What is it? What is it supposed to be connected to?

 

Is that a vent actuator??

 

I know what that is, I had the same thing hanging from under my 2004 2500 dash when I bought it. You can shift the truck w/o the key in when its loose.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...side-dash.html

For your 3rd brake light...
1. check the bulb
2. check that the housing is showing good ground and 12v when brake is depressed
3. check the wiring

My 3rd brake light was out, I found snipped wires under the driver piller cover... My truck used to be a state truck, so they had light kit on it - when they pulled it out, they just cut it out and mended nothing. PO bought it from the state, lived with that for 7 years because he couldn't find the problem.

 

Wow my truck is an old state truck too! I ripped out the top dome light and then filled it in with Bondo. Crap could that have been connected to cargo and 3rd light?

Also I'm worried cuz the person I bought it from had lost the original key and instead installed a new ignition with new keys but they messed with the wiring in the steering wheel.

Where did you find the snipped wires? Do you have any photos?

 

Yah that's it. It's the shift lock. I plugged it back in under the steering wheel thanks lol

 

Just pop the two plastic plugs and and remove the screws. You'll see the harness running up that channel, it'll be apparent if someone messed with it.

 

Wow I found this:

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big question tho is where does it go?

 

That blue wire is an add on... if they didn't cut the wires of the factory harness (wires that go through the white connector), the problem isn't there. The wiring for the interior dome light and third brake are glued to your headliner, I'd take it down and have a look. Hardest thing for me was getting the coat hooks and visor hooks removed without making the plastic look like crap... I have a link to that on the forum too..

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...headliner.html

 

How come there are less wires going in to the connector than out?

 

Also I changed the fuse. It has a 10amp fuse instead of a 15. I now get the regular white lights on the sides of 3rd light but no middle red brake light. That means it must be getting power