02 ram 3500 4X4 manual 6 speed. I bought it in sad shape, wouldn't start. New items are batteries, battery cables, starter, alternator. At this point it would start and run, instrument cluster worked. Still no charging. I tested voltage coming from PCM, blue wire to ground=0. I had checked continuity of green and blue wires to make sure they weren't eedshorted or open. I'm assuming PCM was bad. At this same time I decided I would charge the batteries up. I removed them and charged them. Upon installing them I accidentally shorted black and red together on the passenger side with the driver's side hooked up. Then when I started the truck it ran but no bus appeared and no instruments worked. I installed a refurbished PCM and got 7 volts on the blue wire to ground, still no charging or instrument cluster. I have a cheap obd reader and when I leave it hooked up while running all my gauges work. When I unplug it they stop working. Also getting a 1698 code that keeps coming back.

 

I want to thank all of you for helping this far,I couldn't have done it without you. I did download the service manual but I'm not very good at reading electrical skematics. This is the first post I've ever done so be patient with me, thanks...

Yes, I agree with you. I have to admit I don't really shop much and I know I'm paying a bit more then I should. I did see a Eaton Tru-trac for 935 after I had purchased mine. More then the cost savings was my frustration factor dealing with this truck. It had a lot more wrong with it then I anticipated. The previous workmanship was substandard. For example when I tore into the rear end the carrier bearing had the inner race welded to the carrier to prevent it from slipping. Who does this type of work??? I'm actually enjoying driving it and looking forward to pulling my toy hauler. I'm still performing road trials with about 600 miles on it. Changed my gear oil in the pumpkins rechecked all my torques on the axle, spring mounts, calipers, ring gear, carrier caps, drive line, all good. I couldn't have done this without all of your help. I thank all of you!!!! and look forward to helping you any way I can. 

When I'm looking fort parts I typically check the NAPA near me, then start working out from there getting to vendors I have agreements with and then maybe check Rockauto. I will admit RockAuto tend to have good prices but for me the shipping is the killer some times could be weeks to get parts. So RockAuto is the slowest answer. NAPA is the quickest answer but can be expensive. My vendors typically is a 2 to 3 day shipping time but the prices are typically better but the inventory could be limited. 

 

Kind of like yesterday I'm playing with a 1985 Chevy Suburan with a over fueling issues and MAP sensor code 33. Now I'm calling every where to find a MAP sensor but those old school sensor are hard to find up here. 

 

2 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

could be weeks to get parts.

That would certainly be a deal breaker!

3 hours ago, LorenS said:

That would certainly be a deal breaker!

 

Been that way for months now. Just a simple Fan Belt for a 2003 Dodge Dakota took 1 week to get from NAPA.

I got lucky Thursday, my dad wanted a new serpentine belt and needed an idler pulley replaced. Ordered them from advance, did the same day shipping. He had them at his door and hour later. I was in shock!

21 minutes ago, Doubletrouble said:

I got lucky Thursday, my dad wanted a new serpentine belt and needed an idler pulley replaced. Ordered them from advance, did the same day shipping. He had them at his door and hour later. I was in shock!

I buy things from Advance on line for the 20% off they cant give in the store and just pick it up. Sounds like they may have had it in stock if he got an hour later. That is fast. 

The last couple things I ordered from RA got here in like 3 days. One day quicker than they said economy shipping would take.

 

I did reseal my vacuum pump, Napa wanted 93 dollars for the kit. I got it on eBay, genuine Cummins parts, 19 dollars and free shipping. Also got the fan hub bearing SKF brand on eBay 28 dollars. I will have a category of spare parts onboard when I travel. I will shop for them and get the best price for quality parts as I will have time to shop for them. I'm in Oregon and had planned on being in Arizona playing on my claims this winter. As it turns out with the uptick of covid-19 I'm going to winter over in Oregon. Up to Alaska for the summer (if Canada opens the border) and down to Arizona next winter.

This is pictures of my toy hauler, before and after. It was rear ended in fog on I-5. I had purchased it from an auction in Riverside. This is what I plan on pulling with my Dodge. Gooseneck style.

Ouch!!!

Yeah, ouch! I take it those are before and after? If so it looks like the repairs were done well. Looks good.

It sucks you having to go through the repair process due to a situation not of your making.  Looks like a clean repair job.

It took me about 4 months to finish it and was actually fun. This type of work I rather enjoy. I even made the aluminum extruded siding as I couldn't purchase it from the factory. They didn't make that style any longer.