OK, this is no major deal, but while traveling home from Colorado this summer, my "ABS" and "BRAKE" lights came on in the cab of my '97 Ram. The parking brake was not/is not engaged, and my truck does not have ABS to begin with. The lights are still on - it's becoming somewhat annoying that they won't shut off and work like they're supposed to. I've checked the relays and fuses associated with the lighting system, but nothing changed. Any sugestions?

 

It's probably the speed sensor mounted on the top of the rear differential. There's been quite a few posts about these lately. Disconnect the electrical connector and remove the two nuts that hold it in place. It's about a 15 minute job to change it. If your speedometer doesn't work at the lower speeds, this is also an symptom of a bad sensor.

BTW, if you have the ABS light, then you proabably have anti-lock brakes, but only on the rear wheels. Also, there are two speed sensors, one is in the transmission and one is in the differential. I had to go to a dealer to get the part, NAPA and Advanced Auto only had the sensor in the transmission.

 

There is no problem with the Speedometer, but I will take a look at that sensor nonetheless - that could very well be it.

And yes, I have RWAL, but not ABS. Are they two lights on the same sensor?

 

Not quite sure what you are asking here. If the rear speed sensor is bad, it will cause both the parking brake and ABS lights to come on at the same time. If the speed sensor in the tranny is bad, I think that will cause some shifting issues, but I'm not sure if it will cause both lights to come on. You might want to try typing in "speed sensor" in the search function at the bottom of the page if you want to research this a little more. Some others posted where they were able to pick up the rear sensor other than the dealer and there was good discussion on other symptoms, etc. I think others had the same symptoms where the speedometer worked but the lights came on. In my case a few months ago, the lights were on and my speedometer didn't work until I hit about 20 mph.

 

That answered my question, thanks.

 

Why not ask your truck what is wrong?

Seriously, there is a black electrical diagnostic connector just peeking out of the dash board just to the left of the steering column, near the park brake release handle. It supports two pins yet only has one wire (black with white tracer).

Momentarily (less than 2 secs) ground the wire to activate fault codes. Count the flashes at the abs lamp.

9 and 10 flashes both are speed sensor in rear axle.
11 is brake lamp switch always on. (pedal switch)

1 unused
2 bad isolation valve wiring or control module.
3 bad dump valve wiring or control module.
4 closed RWAL valve switch
5 over 16 dump pulses(2wd only)
6 erratic rear axle sensor reading while moving
7 bad module fuse(internal)
8 dump output missing or shorted
9 speed sensor reading high(short)
10 speed sensor reading low (open)
11 brake lamp switch always on
12 unused
13 module failure PLL
14 module failure (program check bad)
15 ECM RAM failure

Straight out of a '95 tech manual

Also, starting with the brake depressed will can cause a code 11.

See if the plug doesn't exist on your '97, if not, perhaps someone else can help with obtaining codes.

 

Intersting, I will have to try that too.

 

The speed sensor on the tranny is used to pop a CEL and set a code when it goes bad (and nothing else). [8D]

From the FSM:

Gas Engines and/or Diesel With Automatic Trans.

The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) is no longer used for any Dodge Truck.
Vehicle speed and distance covered are measured by the Rear Wheel Speed Sensor.

 

thats the first ive ever heard of that diag connecter trick.. VERY interesting... might wanna stick.. Tani?

 

Why did my truck get stuck in 2nd Gear when I lost my tranny mounted vehicle speed sensor then? I'm not challenging you hear but I'm curious what caused that. I don't remember the exact code but it came up as the VSS and I changed it and cleared the codes and haven't had a problem since.