1998 DODGE RAM 1500 Body

Fig. 126 TAILGATE PIVOT REINFORCEMENT - LONG CARGO BOX ONLY
Fig. 127 INNER WHEELHOUSE - LONG CARGO BOX ONLY
DRBODY STRUCTURE 23 - 189
WELD LOCATIONS (Continued)

Fig. 128 009 OUTER TAILGATE PILLAR - LONG CARGO BOX ONLY
Fig. 129 INNER DOOR PANEL - QUAD CAB
23 - 190 BODY STRUCTUREDR
WELD LOCATIONS (Continued)

Fig. 130 INNER DOOR PANEL - STANDARD CAB
Fig. 131 INNER DOOR PANEL - QUAD CAB
DRBODY STRUCTURE 23 - 191
WELD LOCATIONS (Continued)

The illumination lamps are available for service
replacement.
REMOVAL
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE
ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING
COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISO-
LATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE,
THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PER-
FORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS
IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG
SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRE-CAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENTAL
AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable.
(2) Remove the center bezel from the instrument
panel (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/
INSTRUMENT PANEL CENTER BEZEL -
REMOVAL).
(3) Remove the screws that secure the A/C-heater
control to the instrument panel (Fig. 14).
INSTALLATION
(1) Position the A/C-heater control onto the instru-
ment panel center bezel and install the retaining
screws. Tighten the screws to 2.2 N´m (20 in. lbs.).
(2) Install the instrument panel center bezel (Refer
to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/INSTRUMENT
PANEL CENTER BEZEL - INSTALLATION).
(3) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
A/C PRESSURE TRANSDUCER
DESCRIPTION
The A/C pressure transducer is a switch that is
installed on a fitting located on the refrigerant dis-
charge line between the compressor and the con-
denser in the front corner of the engine
compartment. An internally threaded hex fitting on
the transducer connects it to the externally threaded
Schrader-type fitting on the discharge line. A rubber
O-ring seals the connection between the transducer
and the discharge line fitting. Three terminals within
a molded plastic connector receptacle on the top of
the transducer connect it to the vehicle electrical sys-
tem through a wire lead and connector of the head-
lamp and dash wire harness.
Fig. 12 Single Zone HVAC Control
1 - MOUNTING TAB (4)
2 - A/C BUTTON
3 - SIDEVIEW MIRROR DEFROSTER BUTTON (IF EQUIPED)
4 - MODE CONTROL SWITCH
5 - TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCH
6 - BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH
Fig. 13 Dual Zone A/C Control
1 - A/C BUTTON
2 - MAX. A/C BUTTON
3 - SIDEVIEW MIRROR DEFROSTER BUTTON (IF EQUIPED)
4 - MOUNTING TABS (4)
5 - DRIVERSIDE TEMPERATURE CONTROL
6 - PASSENGERSIDE TEMPERATURE CONTROL
7 - MODE CONTROL SWITCH
8 - BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH
Fig. 14 A/C-Heater Control - Typical, Rear View
1 - MOUNTING TAB (4)
2 - SCREW (4)
3 - A/C-HEATER CONTROL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
4 - HEATED SIDEVIEW MIRROR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
5 - A/C-HEATER CONTROL
DRCONTROLS 24 - 15
A/C HEATER CONTROL (Continued)

