New to me (still) 97 Ram. I don't drive it much and am pretty busy going back to school while still working fulltime, anyhow, it has some little things wrong that I have been searching for answers to and have found a few old threads but wanted to run by you to see if anyone has anything new to add for fixes:

• No buzzer or chime when I leave the key in the ignition, or for seat belt, etc.
• No light around the ignition key (I understand the ring is supposed to light up?)
• No back up lights (bulbs are good) Probably the neutral/safety switch from what I have been reading.
• No light when I press the OD Off button. I can tell it's doing something, so I know it works.
• Cruise on/off button is broken. Works, but the little plastic switch part is just barely hanging on. does the whole switch assy snap out to replace?

I plan on tackling these issues and repainting the awful hood in the future, but I have limited time so hoping maybe there are some quick fixes out there.

 

For the light issues, check the fsm located in the FAQ/DIY section. Electrical diagrams are in section 8W. My guess is they are realted somehow.

Regarding the cruise switch, yes you can replace that piece. Check HERE ($14.95 and free shipping) or PM zman and he may be able to get from JY trip. Check service manual for proper procedure to remove airbag. Not difficult at all.

 

yeah, I've been looking at the wiring diagrams. Just was hoping someone would say "oh, thats easy, check x and replace y" kinda thing. Thanks for the link, but my cruise control buttons done look like those. Mine are in a row on the bottom of the wheel.

 

Just do search on e-bay. I used 99 out of habit! lol......

Does it look like THIS?



Zman makes JY runs pretty often and has a JY thread. He may be able to find it for you.

 

Yeah thats it. I searched on ebay as well. I was asking how it comes out.

 

I read on here one time about a plug in the column that does the door chime. you might look into that when you do the cruise

 

There are two screws behind the steering wheel. Unscrew them, then pul the switch and the connector. No need to remove airbag, but to be on a safe side, disconnect the battery before working with steering wheel, it's not fun to get airbag blow up on you.

 

Haha! No doubt! When I replaced the airbags in my Mustang (after a front end crash that deployed both), I made sure to lay the seat back and put on eye protection when I was hooking everything back up. That was a nerve wracking experience.

 

I'm not 100% sure I'd want eye protection on, in the event of a blow to the face via the airbag, eye protection is just something hard and plastic (or cheap metal) getting shoved into your skin, and possibly eye ball... Probably screwed a bit either way...

 

For the chime, somebody may have removed the module.

Not all Rams have the lighted ring around the key. You'll have to remove the covers and check. No wire , no bulb , you dont have that option. My 98 did not. But maybe you do and it's just a bad bulb.

Same for OD off/on, if you think it's working and just don't have the off light, then bulb might be bad.