AutoZone sells a kit from Duralast 1199 for the 2004 2500. Switch is the same. This is a common failure to Dodge vehicles and is about to generate a recall.

 

I own a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT. I have paid $600 twice to two different dodge dealers and a third time told them just to replace the ignition switch and burnt wiring. I saved myself $230 in labor by buying the $70 blower motor and installing it myself. Only to have the same thing happen again a forth time. Do you have any clue when they will be doing a recall on this? If you don't can you direct me to where I can find out. I live in Florida and it's getting hot to have no Ac again. Tired of shelling out $ every year to temporarily fix the same problem

 

Why do a recall when very very few have the issue you do? You have to have tens of thousands of vehicles showing the same problembbefore a recall is even considered.

Myself, I drive an 04 with over 100k and never had to replace any of that. Maybe I'm lucky or maybe you have other issues causing that issue. IDK

 

I have an 04 5.7L as well, bought it 4 years ago with 119,000 mi. on it. and I thought I had gotten lucky also as I was having zero issues with the truck. until I hit 176,000 mi. that is.... Since then, it has been nothing short of a nightmare. blower motor and ignotion switch have gone out. fuel pump went out. the whole front end took a ****. had to replace 14 parts in the front end alone. (which isnt exactly uncommon for vehicles, just merely stating that it happened) reverse lights keep going out. headlights go out randomely. (FCM has something to do with that) Weird electrical issues now with wipers coming on randomely and sometines not working at all. high beams wont turn on or off randomely. got a power steering leak on the hose at the front of the radiator. power steering pump went out. water pump went out. Going through coolant at an alarming pace all the sudden. have an exhaust leak for a second time now. motor is burning oil for no reason all the sudden. got a vaccuum leak somewhere... There is more that Im forgetting to. So just wiat, itll happen to yours eventually. or maybe you will get lucky... But point is, that blower motor and ignition switch problem isnt just happening to a few people. Its a very, very, very common problem on these 3rd gen Dodges. They should absolutely do a recall on this.

 

 

It is indeed a common problem
The ignition switch is used instead of a relay to switch the entire blower motor load (typically 7 or 8 amps)
Very poor design!!!!!
A simple method to get several more years of life out of the ignition switch and connectors is to make sure the fan speed switch is turned to OFF when starting the vehicle
Then when needed after the ignition switch is in stable run mode turn the fan on

 

 

 

Did you ever find out what was making your gages go dead

 

I got the same thing going on right now. Did you make any headway on figuring out the electrical issues so I might be able to chop the snakes head off? I'm having head light issues and wiper issues also I just changed my ac resistor and my ignition switch today.....I'm thinking more and more about sending it down the road....I have a 2004 5.7 117xxx miles