Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Electrical?

[BEnglish]

After changing my steering gear box, the next day my air bag light came on and the wait to start light does not come on and the cruse control will not come on. I know it has nothing to do with the gear box but it is strange how it happened right after. Does this sound familiar to any one? How are they related?

thank you for replies

 

[Misenheimer]

Did you leave off the ground wire??? That is a commpn thing for all to quit at one time.



Robert

 

[BEnglish]

There is a ground wire on the outside of the frame near the s box bolts but I did not undo it and I just checked and it is still connected.

 

[Huff N Puff]

If you didn't lock the steering wheel

After changing my steering gear box, the next day my air bag light came on and the wait to start light does not come on and the cruse control will not come on. I know it has nothing to do with the gear box but it is strange how it happened right after. Does this sound familiar to any one? How are they related?

thank you for replies

You may have broken a device called the squib. Its what feeds power to the ignitor for the airbag,and is mounted behind the steering wheel. The cruise control wires are also in the squib.

 

[Bob4x4]

If you allowed the steering wheel to rotate and did not center the clockspring again you may have killed it.



Bob

 

[BEnglish]

Well the steering wheel only locks upside down (top of wheel at bottom). When I took the shaft of the box the wheel rotated to the bottom and locked. Then I had to unlock it and turn it back and I might have turned it the wrong way. My learning curve is very expensive! Can someone tell me the best way to fix this. I suppose I could take this opportunity to tighten the tilt mechanism.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

Yep, actually you broke your clock spring inside your steering wheel not the squib in the air bag, what happened is you didn't lock the steering wheel so that it didn't turn when you unhooked the steering shaft from the gear. Is gonna need to be replaced.

 

[BEnglish]

I replaced the clock spring and all is good. I now seem to have another problem, when I go to start the engine it used to take a long time for the “wait to start” light to come on and go off, but now it takes about twice as long. Is there something I can check as for the amount of time it takes to get ready to start? I think it is helpful to know that I have been replacing lots of thing on this truck in an attempt to rid it of a highway speed shake and general maintenance. I recently spilled some fuel on the ECM while changing the fuel filter and that caused some problems with the lift pump that I fixed by unplugging the ECM and cleaning the terminals and plug.

Thanks for the help/answers

 

[JLandry]

II recently spilled some fuel on the ECM while changing the fuel filter and that caused some problems with the lift pump that I fixed by unplugging the ECM and cleaning the terminals and plug.

You might also want to remove the ECU, clean it and its mounting surface, then reinstall to make sure it's getting a good ground contact with the block.



Regards,



John L.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

on some trucks they had a ground strap that ran to one of the bolts that held the ecm to the block, as long as your truck runs fine, I wouldn't worry about the wait to start light, when its about 60 degrees your really don't need to wait to start the truck, it will start just fine.



mopar

 

[Huff N Puff]

If you can get a scanner

You might check the coolant and air temp sensor inputs to the ECM,cause if the sensors are giving you a low temp reading the ECM might keep the heater relay on longer.