Questions from a 2005 newbie

[Blakers]

I just bought my new (to me) 2005 2500 4x4 today and have some questions. As some of you know, I bought my 03 CTD new and put 339,000 miles on it before destroying a RAV4 that pulled out in front of me. Anyway, whether or not I get the 03 back on the road again, this is my new baby.

So here are some questions about the 05:

It has no fog lights. Are the wires there? If I use the switch from my 03, can I plug my fog lights into the harness?

It also has no button for the heated mirrors, yet the mirrors have the heated emblem on them. Are the wires there so I can change out the switch for the one with the button?

I see there’s no lift pump on the back of the fuel filter housing. I assume the lift pump is in the tank?

And does anyone know how to get rid of the seat belt dinger and the automatic door locking when the vehicle moves feature? I did this on the 03, but that was over 20 years ago.

Thanks. I’ll think of more questions.

 

[bcbender]

Yes Lift pump is in the tank and very reliable compared to the engine mounted on the 03~04s. I am not sure about the wiring on the fog lights, they were there on my 01, but not sure about the 3rd gens, My 04 did have the disable harness for the airbag in the dash for the switch used on the single cabs though. As for the dinger, was never and issue for me, but Im sure there is a way to do it other than fooling it at the connector for the seat belt (old paperclip trick)

 

[Topzide]

Is the heated mirror button incorporated on HVAC controls? I know this is where it's on the 4th gens. It'll have picture of the heat waves on face of the button. Took me a hot minute to find in my 2014 when I first got it. Was used to the single button setup in my '01 1500! As they say, maybe time to sit down with the OM and find out what else has changed. sorry to hear the a vehicle about 1/3 the size of truck took you out! Glad you were at least able to find replacement!

 

[Blakers]

Is the heated mirror button incorporated on HVAC controls? I know this is where it's on the 4th gens. It'll have picture of the heat waves on face of the button. Took me a hot minute to find in my 2014 when I first got it. Was used to the single button setup in my '01 1500! As they say, maybe time to sit down with the OM and find out what else has changed. sorry to hear the a vehicle about 1/3 the size of truck took you out! Glad you were at least able to find replacement!

Yes the mirror heat button is in the HVAC panel on the 03. Looks like I can switch them out, IF the wiring and the plug are there.

 

[Blakers]

Another 05 question. What is the cooler between the radiator and the intercooler? I'm guessing it's for the power steering and hydroboost. Much bigger than on the 03.
And I noticed the plate heat exchanger down on the drivers side of the engine. I assume cooler for automatic transmission? Never had an automatic 3rd gen before.

 

[bigceltic]

Another 05 question. What is the cooler between the radiator and the intercooler? I'm guessing it's for the power steering and hydroboost. Much bigger than on the 03.
And I noticed the plate heat exchanger down on the drivers side of the engine. I assume cooler for automatic transmission? Never had an automatic 3rd gen before.

It is the Trans cooler I believe. On mine (06) from out to in it is AC, Intercooler, trans cooler, radiator IIRC.

 

[CharlesinGA]

My '03 Tradesman had the wiring for the fog lights. I did have to buy the cross over harness from left to right light, and change the switch. The switch (at least for the '03) was discontinued and I was only able to fine three or four nationally without resorting to aftermarket. I did managed to get one of the NOS switches from a very cooperative dealer in Michigan.

Use Mopar Parts Giant and put in the VIN, very helpful.

Trans cooler is mounted up high on the front of the radiator , and the steering/hydroboost cooler is mounted down lower below the trans cooler.

Charles

 

[Blakers]

My '03 Tradesman had the wiring for the fog lights. I did have to buy the cross over harness from left to right light, and change the switch. The switch (at least for the '03) was discontinued and I was only able to fine three or four nationally without resorting to aftermarket. I did managed to get one of the NOS switches from a very cooperative dealer in Michigan.

Use Mopar Parts Giant and put in the VIN, very helpful.

