Just got me a 2001 ram 1500 van. Figure what better place to find out some things then threw others who have owned it also.

I have 3 main issues. Most annoying is when I open any doors I have no lights. No power anywhere unless I turn van on. Check Iod fuse and other fuses and relays. All work. When I push in Iod slowly the dash will Ding once like I have door open but that's it. Fuse box under hood. If I put a multimeter on negative in fuse box and positive on battery I get nothing. But positive in fuse and negative on battery. I get juice. Also if I take a fuse out and put multimeter on tabs in box. + and - I get power... Weird to me....

Problem 2. When driving if car isn't fully warm when accelerating it will backfire/misfire/spit unless I slam down gas. Tune up was done. All new spark/wire/cap o2 is next on list

Third I have these packs on air intake(pic included) any ideas. Also have a red pack same design on fuel rail

Thanks for any help you can give me. Gonna go look at all the post and see what I can learn

 

The power thing, I am simply not sure.

For the interior lights, is there a switch that has them disabled??

The funky blue things, (and likely the funky red things as well) are snake oil, and do nothing at all. You can remove them without consequence.

Welcome to DF!

 

1.) Your headlight on/off switch also controls the interior lights and dash lights. The switch can dim or cut off interior lighting depending on the position of the switch. 2.) The spark plug wires on these vans have to routed a certain way or they will give you problems here is a link that may help you with that: http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/18-48-98.htm Welcome to the Dodge Forum nice have a another fellow vanner on board.

 

The headlight switch dims dash but doesn't turn inside lights on. Anyway I can check switch? And thank you for spark wiring I'll check later....

 

Is the check engine light on? Anycodes to be read concerning the backfiring before warm?
The headlight switch, if you spin it clockwise til it clicks (it don't click but kinda bumps a bit more) will turn off all interior lights, this is my permanent setting as I leave my doors open a lot while working. Spinning to the left increases brightness and continues to the furthest left "bump " that is interior lights on until you you either turn them off or end up with a dead battery. I'd test with a test light at the dome light and see first if there is any power, and check the bulb and connector while in there too. No power, recheck the fuses on left side of dash. It's bound to be something just getting missed I'd think...?

 

So I still have spitting problem. But have figured out if i turn overdrive off it stops. Accelerate a lite turn back on and fine. Any idea

 

Misfiring. Have you had a look down the throttle body, see what the bottom of the intake looks like? See any oil pooling in there??

Last time the truck had a tune up? How many miles on it? Does it run good when cold, and after a few minutes starts giving you issues?