Okay I have a few questions. I just bought a 1988 Dodge ram 50 Custom with the sports cab. 2.6l L4 A/T 4x4. Has a few problems.

First off: The guy that owned the truck before me lost the key's.
He rigged it so it could be started with a Flat-head screwdriver.
Breaking the ignition switch (little black piece) I went out and bought another. I also bought a Ignition lock cylinder with the key.
What I need to know is, What is the correct name for the part that the Ignition lock cylinder & the Ignition switch enter on the steering colum? (I can add a picture of the entire assembly)

Secondly: The wiring, The passanger side brake light works, The driver side doesnt. The turn signals do not work (not even on the dash, but the 4-ways come on the dash) and the reverse lights dont work either. Everything works in the front. I replaced all the bulbs and the fuses inside looked good. I dont want to tear apart the wiring and find out its something else. Any advice?

Any advice to either of my problems would be helpful. I bought this truck to learn to work on them, And Ive been told they are very good/reliable trucks.

 

Welcome to DF. I will move this to the 1st gen Ram section (1993 and older Rams) for you, get you some help.

 

Id pick up a wiring diagram for your truck. start tracing from the power source of the turn signals / brake lights, and youll find the problem. its much more difficult to do these things without a diagram since tracing wires that change color or disappear into bundles is almost impossible. i got a $25 subscription to alldata for my truck, but i believe a local library should also have the wiring diagrams somewhere

 

The switch and lock cylinder are mounted on the steering column and covered by the steering column covers. Libraries have an auto section with all of the wiring diagrams or a subscription to an Alldata type service. You can copy the diagrams from either one of these for free. Our trucks are old and Dodge did not do a great job of protecting the wiring that goes to the rear lights. I would expect that is where you will find the problem just as many of us have.

 

Okay I will pick up the diagram, What is the name for the mount though? Everytime I go to the parts store they cant find it because they dont know the correct name around here. Thank you everyone!

 

Might just take it to a mechanic adventually...

 

"What I need to know is, What is the correct name for the part that the Ignition lock cylinder & the Ignition switch enter on the steering colum? (I can add a picture of the entire assembly)"

"The switch and lock cylinder are mounted on the steering column and covered by the steering column covers."

It could be called a lock housing if you are only referring to the part that holds the lock itself. If this doesn't answer your question you may have to post a picture of the part you are talking about.

 

I think that maybe right.. I will post a picture soon, It maybe hard to see though but if you focus closely you can tell.
Heres a discription:
It has two bolds on the top that hold it to the steering colum. The top piece is just a bracket that holds the bottem piece, on the bottem the ignition lock cylinder slides in on the right side, and the ignition switch (electrical part) goes in on the left. In the middle theres a flat rod that when you turn the key, it turns the ignition switch to start the truck. I need to buy the entire bracket with the flat rod on the inside because I already bought the lock cylinder & the ignition switch. NAPA sells the entire thing for $284.00 But I already have the other two pieces, so I just need the name of the piece.

 

 

Thank you everyone for the help! I might have to buy the entire kit though :\ Unless I junk yard hunt for alittle while. Sence its just a project truck. I will add new pic's of the truck in the process and when its finished!