New here, been lurking for a couple of weeks. Great source of info and thanks to all.

Just got a 2002 1500 QC 4x4, 86k. I was hoping for a good truck and all accounts during the test drive appeared so.

However, some things came up and fortunately the place I bought it from took care of what they could, which appears to be the major issues.

Still on the table and now in my court, power window issues.

One thing I have discovered to my shock and amazement, is how bad the rear door wiring harness' have deteriorated. Looking into the booted segment between cab & door, the wires insulation is extremely brittle, as if it were 25-30 years old. Several wires on each side were broken causing intermittent contact depending on whether the doors were open or closed.

I spliced the wires back together and got everything working until....

Our sub-zero cold snap and having the truck parked outside, it would not start for two days. Once it warmed up enough to finally get started, the windows don't work! I can operate them from the drivers door, but the individual door controls don't do anything. No noise, nothing.

To possibly complicate matters, there is a Valet 562 alarm/remote start system.

So here are my questions:

1. Has anyone experienced the deteriorated/brittle wiring?
2. Has anyone had their door wiring harness rebuilt? If so, where, how much? (Dealer quoted $216 each for rear doors)
3. What other causes/pitfalls with power windows/power locks do I have to look forward to?
4. Would it be prudent to remove the Valet system (have Cartoys remove it) and go back to factory setup?

Thanks for any input.

 

My work rig is an 03 1500 QC 4x4 5.9L with 53k. The wires/boots are fine on this one haven't seen that type of problem. Window could possibly be the switch itself or just a connection on the switch (take off and clean).

This pickup started this weekend without being plugged in at -14 but it is well maintained.

Are you having problems with the Valet? Why would you remove it?

 

could the valet be causing the problems? if not i would keep it.

for the most part i just bought the exact same truck with 2k more miles on it.(5.9) everything looks brand new on it. wire insulation is just fine. havnt had any problems like you have mentioned.

other windows not working could be a problem with your window lock switch on the master switch panel.

 

All window control switches & door locks were replaced with new when I bought it. Dealer did not check wiring inside boots and just replaced all the switches in attempt to fix the problem. Everything would work until a door was opened and/or closed. Then the broken wires would either make or lose contact, thus work or not.

I started doing continuity checks with an ohm meter that led me to find the broken wires.

Given the state of the wiring in the rear doors, I'm sure I'll find similar problems in the front when I look into them.

I guess after the holidays I'll be buying wire, rosin core solder & shrink tubing, get the soldering iron out and start rebuilding the harnesses.

Oh joy. Could be worse.

Merry Christmas everyone.

 

Where in MT are you? I'm originally from Hamilton. Graduated 1980.

What could cause the non-starting in cold? It cranks up fine above 0. I've only had it two weeks.

Not having any problems per se with the Valet, although the alarm is not operative. THe remote start works usually on the second try.

Thanks.

 

I'm in the opposite side of the state. Did the pickup turn over or just not fire? What prompted the dealer to replace all of the switches?

I'm not saying it is, but I wonder what kind of effects a vehicle would be suffering if it had been in a flood, say New Orleans during Katrina??

 

That was exactly what I was thinking...why on earth would all the switches and door locks have been replaced? There's gotta be something going on, and that may be why the dealer was so eager to "help" you, so you wouldn't find out.

 

In reference to the non-starting, the engine would turn over fine, but not start. My initial thinking is possibly some water in the fuel lines/filter?

Once the temp warmed up above 0, then it got friendlier and I could tell it was getting close to starting. It finally started and has been starting & running fine for 2 days.

As to the windows, I think it was a misdiagnosis. From what I have been reading, there seems to be a rather high number of issues with Dodge Ram power window switches. I even spoke with two different dealers in the area that said they early 3rd generation Rams had issues.

I think they did not anticipate the wiring harness failing catastrophically 2-3" from the door/cab junction. I certainly did not expect what I saw when I pulled the overboot back from the connector. Again, this wiring looks old and is brittle. The wires inside the door where they connect to the locks, window switch, speakers, look good, as you would expect for a 6-7 year old vehicle.

I thought that there might be a splice just inside the door, but no, it all appears to be factory.

So for that part, it appears to just be a missed item of something we would not think of as failing at this point.

Thanks for the ideas.

 

I have had the window switch problem also. I had to take the master control swich out of the drivers side panel and mess with the window lock switch. I was using the switch to keep the kids from opening the windows and the lock would get stuck. Once I got it working I don't use the window lock button anymore and my windows started working individually again.

 

That was one of the Items the dealer replaced at the beginning, without knowing the wiring harnesses were broken. I've read a lot of post in various places regarding the master control switch and its problems.

Oh well. After the holidays I'll be rebuilding the harnesses.