Picked up my 1st Mopar the other day .
2002 Ram 1500 QC with 4.7L 4WD
Been searching thru this site for answers and ideas as Im no stranger to the auto field as I own a VW/Audi/BMW/Subaru/Toyota repair facility here in Bend Oregon. Tuner Automotive
Got it for a great deal but it needs some love and I have a few questions.

I have the notorious lack o heat that I have read extensively about. I just changed the fluid and burped the system but no better . Heat is hot for a second and then gradually gets cooler as the fan continues to run. If I put the setting on floor the passenger side is warm and the driver side is cold.
I think I have a partially clogged heater core and bad flap - oh boy , fun .

Speakers are toast in front doors and no speakers in back doors on the infinity setup the truck came with . Also the tape player is INOP so I am unable to use a tape deck adapter for my ipod.
When I replace the front speakers and add rear speakers do I have to do any special wiring for the infinity setup ? I thought I read somewhere that the ohm setup on the factory amp is wrong for the aftermarket speakers or can I just plug and play?
When I replace the head unit with a pioneer can I just buy the wiring harness and plug and play or do I have to get tech and bypass the infinity amp ?

Key FOB works but will not lock the back doors .
Is there a bypass switch somewhere on the vehicle that disallows this ?

Going to drop the auto trans pan and change that fluid and filter . Read there is a band in there that should be replaced?
How many quarts are needed in just a pan drop and filter change and any info on the band change would be great .

Has 20" wheels on it now .
I understand I can go as small as 17" wheels ? Id like some sidewall back for added dampening as I drive in alot of snow and tow snowmobiles and boats.

Already did the following maintenance yesterday
New NGK Copper Plugs
Recharge K&N drop in filter
Drain and refill coolant
Greased driveline zerk fittings
Drain and fill transfer case and rear diff with full syn

Im guessing the fuel filter is no serviceable as I cannot find it anywhere and the Haynes manual has no description of service.


Thanx

 

Welcome to DF.

IIRC, the Infinity setup in these trucks have an amp integrated with the head unit, and larger amps actually on the speakers.

As for the fob not working, have you tried unlocking the back doors via the drivers door switch? If that doesn't work, we obviously have a problem with the doors themselves.

And no, the fuel filter is not serviceable. It is integrated with the pump. :|

Good luck!

 

Your rear locks have a fairly common ailment. If they don't unlock with the switch its either door wiring is broken or the actuator is toast. Its more likely you have some broken wires in the door. You can slip the boot off and inspect for busted wires. Solder them back together if they are split. My left rear door lock and the dome light wouldn't come on when the door was used. I fixed the wires and all is well now.

 

The master control for locking all doors on driver side does activate the rear door locks.

So if Im going to replace speakers and head unit on the truck Im going to have to rewire the entire thing ?!

Can I at least install new speakers without rewire ?

 

Likely not a re-wire if you aren't jacking up a new amp. You should be able to wire in new speakers and a head unit. Just beware of the Infinity amp behind the glove box.

 

So to set the record straight .....
I can remove the factory speakers and stereo and install aftermarket speakers and stereo without having to do any rewire or bypass of the factory infinity amp ?

 

Unless you plan to run an amp of your own, run the new head unit's speaker outputs into the Infinity amp. It will sound much better than any radio's integrated output. I'm using the same Dodge radio harness adapter they used for 15+ years and it was plug & play.

Look up the Heater Treater site for the easiest fix of blend door problems. They've got informative YouTube videos too. It sure beats a full R&R, even if you do have the facility to do it.

 

Well, that lets out wiring. Will the fob do anything with the back doors? Seems weird. It's fairly common (and a fairly easy repair) for the driver's panel to operate the windows but the passenger door switches don't. I haven't seen any threads about the fob not working the rear door locks.

 

MikeHTally - actually I was wrong. The back doors do not lock at all without doing it manually. Both the key FOB and the master lock activator on the driver door activate the rear door locks .

 

"The back doors do not lock at all without doing it manually." Then how do they work with the fob/driver's panel?