Chassis/frame wiring harness

Tiny
TJHOLLOWAY1
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 DODGE TRUCK
  • 5.9L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 270,000 MILES
Hello. I hope everyone is having a good day.

I have a Ram 2500 Quad Cab long bed 5.9L automatic srw with tow package. This thing is a Frankentruck. I bought it from a construction company and have slowly been fixing what they screwed up on it.
I have had to work on the chassis wiring harness, part # 56051261AA several times, and generally piecing it together. But, I have gotten to the point where the entire bundle needs new wires. It is a mix of the factory wiring and wiring from an 2004 1500 that the dealer said would be compatible. Wrong. The coloring is all different.
What I need is a diagram to show me which wire goes to which connector and the port on the connector that it goes to. Finding one the right diagram that has the connectors on it as well as the wire colors has proven as difficult as trying to find a complete bundle.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 AT 9:51 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
I can post the connectors with the wire colors and functions, but this is likely going to be frustrating on your part because it is going to take some time for me to get it right. The first thing to do is visit a number of salvage yards where you pull your own parts. Do a search for "Pull-A-Part" and see if they have any yards near you. You can also do an inventory search to see which ones have trucks like yours, but be aware, they can't tell you colors or options a vehicle came with, or what has been removed or damaged by other people. Wire harnesses aren't a popular item, so if you find the right model, you'll likely find a good wiring harness.

Also be aware you may find harness that will work, but it has a totally different part number. One could have all the right wires, but the assembly is a foot or two longer for a longer truck. The salvage yard harness could have a few extra wires for an option not on your truck. There's no harm in having those extra wires in the harness.

Where I would try to draw the line is at finding a harness from a different year. If you have the dealer look up two part numbers for the same harness for the different years, and they are the same, that will tell you the plugs are the same, and a harness from the different year might work, but you still need to check that each wire is in the same locations, even if the color is different.

The last resort is buying a new harness from the dealer, if it is even available yet. They are hand-assembled, so they're horribly expensive.

If you find a harness that is close to yours but is missing a few wires, those can be added separately. To get the needed terminals, the dealer will have kits for the different years and models, so you can buy just what you need. I prefer to snip the connectors off at the salvage yard, with a few inches of wire. That way I just pull out the terminals I need, and splice the wires together.

Those connectors are going to have some type of locking wedge that must be pried out, then you can use a pick or special tool to bend the retaining finger, allowing you to pull the terminal out by tugging on the wire.

For the connector pin-outs themselves, tell me exactly which connectors you need and where they're located on the truck. Use these charts as a guide. Those that have a blue box around the number have drawings to show where they're located.
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Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 AT 6:42 PM
Tiny
TJHOLLOWAY1
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks. I found a place that is supposed to have a replacement bundle. I am thinking it would be best for me to go that route.
Thank you for your help.
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Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 AT 9:16 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Please keep me updated on your progress.
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Wednesday, November 6th, 2019 AT 5:37 PM

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