(4) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR
DESCRIPTION
The blend door actuators are reversible, 12-volt
Direct Current (DC), servo motors. Models with the
single zone heater and air conditioner system have a
single blend door, which is controlled by a single
blend door actuator. Models with the optional dual
zone front heater and air conditioner system have
dual blend doors, which are controlled by two blend
door actuators. The single zone blend door actuator is
located on the driver side end of the HVAC housing,
close to the dash panel. In the dual zone system, the
same blend door actuator used for the single zone
system becomes the driver side blend door actuator,
and is mechanically connected to only the driver side
blend door. In the dual zone system, a second sepa-
rate blend door actuator is also located on the top of
the HVAC housing and is mechanically connected to
only the passenger side blend door.
The blend door actuators are interchangeable with
each other, as well as with the actuators for the
mode door, defrost door and the recirculation door.
Each actuator is contained within an identical blackmolded plastic housing with an integral wire connec-
tor receptacle. Integral mounting tabs allow the
actuator to be secured with three screws to the
HVAC housing. Each actuator also has an identical
output shaft with splines that connects it to the link-
age that drives the proper door. The blend door
actuators do not require mechanical indexing to the
blend door linkage, as they are electronically cali-
brated by the heater-A/C control module. The blend
door actuators cannot be adjusted or repaired and, if
damaged or faulty, they must be replaced.
OPERATION
Each blend door actuator is connected to the A/C-
heater control through the vehicle electrical system by a
dedicated two-wire lead and connector from the HVAC
wire harness. The blend door actuator can move the
blend-air door in two directions. When the A/C-heater
control pulls the voltage on one side of the motor con-
nection high and the other connection low, the blend-air
door will move in one direction. When the A/C-heater
control reverses the polarity of the voltage to the motor,
the blend-air door moves in the opposite direction.
When the A/C-heater control makes the voltage to both
connections high or both connections low, the blend-air
door stops and will not move. The motor connections
also provide a feedback signal to the A/C-heater control.
This feedback signal allows the A/C-heater control to
monitor the operation and relative positions of the blend
door actuator and the blend-air door. The A/C-heater
control learns the blend door stop positions during the
calibration procedure and will store a diagnostic trouble
code (DTC) for any problems it detects in the blend door
actuator circuits.
The blend door actuator can be diagnosed using a
DRBIIItscan tool. Refer to Body Diagnostic Proce-
dures for more information. The blend door actuators
cannot be adjusted or repaired and, if damaged or
faulty, they must be replaced.
REMOVAL
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE
ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING
COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISO-
LATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE,
THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PER-
FORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS
IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG
SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRE-
CAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR-
BAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.
Fig. 15 A/C Pressure Transducer - 3.7L Shown
1 - NUT
2 - FRONT UPPER CROSSMEMBER
3 - A/C CONDENSER
4 - NUT (2)
5 - SUCTION LINE
6 - A/C COMPRESSOR
7 - A/C PRESSURE TRANSDUCER
8 - WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR
9 - A/C DISCHARGE LINE
DRCONTROLS 24 - 17
A/C PRESSURE TRANSDUCER (Continued)

NOTE: The single zone heating and air conditioning
system is equipped with a single blend door actua-
tor. The dual zone system has two blend door
actuators, one for the driver side blend air door and
one for the passenger side blend air door. The
same service procedures can be used for each of
these actuators.
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable.
(2) Remove the instrument panel from the vehicle
(Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/IN-
STRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY - REMOVAL).
(3) Disconnect the wire harness connector from the
blend door actuator(s) (Fig. 16).
(4) Remove the screws that secure the blend door
actuator(s) to the HVAC housing.
(5) Remove the blend door actuator(s) from the
HVAC housing.INSTALLATION
(1) Position the blend door actuator(s) into the
HVAC housing. If necessary, rotate the actuator(s)
slightly to align the splines on the actuator output
sleeve(s) with those on the blend door linkage.
(2) Install and tighten the screws that secure the
blend door actuator(s) to the HVAC housing. Tighten
the screws to 2 N´m (17 in. lbs.).
(3) Connect the HVAC wire harness connector to
the blend door actuator(s).
(4) Install the instrument panel (Refer to 23 -
BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/INSTRUMENT
PANEL ASSEMBLY - INSTALLATION).
(5) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR
BLOCK
DESCRIPTION
The blower motor resistor is mounted to the bot-
tom side of the HVAC housing near the blower motor.
It can be accessed for service from underneath the
instrument panel.
OPERATION
The resistor has multiple resistor wires, each of
which will reduce the current flow to the blower
motor to change the blower motor speed by changing
the resistance in the blower motor ground path. The
blower motor switch directs the ground path through
the correct resistor wire to obtain the selected speed.
With the blower motor switch in the lowest speed
position, the ground path for the motor is applied
through all of the resistor wires. Each higher speed
selected with the blower motor switch applies the
blower motor ground path through fewer of the resis-
tor wires, increasing the blower motor speed. When
the blower motor switch is in the highest speed posi-
tion, the blower motor resistor is bypassed and the
blower motor receives a direct path to ground.
The blower motor resistor cannot be repaired and,
if faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.
Fig. 16 HVAC Housing - Dual Zone Shown, Single
Zone Typical
1 - NUT
2 - PASSENGER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR
3 - NUT
4 - INLET BAFFLE
5 - RECIRCULATION DOOR ACTUATOR
6 - RECIRCULATION DOOR
7 - DRIVER SIDE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR
8 - HVAC HOUSING
9 - BOLT
10 - DEFROSTER DOOR ACTUATOR
11 - MODE DOOR ACTUATOR
24 - 18 CONTROLSDR
BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR (Continued)

