I have a 2 parter. First off I'm back in a dodge! Into my issues. I bought a 97 dakota, reg cab short box 5.2 5 speed and someone had turned the radio harness into a rats nest. I did my best to sort it out and fine some sort of information online and there are conflicting stories as to what's what. My test light tells me the pink wire is constant and that the red with white stripe is switch 12v. Black is ground. I plug that in and touch the ground to same spotime test light is connected and there's nothing. Touch test light and it lights light. Am I just not getting a good enough ground or am I in a different boat and have some wires crossed?

Second issue is the cluster fuse has a short and keeps blowing. I unplugged the cluster and it still pops the fuse. Are there any online manuals for the 97 that would have wiring diagrams to chase the circuit with that fuse like there is for the 1st Gen daks? Also has anyone else had this issue and would be gracious enough to point me down the right path?

Here's a picture of the old bird. Needs a new cab and box. 120k or so on it. No oil leaks or anything. Haven't looked at the plenum but I'm not sure how long that Ole 5.2 is going to be in there. Anyway, thanks for reading and for any information.

 

[QUOTE=GTXpress;3299827]I have a 2 parter. First off I'm back in a dodge! Into my issues. I bought a 97 dakota, reg cab short box 5.2 5 speed and someone had turned the radio harness into a rats nest. I did my best to sort it out and fine some sort of information online and there are conflicting stories as to what's what. My test light tells me the pink wire is constant and that the red with white stripe is switch 12v. Black is ground. I plug that in and touch the ground to same spotime test light is connected and there's nothing. Touch test light and it lights light. Am I just not getting a good enough ground or am I in a different boat and have some wires crossed?



I have diagram for '96, but no '97, maybe they're the same.
Diagram shows two 7-pin connectors for the radio. The colors you speak of are in connector 211.
See if yours is the same as this. Pin 1=EMPTY, pin 2=BR/RD, pin 3=DB/RD, pin 4=BK/YL, pin 5=OR, pin 6=RD/WT, pin 7=PK.

Pink is b+, RD/WT is Switched ACC/RUN, BK/YL is Park Lamp Switch Output.
There is no ground in the connectors. The radio chassis should be grounded.

 

Per the '96 diagram, there are 4 fuses that feed the cluster.
Which one did you replace?