A non-profit for whom I volunteer has a '98 Ram 1500, 4x4, 360. As it is now you can turn the key all the way back to accy (and it's disturbingly easy to do, esp for a vehicle that's driven by multiple people in a day) and then remove the key. Now if you do this it DOES ding at you but many newbies don't know what this means, and it's difficult to train them on the "gotchas" of our multiple trucks. However sometimes we don't remove keys from the ignition at all, and thus it's still just too easy to turn it back to accy thinking you're in "OFF" and walk away.

Is there any way to simply disable the accy position altogether? It's not needed and never used.

 

There may be a way to disable it or just get a new ignition switch. But I imagine a non-profit doesn't want to spend that kind of money on a minor issue so personally I would put a reminder on the steering wheel or dash saying to check the position of the key before removing it or exiting the vehicle if it is dining at you.

 

You don't need a switch but you need a new lock cylinder. You can get replacements but it will come with a different key.

 

Locksmith can re-key the cylinder for the old key. If you want to spend that kind of money...... (usually not hideously expensive.)

 

You could hook up a radio shack buzzer to it. +12 to it from the radio (acc switched plus), ground to the buzzer from the door switch when it gets opened. If the key is in the acc position and the door is opened, the door switch will activate the buzzer.

 

Nah, re-read my first post. It does ding at you if you leave it in accy and remove the key and open the door. A buzzer wouldn't help here, it's already there and doing it.

Sometimes we don't remove the key at all however and in that situation an operator could turn it all the way back to accy and simply exit the vehicle. A new lock cylinder wouldn't help here. A buzzer wouldn't help here either, too many people and it's just not realistic to expect them to know (what a buzzer means).

The bottom line is we really need no possibility of an accessory postion.

Does anyone have any tech on if there's a wire unique to accy I could simply snip, OR a way to physically modify the cylinder?

 

Look here for the various service manuals. Check out the wiring diagrams, and see where power goes in the accessory position. Not sure if you can cut the wires, as they may also be used when the ignition is in the Run position as well.

 

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I was thinking of a really annoying and loud buzzer.