1998 DODGE RAM 1500 fig

INTRODUCTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page page
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
DESCRIPTION..........................1
VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL INFORMATION
(VECI)
DESCRIPTION..........................2
BODY CODE PLATE
DESCRIPTION..........................3
INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE CONTROL &
DISPLAY SYMBOLS
DESCRIPTION - INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS . . . 5
FASTENER IDENTIFICATION
DESCRIPTION..........................5FASTENER USAGE
DESCRIPTION - FASTENER USAGE.........8
THREADED HOLE REPAIR
DESCRIPTION - THREADED HOLE REPAIR....8
METRIC SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION..........................8
TORQUE REFERENCES
DESCRIPTION.........................10
VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL
DESCRIPTION.........................11
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER
DESCRIPTION
VIN CODING/LOCATIONS
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate is
located on the lower windshield fence near the left
a-pillar (Fig. 1). The VIN contains 17 characters that
provide data concerning the vehicle. Refer to the VIN
decoding chart to determine the identification of a
vehicle.
The VIN is also imprinted on the:
²Body Code Plate.
²Equipment Identification Plate.
²Vehicle Safety Certification Label.
²Frame rail.
To protect the consumer from theft and possible
fraud the manufacturer is required to include a
Check Digit at the ninth position of the VIN. The
check digit is used by the manufacturer and govern-
ment agencies to verify the authenticity of the vehi-cle and official documentation. The formula to use
the check digit is not released to the general public.
POSITION INTERPRETATION CODE = DESCRIPTION
1 Country of Origin 1 = Manufactured By DaimlerChrysler Corporation
3 = Manufactured By DaimlerChrysler De Mexico
2 Make D = Dodge
3 Vehicle Type 2 = Incomplete with Side Airbag
3 = Truck with Side Airbag
6 = Incomplete Less Side Airbag
7 = Truck Less Side Airbag
Fig. 1 VIN LOCATION
1 - DASH PANEL
2 - VIN CODE PLATE
DRINTRODUCTION 1

POSITION INTERPRETATION CODE = DESCRIPTION
4 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating G = 5,001-6000 lbs.
H = 6,001-7,000 lbs.
J = 7,001-8,000 lbs.
K = 8,001-9,000 lbs.
L = 9,001-10,000 lbs.
M = 10,001-14,000 lbs.
W = Buses/Incomplete Vehicles with Hydraulic Brakes
5 Vehicle Line A = Ram Pickup 4X2
U = Ram Pickup 4X4
N = Ram Pickup 4X2 DX Family
6 Series 1 = 1500
2 = 2500
3 = 3500 Less Dual Rear Wheels
4 = 3500 With Dual Rear Wheels
5 = 4000 DX Family
7 Body Style 6 = Conventional Cab/Cab Chassis
8 = Quad Cab Full Rear Doors
8 Engine K = 3.7L 6 cyl. MPI Gasoline
N = 4.7L 8 cyl. MPI Gasoline
D = 5.7L 8 cyl. SMPI Gasoline
6 = 5.9L 6 cyl. Turbo Diesel 24v
C = 5.9L 6 cyl. Turbo Diesel High Output
9 Check Digit 0 through 9 or X
10 Model Year 4 = 2004
11 Plant Location S = Dodge City
G = Saltillo
J = St. Louis (North)
12 thru 17 Vehicle Build Sequence
VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL
INFORMATION (VECI)
DESCRIPTION
All models have a Vehicle Emission Control Infor-
mation (VECI) Label. DaimlerChrysler permanently
attaches the label in the engine compartment (Fig.
2). The label cannot be removed without defacing
label information and destroying label.
The label contains the vehicle's emission specifica-
tions and vacuum hose routings. All hoses must be
connected and routed according to the label.
The label also contains an engine vacuum sche-
matic. There are unique labels for vehicles built for
sale in the state of California and the country of
Canada. Canadian labels are written in both the
English and French languages.
The VECI label contains the following:
²Engine family and displacement
²Evaporative family
²Emission control system schematic
²Certification application
²Engine timing specifications (if adjustable)²Idle speeds (if adjustable)
²Spark plug and gap
Fig. 2 VEHICLE EMISSIONS CERTIFICATION
INFORMATION LABEL
1 - VECI LABEL LOCATION
2 - RADIATOR SUPPORT
2 INTRODUCTIONDR
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (Continued)

