Hi folks, I have a 1996 dakota ext cab with a 318. It's been one heck of a truck for me. I'm pretty good with most of the truck except wiring. I started cleaning up the engine bay and using wire loom to hide some wires last year. I bought a new battery, starter and all was well. Until I tried to turn it over, and nothing. It does nothing with the ignition, but I can jump it with the starter. Can someone tell me how the wiring goes to and from the starter. I've looked at wiring schematics but I get confused just looking at it. I guarantee if someone who knew what they were doing could figure it out in five minutes. Thanks Mark

 

Well, opening up the factory service manual and looking at page 8W-21-5.

Battery feeds fuses C and B both.

C feeds down a 12ga red wire to the ignition switch.

For start, that switch will connect that 12ga wire to a 14ga yellow wire that then feeds either the clutch position switch, or a jumper for automatics. That wire then goes to the PDC, and provides 12V to the starter relay col in the PDC.

The other side of the coil feeds down a 18ga brown/yellow wire to the neutral safety switch (if automatic) or a jump; that then grounds to the transmission case. On manuals, it goes to a ground jumper.

Once the starter switch engages the relay, fuse B feeds 12V to the relay. From there, it feeds 12V down to the 14ga brown wire to the starter solenoid to activate the solenoid.

Trace all that and you'll find your open.

RwP