Keyless Entry Programing-1997 Ram Van

[Jim stephenson]

I have a 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 Van (1 ton). Date of Manufacture was Aug. 1997. It came with keyless entry only (not integral security system). I lost my keyless remote but my wife still has her's. I obtained another remote of the same P/N and FCC #, knowing it would have to be programed. My local Dodge Dealer wants a flat fee of $65 to program remotes.I also have a Dodge Factory Service Manual but it is for 1998 Vans not 1987. The 1998 manual gives a simple procedure to program both remotes which seems to me should take no more than 5 min. and it galls me to have to pay $65 for such a simple job. My problem is, I cannot use the 1998 manual procedure due to the apparent changes in wiring between the 1997 and 1998 vans. The manual procedure says to ground the Dark Green wire in the #1 position of the Data Link Connector to put the Keyless Entry Module into the programing mode. My '97 does not have a wire in the #1 position of the Data Plug, much less a Dark Green one. My next approach was to go to the Keyless Entry Module and find the same Dark Green wire which goes into the module at connector #1. (From the wiring diagram there are two connectors that go into this module). The '98 manual says it can be found on the inside of the Center Left Instrument Panel Support. I Cannot find it there in my van. Could someone please tell me which wire is the programing wire or where the Keyless Entry Module is located on my 1997 Van? Any help would be very appreciated.

[Jim stephenson]

A friend of a friend relayed the following to me from a Mitchell manual. The program wire on the '97 van is located on the lower left side of the steering column where it goes thru the firewall. The procedure is to ground the wire and then turn on the ignition and note the cycling of the door locks. This indicates the module is in the program mode. Then the two remotes can be programmed in turn by pressing either of the buttons and noting the cycling of the door locks. The key is then turned off and the ground removed. The module should then be programmed.
I had to pull back the carpet to locate the wire but I found it OK and it was even identified with a "program" tag. It had a terminal end on it and was taped to a larger wire bundle. I performed the procedure and it worked as stated. Took me all of 2 minutes.
If anyone expended any time and energy on this, I thank you. I hope this is of help to someone else. Jim Stephenson