BODY CODE PLATE
DESCRIPTION
The Body Code Plate (Fig. 4) is located on the right
front hydroform fender rail just behind the headlight
assembly (Fig. 3). There are seven lines of informa-
tion on the body code plate. Lines 5, 6, and 7 are not
used to define service information. Information reads
from left to right, starting with line 4 in the center of
the plate to line 1 at the bottom of the plate.
The last code imprinted on a vehicle code plate will
be followed by the imprinted word END. When two
vehicle code plates are required, the last available
spaces on the first plate will be imprinted with the
letters CTD (for continued).
When a second vehicle code plate is necessary, the
first four spaces on each row will not be used because
of the plate overlap.
BODY CODE PLATEÐLINE 4
DIGITS 1 THROUGH 12
Vehicle Order Number
DIGITS 13, 14, AND 15
Transmission Codes
²DG4 = 4±speed Automatic (45RFE)
²DG8 = 4±speed Automatic (48RE)²DDC = 5±speed Manual (NV3500)
²DDP = 5±speed Manual (NV4500)
²DEC = 6±speed Manual (NV5600)
²DEE = 6±speed Manual Tremec (T-56)
DIGITS 16, 17, AND 18
Car Line Shell
²DR1=15004X2
²DR6=15004X4
²DR2=25004X2
²DR7=25004X4
²DR3=35004X2
²DR8=35004X4
DIGIT 19
Price Class
²L = Low
²H = Highline
DIGITS 20 AND 21
Body Type
²41 = Ram Truck Quad Cab, Short Box
²42 = Ram Truck Quad Cab, Long Box
²61 = Ram Truck Standard Cab, Short Box
²62 = Ram Truck Standard Cab, Long Box
Fig. 3 BODY CODE PLATE LOCATION
1 - FENDER
2 - RADIATOR CROSSMEMBER
3 - HYDROFORM FENDER RAIL
4 - RIVOT (2)
5 - BODY CODE PLATE
Fig. 4 BODY CODE PLATE
1 - PRIMARY PAINT
2 - SECONDARY PAINT
3 - TRANSMISSION CODE
4 - VEHICLE MODEL NUMBER
5 - ENGINE CODE
6 - INTERIOR TRIM CODE
7 - VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
8 - TAILGATE CODE
9 - CARGO BOX CODE
10 - TAILGATE TRIM CODE
11 - BODY-IN-WHITE SEQUENCE
12 - MARKET CODE
13 - SPECIES CODE
14 - PAINT PROCEDURE
15 - VEHICLE ORDER NUMBER
DRINTRODUCTION 3

INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE
CONTROL & DISPLAY
SYMBOLS
DESCRIPTION - INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS
The graphic symbols illustrated in the following
International Control and Display Symbols Chart are
used to identify various instrument controls. The
symbols correspond to the controls and displays that
are located on the instrument panel.
FASTENER IDENTIFICATION
DESCRIPTION
The SAE bolt strength grades range from grade 2
to grade 8. The higher the grade number, the greater
the bolt strength. Identification is determined by the
line marks on the top of each bolt head. The actual
bolt strength grade corresponds to the number of line
marks plus 2. The most commonly used metric bolt
strength classes are 9.8 and 10.9. The metric
strength class identification number is imprinted on
the head of the bolt. The higher the class number,
the greater the bolt strength. Some metric nuts are
imprinted with a single-digit strength class on the
nut face. Refer to the Fastener Identification and
Fastener Strength Charts (Fig. 5) and (Fig. 6).
INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS
1 High Beam 13 Rear Window Washer
2 Fog Lamps 14 Fuel
3 Headlamp, Parking Lamps, Panel Lamps 15 Engine Coolant Temperature
4 Turn Warning 16 Battery Charging Condition
5 Hazard Warning 17 Engine Oil
6 Windshield Washer 18 Seat Belt
7 Windshield Wiper 19 Brake Failure
8 Windshield Wiper and Washer 20 Parking Brake
9 Windscreen Demisting and Defrosting 21 Front Hood
10 Ventilating Fan 22 Rear hood (Decklid)
11 Rear Window Defogger 23 Horn
12 Rear Window Wiper 24 Lighter
DRINTRODUCTION 5