cal indexing to the defrost door, as it is electronically
calibrated by the heater-A/C control module. The
defrost door actuator cannot be adjusted or repaired
and, if damaged or faulty, it must be replaced.
OPERATION
The defrost door actuator is connected to the heat-
er-A/C control module through the vehicle electrical
system by a dedicated two-wire lead and connector
from the HVAC wire harness. The defrost door actua-
tor can move the defrost door in two directions.
When the heater-A/C control module pulls the volt-
age on one side of the motor connection high and the
other connection low, the defrost door will move in
one direction. When the module reverses the polarity
of the voltage to the motor, the defrost door moves in
the opposite direction. When the module makes the
voltage to both connections high or both connections
low, the defrost door stops and will not move. These
same motor connections also provide a feedback sig-
nal to the heater-A/C control module. This feedback
signal allows the module to monitor the operation
and relative positions of the defrost door actuator
and the defrost door. The heater-A/C control module
learns the defrost door stop positions during the cal-
ibration procedure and will store a Diagnostic Trou-
ble Code (DTC) for any problems it detects in the
defrost door actuator circuits. The defrost door actua-
tor can be diagnosed using a DRBIIItscan tool.
Refer to Body Diagnostic Procedures.
REMOVAL
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE
ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING
COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISO-
LATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE,
THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PER-
FORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS
IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG
SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRE-
CAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENTAL
AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable.
(2) Remove the instrument panel from the vehicle
(Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/IN-
STRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY - REMOVAL).
(3) Disconnect the wire harness connector from the
defrost door actuator (Fig. 19).
(4) Remove the screws that secure the defrost door
actuator to the HVAC housing.(5) Remove the defrost door actuator from the
HVAC housing.
INSTALLATION
(1) Position the defrost door actuator into the
HVAC housing. If necessary, rotate the actuator
slightly to align the splines on the actuator output
sleeve with those on the defrost door linkage.
(2) Install and tighten the screws that secure the
defrost door actuator to the HVAC housing. Tighten
the screws to 2 N´m (17 in. lbs.).
(3) Connect the HVAC wire harness connector to
the defrost door actuator.
(4) Install the instrument panel (Refer to 23 -
BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/INSTRUMENT
PANEL ASSEMBLY - INSTALLATION).
(5) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
Fig. 19 HVAC Housing - Dual Zone Shown, Single
Zone Typical
1 - NUT
2 - PASSENGER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR
3 - NUT
4 - INLET BAFFLE
5 - RECIRCULATION DOOR ACTUATOR
6 - RECIRCULATION DOOR
7 - DRIVER SIDE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR
8 - HVAC HOUSING
9 - BOLT
10 - DEFROSTER DOOR ACTUATOR
11 - MODE DOOR ACTUATOR
DRCONTROLS 24 - 21
DEFROST DOOR ACTUATOR (Continued)

EVAPORATOR TEMPERATURE
SENSOR
DESCRIPTION
The evaporator temperature sensor is a two-wire
temperature sensing element located at the coldest
point on the face of the evaporator. The sensor is
attached to the evaporator coil fins. The evaporator
temperature sensor prevents condensation on the
evaporator coil from freezing and obstructing A/C
system air flow. The evaporator temperature sensor
cannot be adjusted or repaired and, if faulty or dam-
aged, it must be replaced.
OPERATION
The evaporator temperature sensor monitors the
temperature of the evaporator. The sensor will
change its internal resistance in response to the tem-
peratures it monitors. The A/C-heater control module
is connected to the sensor through a sensor ground
circuit and a sensor signal circuit. As the evaporator
temperature increases, the resistance of the sensor
decreases and the voltage monitored by the module
decreases. The module uses this monitored voltage
reading to an indication of the evaporator tempera-
ture. The A/C-heater control module is programmed
to respond to this input by cycling the air condition-
ing compressor clutch as necessary to optimize air
conditioning system performance and to protect the
system from evaporator freezing. The external loca-
tion of the sensor allows the sensor to be removed or
installed without disturbing the refrigerant in the
system. The evaporator temperature sensor is diag-
nosed using a DRBIIItscan tool. Refer to Body Diag-
nostic Procedures.
REMOVAL
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable.
(2) Remove the HVAC housing from the vehicle
(Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/
DISTRIBUTION/HVAC HOUSING - REMOVAL).
(3) Disconnect the HVAC wire harness connector
from the evaporator temperature sensor (Fig. 20).
(4) Disassemble the HVAC housing to gain access
to the evaporator coil (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR
CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/HVAC HOUSING
- DISASSEMBLY).
(5) Remove the evaporator temperature sensor
probe from the evaporator coil (Fig. 21).
INSTALLATION
(1) Install the evaporator temperature sensor
probe into the evaporator coil.
Fig. 20 Evaporator Temperature Sensor Wire
Connector
1 - HVAC HOUSING
2 - EVAPORATOR TEMPERATURE SENSOR
3 - HVAC WIRE HARNESS
Fig. 21 Evaporator Temperature Sensor Probe
1 - EVAPORATOR COIL
2 - EVAPORATOR TEMPERATURE SENSOR PROBE
3 - BLEND DOOR
4 - HVAC HOUSING
24 - 22 CONTROLSDR