Trans cooler is mounted up high on the front of the radiator , and the steering/hydroboost cooler is mounted down lower below the trans cooler.

Charles

I have all the switches from my 03 that I can change out. And I have the wiring that goes across the front for the fog lights, plus the Fogzilla control so the fog lights stay on with the high beams -- a huge improvement on dark rainy nights!

My transmission cooler lines go to a plate heat exchanger on the side of the engine down by the starter.

 

[Blakers]

Regarding my question about whether the HVAC control with heated mirror switch from my 03 could replace the HVAC control in the 05 without the heated mirror switch.... I changed them out today and everything fit and the mirrors seemed to get warm to touch.

 

[Blakers]

Yes Lift pump is in the tank and very reliable compared to the engine mounted on the 03~04s. I am not sure about the wiring on the fog lights, they were there on my 01, but not sure about the 3rd gens, My 04 did have the disable harness for the airbag in the dash for the switch used on the single cabs though. As for the dinger, was never and issue for me, but Im sure there is a way to do it other than fooling it at the connector for the seat belt (old paperclip trick)

Has anyone found a source for the air bag disconnect switch without going through a dealer? I remember years ago the dealers required us to jump through hoops to get the switch. We had to fill out paperwork that our wives or mothers were tiny and could get injured by an airbag.

 

[Ozymandias]

I don't think so, the electrical system of the 05 is completely different then the one I the 03 you had.

Airbag switch also doesn't work, been there done that. It Sets a Code that can't be cleared and the airbag System is entirely disabled no matter of the position of the switch.

 

[Blakers]

It is the Trans cooler I believe. On mine (06) from out to in it is AC, Intercooler, trans cooler, radiator IIRC.

Ok, I see this is the transmission cooler. So it has two coolers in series? An oil to water cooler (on side of engine), and an oil to air cooler in front of radiator. I wonder why two?

 

[Ozymandias]

Because they wanted to make it right and keep the Trans at temperature under any circumstances. Unlike the predecessors that overheated fairly easy.
The one in the front has a thermostat in it, it opens if needed.
The big load takes the oil to water cooler, he is very efficient.

 

[Blakers]

Because they wanted to make it right and keep the Trans at temperature under any circumstances. Unlike the predecessors that overheated fairly easy.
The one in the front has a thermostat in it, it opens if needed.
The big load takes the oil to water cooler, he is very efficient.

THANKS! It looks like they made some big improvements between 03 and 05.

 

[Blakers]

One of the big improvements I have noticed driving the 05 for a few days is it's much quieter than the 03. And I don't mean the muffler. It's road noise and the exhaust drone that comes up through the floor. The day I bought my 03 back in May of 2003, one of the first things I noticed was how loud it was going down the highway compared to my previous 1995. I thought they must have less sound deadening in the floors. So did they increase the sound deadening in the 05?

 

[Ozymandias]

Probably depending on the trim level.

 

[Blakers]

Probably depending on the trim level.

Could be. Both SLT

 

[promisedland]

I know some guys delete the eng mounted cooler, because of potential failure. This would mean coolant getting into the trans fluid.
Would this require a aux cooler to keep it cool?

 

[Blakers]

Regarding my question about whether the HVAC control with heated mirror switch from my 03 could replace the HVAC control in the 05 without the heated mirror switch.... I changed them out today and everything fit and the mirrors seemed to get warm to touch.

Tried the heated mirrors today and they worked great! Got warm enough to dry the rain off.

 

[Blakers]

Yes Lift pump is in the tank and very reliable compared to the engine mounted on the 03~04s. I am not sure about the wiring on the fog lights, they were there on my 01, but not sure about the 3rd gens, My 04 did have the disable harness for the airbag in the dash for the switch used on the single cabs though. As for the dinger, was never and issue for me, but Im sure there is a way to do it other than fooling it at the connector for the seat belt (old paperclip trick)

Here’s how to disable the seat belt dinger. Took several attempts, but I think it finally worked.