Fig. 5 FASTENER IDENTIFICATION
6 INTRODUCTIONDR
FASTENER IDENTIFICATION (Continued)

Fig. 6 FASTENER STRENGTH
DRINTRODUCTION 7
FASTENER IDENTIFICATION (Continued)

FASTENER USAGE
DESCRIPTION - FASTENER USAGE
WARNING: USE OF AN INCORRECT FASTENER
MAY RESULT IN COMPONENT DAMAGE OR PER-
SONAL INJURY.
Fasteners and torque specifications references in
this Service Manual are identified in metric and SAE
format.
During any maintenance or repair procedures, it is
important to salvage all fasteners (nuts, bolts, etc.)
for reassembly. If the fastener is not salvageable, a
fastener of equivalent specification must be used.
THREADED HOLE REPAIR
DESCRIPTION - THREADED HOLE REPAIR
Most stripped threaded holes can be repaired using
a Helicoilt. Follow the vehicle or Helicoiltrecommen-
dations for application and repair procedures.
METRIC SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION
The metric system is based on quantities of one,
ten, one hundred, one thousand and one million.
The following chart will assist in converting metric
units to equivalent English and SAE units, or vise
versa.
CONVERSION FORMULAS AND EQUIVALENT VALUES
MULTIPLY BY TO GET MULTIPLY BY TO GET
in-lbs x 0.11298 = Newton Meters (N´m) N´m x 8.851 = in-lbs
ft-lbs x 1.3558 = Newton Meters (N´m) N´m x 0.7376 = ft-lbs
Inches Hg (60É
F)x 3.377 = Kilopascals (kPa) kPa x 0.2961 = Inches Hg
psi x 6.895 = Kilopascals (kPa) kPa x 0.145 = psi
Inches x 25.4 = Millimeters (mm) mm x 0.03937 = Inches
Feet x 0.3048 = Meters (M) M x 3.281 = Feet
Yards x 0.9144 = Meters M x 1.0936 = Yards
mph x 1.6093 = Kilometers/Hr. (Km/h) Km/h x 0.6214 = mph
Feet/Sec x 0.3048 = Meters/Sec (M/S) M/S x 3.281 = Feet/Sec
mph x 0.4470 = Meters/Sec (M/S) M/S x 2.237 = mph
Kilometers/Hr.
(Km/h)x 0.27778 = Meters/Sec (M/S) M/S x 3.600 Kilometers/Hr.
(Km/h)
COMMON METRIC EQUIVALENTS
1 inch = 25 Millimeters 1 Cubic Inch = 16 Cubic Centimeters
1 Foot = 0.3 Meter 1 Cubic Foot = 0.03 Cubic Meter
1 Yard = 0.9 Meter 1 Cubic Yard = 0.8 Cubic Meter
1 Mile = 1.6 Kilometers
Refer to the Metric Conversion Chart to convert
torque values listed in metric Newton- meters (N´m).
Also, use the chart to convert between millimeters
(mm) and inches (in.) (Fig. 7).
8 INTRODUCTIONDR

Fig. 7 METRIC CONVERSION CHART
DRINTRODUCTION 9
METRIC SYSTEM (Continued)