ok well im new here hope i can find the help i need here. i have a 1998 dakota as in the title and i put a roof mount dvd player for the kids in yesterday now i don't want to tap into anything to power it and my fuse panel legends says i have a spare slot. now i volt tested it and there is pwr to it but i do not know where it goes, if it goes anywhere, or anything else, there is no fuse in it but it has both prong to accept one which i was told if it were blank it shouldn't. so i'm trying to find a wiring schematic or someone who has used this spare before to find out how i can use it to power the dvd player as well as a small set of amp speakers as my daughters are too young for headphones and i fear they'll break them... QUICKLY! also being that this truck is almost bare stock it does not have the aux cig lighter plug for constant pwr nor pwr locks but it does have the wiring for pwr locks i'd like to tap into or some other source of constant pwr for my phn charger and gps. if anyone can help it would be appreciated more then you know. really as much time as we spend as a family in the truck i really need this dvd player lol

 

Welcome to the site. I will move this thread to the second generation Dakota section,
FF

 

I don't remember about the 98's, but you can remove the dash panel from the radio and instrument cluster - it just snaps off. Then remove the 5 or 6 screws holding in the lower dash panel where the lighter and ash tray would be. Even though there is no aux power outlet, you may find the wiring for one behind that panel. Look for an unused cig lighter plug taped to the wiring harness behind the lower dash panel. If you have one, there will be a red or pink wire that is is constant 12 volts, a black ground wire and an orange illumination wire. You can use the power and ground wires for your GPS charger and the dvd player. I guess you could use it for the amplified speakers too, but if they draw more than 5 amps of current you would be better off wiring in another power circuit for the speakers off of the battery.

If there is no aux power wire connector in the dash, remove the bottom side of the driver's dash panel, and check the main wire harness going to the ignition switch. Look for a dark blue wire, about 14 gauge, this is your ignition 12 volt circuit (test it with a volt meter to confirm) you can tap into it to power your accessories. You could also buy a 12 volt lighter socket at the parts store and wire it in to your truck, either with the factory aux power outlet wiring or by connecting your own power and ground wires. There should be room on the lower dash panel to drill a hole and mount the socket in there. Or if your truck has no factory cig lighter, it should have a plug in the dash you can remove and install the lighter socket. If it has no factory-installed lighter socket, the wiring for it will still be there, behind that lower dash panel.

When adding these circuits be sure to add a fuse holder at the point where you make your connection for power, this will protect the wire from getting hot and possibly causing a fire in the event of a short or overload. I would not suggest tapping into unused fuse slots in the fuse box. It's not a very reliable connection.

Jimmy

 

awesome thanks alot i wasnt sure how the dash caome off to get to the stereo and things either in the event i want to put an aftermarket head unit in so to birds with one stone..