I have a 2001 Quad Cab Dakota, my overhead console has the cutout for the mini trip computer. My question is can a mini trip computer be installed using existing wiring in overhead console? Thank you for reply.

 

I do not know this for a fact.

But if you were to take the console down, and look around an under the headliner. If you find wiring, you may be in luck.

I know other cars I have had, I have found wiring tucked in places and/or taped into the harness. If you look hard enough, it maybe there.

Again, remember, it may NOT be there as well.

Karl

 

My guess would be almost definitely yes. Even with the trucks that are dulled down and dont have as many of the extra features, everything that would generically be needed for them is there. Reason being, it's cheaper for dodge to make 1000 overhead console wiring harness/setup units with the mini trip computer wiring, then it is for them to make 500 with and 500 without.

Just pop her off and take a look. Maybe someone on here knows something i dont.

 

Sorry but the answer is no. The Mini-trip overhead console uses a different plug. I know because I put one in my '01 earlier this year. It's fairly easy to create a wiring harness and splice it into the existing wiring under your dash. Just make sure that if you do get an mini-trip computer/console that you get one from an '01 or newer. The '99 has a different setup. Again, speaking from experience trying to wire one up.

 

i looked into this a while ago and asmodeus is mostly correct. except you can replace the wiring in the drivers side pilar with one available from dodge to match the overhead console. none of it is cheap, i decided not to do it on my truck.

 

My 2000 model also had the cut out for thr computer and so I bought one off a guy on E-Bay. He referbishs them and suplies a new loom to splice into the original electronics. I did it myself and whilst I'm happy to tear down an engine I'm a bit electrophobic! The hardest part is getting acess to the original wireing, as its all tucked up under the dash. Then you just have to match the colours of the wires on the loom to its coresponding one on the fuse board. The kit came with full fitting instructions and the guy was always very helpful when I ran into difficulties. Just search for Dakota Overhead Console.

Good luck,

Paul

 

My '00 has the connector inside the headliner, but I read somewhere that you need to have a temp sensor behind your right headlight in order for the trip computer to display the outside temp. I don't think I have this on my truck.

 

I'm pretty sure that the connector in the head-lining on a truck supplied without the trip computer is different to one's supplied with it from the factory. When I fitted the trip computer I got off E-Bay, it came with a new connector, pre-wired with corespodning, colour matched wires. I had to feed the new wires down the drivers side door piller, down to the foot well and then back up under the dash to the main fuse board. Not easy due to the lack of space down there, but with a proper wire stripper and a soldering iron its perfectly achievable for an electrophobe like myself! The kit I bought also came with the Ambient Air Temp sensor. Strangly, the truck had the wiring and connector already waiting in the engine bay, just took a few attempts to find it!

Here's the guy I bought it from

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CRus-Chesterfield

Hope this helps,

Paul

 

Thanks! I'll check into it.

 

If you take your time on ebay there are a couple of other sellers selling this kit from the U.S as well?