I was hoping for suggestions for help with an electrical issue in our 1993 Dakota. Currently the radio does not come on or the inside lights or the light around the ignition. Reading in the book it appears that 2 fuses might control the radio. Slot 12 which is a 10amp and Slot 13 which is a 4amp (states only radio lights). I have switched the 10amp fuses with other 10amp fuses that the 10amp is not blown. The 4amp in slot 13 appears to look fine. Would the 4amp fuse if blown (I have no way to test other than visually) also stop the radio from playing? I have not been able to find a 4amp fuse unless purchased in a bundle around $12.



All comments are welcomed.

Thanks again in advance!

 

Don't forget Slot 8. And you can put a 5A in there temporarily, to test (put the 4A back in as soon as you're done, natch!) Past that, I'd be looking for the Factory Service Manual - Ebay has them cheap enough IMO ( as low as $19 the night I type this ) and with that, it's a LOT easier to check and follow the lines.

One thing I'd be sure to check on the radio - the negative, or ground, return is through a wire or cable to the dash framework; it's not part of the wiring harness. A LOT of people will leave this off, or it'll work loose, and they wonder how it doesn't work.

RwP

 

Thanks RalphP
I owned a 1993 Dakota and sold it back in the early 2000's. Just bought this one for my daughter from a family member and just pulled out of my attic a Haynes Repair manual that I thought I threw away. I will check the radio as well as we installed a new stereo just after Thanksgiving. My hope was to not have to take of the dash again. I also was not sure if any connection with the radio would effect the dome light and the light around the key ignition.

 

The Haynes sucks.

Try the Chrysler Factory Service Manual for wiring diagrams.

The dome light and the light around the key ignition are separate circuits, however, the dash illumination is wired with the lights to the radio, and both go through the headlight switch, so ...

However, if you just bought it, I'd be checking the bulbs first.

Alas, any problem around the radio, you'll need to take the dash off to get to the radio.

While it's out, you can check the wiring around the radio - if it's the OEM radio, there'll be a wiring diagram that you can use with a trouble light to make sure you're getting power to the radio, or not.

Allpar ( www.allpar.com ) has some nice info on the radios in these vehicles, albeit by the radio, not the vehicle *grins*

RwP