Some background.

Donor: '00 2500 Ram, cummins diesel, 2wd, manual shift, bare bones
Receiving: '98 2500 Ram, cummins diesel, 4wd manual shift, bare bones

The 98 is in great shape, save for the cab. Rotted door bottoms, cab corners and floor. Picked up the 2000 non-running (injector pump issues I was told), for exclusive use in swapping the cab over to the 98.

Being only a couple years difference, I was hoping it would be a direct swap, except cutting a hole in the floor for the t-case shifter. Swap went well, all connectors mated up, except the DRL module (its a canada thing, but shouldn't affect my issue).

The truck starts fine, but within 30 seconds, the odometer flashes several times, then displays "no bus". Truck continues to run without a hitch, but none of my gauges work besides tach, and headlights do not work either. I've tried swapping PCM's, and dash clusters with no joy. All grounds appear reconnected after the swap.

My question: Has anyone done this before? Is there a wiring compatibility issue that I don't know about? Finally, are wiring diagrams available online for a 1998, and a 2000 so I can compare connector pinouts.

Thanks for any and all assistance.
Rob

 

service manuals available here. Wiring diagrams are in section 8W. I think toward the end they have connector pinouts that you can compare.

Might be a central timer module thing...... might have changed between the two trucks..

Welcome to DF!

 

Did you swap only the sheet metal or electronics too? Maybe try swapping the cluster. I assume you used your original PCM...

 

Thank you for the reply, I will certainly try the CTM, and the manuals give me a direction now. I'll post back with what I find.

dbbd1: The entire complete cab was swapped to the 98, electronics and all. Clusters and PCM's have already swapped with no success.

Rob

 

Yeah, you may have to double check wiring pin outs.

 

Well, just starting with the CTM, the 98 has 1 connector, and the 2000 has 2. Theres an accelerator sensor on the 2000, that doesn't exist on the 98, and wire placements are different on the main dash connectors.

Edit: This isnt true with the 00. The 01 manual shows many differences that arnt physically present on the 00.

I need to swap cab harnesses. I REALLY wish I had researched this before hand lol. I stupidly assumed that the same body style, only 2 years difference means it will all jive.

I'm this far into the project though, so I'll be following through with this. I will update as progress is made.

 

Well, I pulled both dashes and harnesses only to realize that the 98 had cable temperature controls and the 2000 is electronic. HVAC assembly was swapped as well as the dash.

Final verdict... It works!

Only hicup now is the dome light and the 3rd brake light. Ill have to swap the wiring under the headliners.

Would I ever do a swap between incompatible years again? Absolutly not. But its all but done now.

Ill chalk it up to a learning experiance and move on.

Rob

 

Congrats! Lots a work, but, in the end, worth it.