1999 DODGE RAM Service Repair Manual

4) To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure heater
housing top cover seal, firewall and side cowl seals are in good
condition.
Fig. 7: Removing Radiator Support Assembly (Ram Van/Wagon)
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
HEATER CONTROL PANEL R & I
Removal & Installation (Dakota & Durango)
1) Disconnect negative battery cable. On models equipped with
A/T, unlock ignition switch. Set parking brake and place gear selector
lever in "L" position. If equipped, set tilt steering column in lowest
position.
2) On all models, carefully pry bezel away from instrument
panel to disengage clips. Unplug connectors from cigarette lighter and
auxiliary power outlet. Disconnect fog light switch (if equipped).
Remove 4 heater control panel bolts.
3) Pull control panel outward enough to disconnect wiring
connector, vacuum harness and temperature control cable. Remove heater
control panel. To install, reverse removal procedure. Adjust
temperature control cable. See TEMPERATURE CONTROL CABLE ADJUSTMENT .
Removal & Installation (Ram Pickup)
1) Disconnect negative battery cable. Reach under driver's

side of instrument panel, near transmission tunnel, and unplug heater
control panel-to-heater assembly vacuum harness connector. Disconnect
vacuum harness from center air duct.
2) On models equipped with A/T, unlock ignition switch. Set
parking brake and place gear selector lever in "L" position. If
equipped, set tilt steering column in lowest position.
3) On all models, remove screw securing cluster bezel to
instrument panel. See Fig. 8. Carefully pry bezel away from instrument
panel to disengage clips. Unplug connectors from cigarette lighter and
auxiliary power outlet.
4) Remove 4 bolts attaching heater control panel. Pull
control panel outward enough to disconnect wiring connector and vacuum
harness. Remove heater control panel. To install, reverse removal
procedure.
Fig. 8: Removing Cluster Bezel (Ram Pickup)
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
CAUTION: Use care when removing or installing instrument cluster bezel
so as not to damage trip odometer reset button. If trip
odometer reset button is damaged, instrument cluster must be
replaced.
Removal & Installation (Ram Van/Wagon)
1) Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove engine cover
from passenger compartment. Reach between upper dash panel engine
housing extension and bottom of instrument panel. Disconnect vacuum
harness connector located near left defroster outlet of distribution
duct.
2) On models equipped with A/T, unlock ignition switch. Set
parking brake and place gear selector lever in "L" position. If
equipped, set tilt steering column in lowest position. Carefully pry
bezel away from instrument panel to disengage clips. Pull bezel away
far enough to clear trip odometer reset button. Remove bezel.
3) Remove 3 bolts from heater control panel. Pull heater
control panel outward enough to disconnect electrical connectors and

