I've got a 2001 B2500 Ram 12 passenger van with 130,000 miles that recently began having intermittent electrical problems. While driving, the power to the turn signals, power windows, power door locks and radio would fail, but the engine would continue to run fine, so would the air conditioner. The intermittent failure would seem to have no cause, but occasionally power could be restored by moving the key around in the ignition switch. I have replaced the clockspring in this vehicle months ago, so I do not think that is the problem. I thought that perhaps it would be the ignition switch, but I don't have any experience with that. Does anyone have any ideas, and if you also think it is the ignition switch, any help on how to replace that is very much appreciated.
Thanks
dodges 3
07-24-2007, 08:35 PM
It does sound like ignition switch. Mine was doing the same thing, in my '91. When I pulled the electrical harness off the switch, I noticed some of the contacts were charred, and the plastic body, of the connector, had melted some. After replacing switch, all was well. That was last year, with no other issues.
btoups
07-25-2007, 08:54 AM
Thanks Dodges 3. I am going to order one and figure out how to install it.
Brad
Dodgevanman
07-25-2007, 12:05 PM
Not sure how it is on the newer vans, but the steering column cover on my 94 comes off in two halves exposing the the turn signal/wiper/hazard switch and ignition switch. This elimnates the need to remove the steering wheel. Older vehicles had the ignition switch down at the bottom of the column that was actuated via a rod from the tumbler. This is not the case on our vans thank God.
btoups
07-27-2007, 03:06 PM
The steering column covers came off pretty easily, as did the steering wheel tilt mechanism. Once that was out of the way, two screws were undone, and the part replaced. Not too difficult at all.
Opening the old switch revealed that one of the contactors was very much corroded, in fact, it looked burned, so the contactors could not make a good connection, hence the failure. Probably could have cleaned the old contacts off and would have restored the part to working condition, but now it has been replaced. Thanks, all, for your help.
