Help truck shut off on highway

[jpogue]

SO in my never ending saga to fix my ABS and brake light, and brakes, I finally found a shop with a working DRB scanner. After 3 hours of waiting at the dealer the guy says it's the ignition switch and ignition switch connector burnt, according to code DTC 78. So disgruntled and in disagreement, and a lighter wallet I left. As I was getting on the highway could see hood wasn't closed all of the way. So pulled over closed hood, and made it down the road about 20 miles when the truck just shut down. Speedo went to 0, tach went to 0, and barely made it to the side of the road. It will start if I push down the pedal and turn the key but won't stay running. Did dealership somehow f**k it up with the scanner, or did the ignition switch fully go out on the way home? I'm having a problem believing it's the ignition switch. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Iron Duke II]

SO in my never ending saga to fix my ABS and brake light, and brakes, I finally found a shop with a working DRB scanner. After 3 hours of waiting at the dealer the guy says it's the ignition switch and ignition switch connector burnt, according to code DTC 78. So disgruntled and in disagreement, and a lighter wallet I left. As I was getting on the highway could see hood wasn't closed all of the way. So pulled over closed hood, and made it down the road about 20 miles when the truck just shut down. Speedo went to 0, tach went to 0, and barely made it to the side of the road. It will start if I push down the pedal and turn the key but won't stay running. Did dealership somehow f**k it up with the scanner, or did the ignition switch fully go out on the way home? I'm having a problem believing it's the ignition switch. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Is this on a 2nd gen, year?

 

[Ozymandias]

Yep, sounds like ignition switch.

 

[jpogue]

Sorry IronDuke when I renewed my account for someone reason my truck signature didn't transfer over. It's a 1996 2500 4WD. Thanks Ozymandias.

 

[jpogue]

I should also add that the truck was towed home. Oh the humility of riding in the tow truck

 

[Iron Duke II]

I should also add that the truck was towed home. Oh the humility of riding in the tow truck

Not sure if this is applicable or still in effect after all these years. http://dodgeram.info/tsb/recalls/875.htm

 

[jpogue]

IronDuke thank you. It was a St Louis truck but date is July. I'd like nothing more than to take it back to that dealer and ask him why the tech didn't catch that. Oh well at least this is something I can fix. After it's fixed and back on the road it's not going to be my everyday driver. It's summer so I can ride the motorcycle, but I need to get an everyday driver and just start using old Betsy for boat towing and camping.

 

[GAmes]

The tech didn't catch it because he isn't a mechanic. The techs rely on scanners to tell them what is wrong. A '96 doesn't have an engine computer to scan. The best bet with our old 12 valves is to get a factory service manual and learn to read wire diagrams as well as learn to use the search function in the forums.

 

[Ozymandias]

Not sure if this is applicable or still in effect after all these years. http://dodgeram.info/tsb/recalls/875.htm

Fun fact, MOPAR didn't learn from this. Same problem ten years later with the Gen.3 burnt out ignition switch because of the Blower Motor.
It happened to me.
Sad for me - no TSB for the Gen.3

 

[jpogue]

GAmes thanks for the response. I have the factory service manual now I'll have to learn to read a wiring diagram. The search function has changed since the last time I was an active member on here. Ozymandias why does it not surprise me that they didn't fix this issue. The switch was an easy find, but the harness is proving to be a little more difficult. Thanks guys

 

[GAmes]

The recall only affected a limited number of vehicles. I've run my fan switch on high for hours with no problem. After all these years and miles the ignition switch is still the original.

 

[BigPapa]

The search function has changed since the last time I was an active member on here.

If you click the search bar at the top right of every page then click “More” it’s the old search.

I’m with Gary, when my old ‘95 got totaled, it had almost 400K on it. If I was in the truck, the fan was on high. She died with the original switch in it.

 

[jpogue]

Thanks BigPapa I appreciate it. The switch was easy to come by and tracked down the plug it'll be here tomorrow. So I took everything apart today and one of the slots on the switch plug was burnt.

 

[jpogue]

Another update. After doing some searches, thank you BigPapa, I found some threads on engine not running. Some mentioned fuse number 9. So I looked and fuse number 9 is blown as well.

 

[BigPapa]

 

[jpogue]

Thanks BigPapa found a section on wiring diagrams in the manual and some charts on how to read them. This is going to take some time. Today is my daughters birthday so no more wrenching until later.

 

[Ozymandias]

In the end it's just your ASD Relay that went out.
I remember that this was a BIG issue on the Grand Cherokee ZJ that this relay failed and left people stranded.

For a test you can just swap another relay in with the same number on it, on the Grand we usually took the Foglight relay.

 

[jpogue]

Ozymandias is there a way to test the relay with a multimeter? Ignition switch is out right now awaiting new plug. Which I will replace tomorrow. I can sneak in some testing with the multimeter. However, just because I have a multimeter doesn't mean I know how to make good use of it.

 

[jpogue]

Nevermind I found the test procedures in the manual. Thank you

 

[jpogue]

Out of curiosity why does my truck have a relay for fog lights when it doesn't have fog lights? Is there existing wiring for fog lights as well? I got a nice new Road Armor bumper last year and need to fill the fog light holes eventually