart and everything inside of it seems to work fine and looks fine. When I have the button plugged in my truck will randomly shift from overdrive to drive and sometimes doesn't let me go back into overdrive and when it does this the light indicates what happened. For example if I'm in overdrive the light will randomly kick on on the button and the truck shifts down into drive (even if going down a small hill coasting when I just want it to stay in overdrive).

I'll try the resistor pack idea though, thanks. I'm thinking about cleaning the terminals on the resistor pack and then if that doesn't fix the problem then replacing the pack. I even tried taking apart the slider control to see if something was broken inside etc. but all looked fine.

Thanks Crazy and Happy Halloween everyone!!

 

Hah yeah it's the resistor pack, or as far as my truck goes it looks more like a plate screwed into the firewall that has all the connections exposed out in the elements. The top and bottom connectors closest to the drivers side on the plastic connector are milted and there is a bubble from heat on the green wire. All the male connectors have rust on them and even some are half rusted off so where there used to be a hole in the middle is now a half-moon shape. If I had to guess I would say that this issue might....MIGHT also be the reason why the overdrive is not working properly (considering they are on the same 30amp fuse and both problems arose around the same time).

 

Just a quick update....The Blower Motor Resistor was the problem. I picked up a new one at NAPA the next day for $8.39 and replaced it that night (Halloween) and it fixed the problem. Thanks for your help Crazy4x4RT.

 

Did you find the problem with the OD?

I hit the overdrive while towing a trailer full of ATV's to Oklahoma last April, the switch malfunctioned and kept me in overdrive the whole trip, hurt my gas mileage but I was able to pull the dash and disassemble the switch before returning to Kansas.

 

I'm glad you got it. No Problem!

 

Crazy4x4RT,
I'm glad I got the problem fixed too, lol, and thx again.

Spywell,
I haven't been able to look into that problem really because I believe the O/D Off button is a dealer item and the nearest dealer is an hour from where I live. I have a feeling the button is the problem though but only way to tell is wait till I can get a replacement and test it. Ever go any further with your issue and replace the button or anything?