vacuum connector. Remove heater control panel. To install, reverse
removal procedure.
HEATER CORE
Removal & Installation
Remove heater assembly from vehicle. See HEATER ASSEMBLY.
Disable heater assembly and remove heater core.
INSTRUMENT PANEL
Removal & Installation (Dakota & Durango)
1) Disconnect negative battery cable. Disable air bag system.
See AIR BAG SYSTEM SAFETY article. Place front wheels in straight-
ahead position. Remove sill trim from both doorways. Remove kick panel
covers from both sides of vehicle. Remove mounting bolts for hood
release handle.
2) Remove steering column trim panel and support bracket. If
equipped, remove tilt steering column lever. Remove upper and lower
shrouds from steering column. Remove knee bolster. Unplug driver's
side air bag module. Loosen multifunction switch wiring harness
connector screw and disconnect from switch. Screw will remain in
connector.
3) Disconnect PRNDL cable. Disconnect shift cable from
steering column. Remove steering coupler lock pin. Remove toe plate
retaining bolts. Remove steering column mounting bolts and remove
steering column from vehicle.
4) Remove screw from bulkhead wiring harness connector and
disconnect. Disconnect 2 body wiring harness connectors located next
to bulkhead connector. Disconnect 3 wiring harness connectors located
nearest to dash panel from junction block. Disconnect brake light
switch. If equipped, disconnect Rear Wheel Anti-Lock (RWAL) brake
module, located near steering column support brackets.
5) Disconnect plastic retainer clip from parking brake
linkage rod, located at back of parking brake release handle. Remove
rod end from parking brake handle. Remove instrument panel center
support bracket. Unplug vacuum harness connector located at left end
of heater assembly housing. Disconnect Air Bag Control Module (ACM)
connector.
6) Remove glove box. Reach through glove box opening and
disconnect antenna coaxial cable. Disconnect blower motor connector
located above glove box opening, near support brace for heater
assembly housing. Disconnect radio ground strap. Loosen instrument
panel roll-own bracket bolts about 2 turns (bolts are located at lower
corners, on both sides of instrument panel). Remove 5 bolts across top
of dash panel, at base of windshield, removing center screw last.
7) Roll down instrument panel and install a temporary support
hook that is about 18" (457 mm) in length. Install hook from center
hole in instrument panel to center hole of dash panel. Pull lower
instrument panel outward until both roll-down bracket bolts are in
slotted roll-down position. Instrument panel should now be supported
and away from firewall.
8) Disconnect 2 body wiring harness connectors, located on a
bracket near right end of instrument panel. Disconnect blower motor
resistor. Disconnect temperature control cable from heater assembly
housing and remove from housing. Disconnect defrost duct flexible hose
from heater assembly housing.
9) Ensure all electrical and vacuum connectors are
disconnected and instrument panel is free and clear for removal. With
the aid of an assistant, remove temporary support hook. Lift
instrument panel off of roll-down bracket bolts and remove from
vehicle.
10) To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure all wiring

and hoses are clear and not pinched. Adjusting temperature control
cable. See TEMPERATURE CONTROL CABLE ADJUSTMENT . Tighten bolts and
nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. Enable air bag
system. See AIR BAG SYSTEM SAFETY article.
Removal & Installation (Ram Pickup)
1) Disconnect negative battery cable. Ensure front wheels are
in a straight-ahead position and steering wheel is in LOCKED position.
Disable air bag system. See AIR BAG SYSTEM SAFETY article. Remove Air
Bag Control Module (ACM) and bracket from floor panel transmission
tunnel. Drain cooling system.
2) Remove left and right cowl side inner trim panels. Remove
knee bolster/steering column cover. Remove hood release and parking
brake release handle bolts from lower instrument panel support.
3) Disconnect driver's side air bag connector at lower left
corner of instrument panel. If equipped, disconnect overdrive lock-out
switch wiring harness connector from instrument panel wire harness
near instrument panel lower reinforcement.
4) Pull PRNDL cable and twist to remove from position arm.
Push tab on bottom of cable retainer upward, then squeeze sides to
remove retainer from column. If equipped, remove tilt lever. Remove
both upper and lower shrouds from column. Remove lower fixed column
shroud. Loosen multifunction switch connector screw. Screw will remain
in connector.
5) Ensure steering wheel is in LOCKED position. Remove
remaining steering column electrical connectors. Remove air bag wiring
harness from steering column wiring trough. Remove wiring trough from
steering column. Remove steering column as an assembly from vehicle.
6) From driver's side of instrument panel, disengage parking
brake release linkage rod from parking brake mechanism. Disconnect
instrument panel wiring harness from parking brake mechanism.
Disconnect 3 wiring harness bulkhead connectors located closest to
dash panel.
7) Disconnect instrument panel left side wiring harness
connectors. Remove screw from center of headlight and dash-to-
instrument panel (bulkhead) connector, and disconnect connector.
Disconnect instrument panel-to-door wiring harness. Disconnect
instrument panel to stoplight switch connector. Disconnect vacuum
harness for heater system.
8) If equipped with an Infinity sound system, disconnect
Infinity wiring harness connector from instrument panel harness
connector that is secured to bulkhead connector.
9) From passenger's side of instrument panel, disconnect
radio antenna coaxial cable connector. Loosen right and left
instrument panel roll-down bracket bolts about .50" (13 mm). Removing
center screw last, remove 5 bolts holding top of instrument panel to
top of dash panel.
10) Roll instrument panel downward and install a temporary
support hook to center hole of dash panel. Support hook should support
instrument panel in rolled-down position, about 18" (457 mm) away from\
dash panel. Disconnect remaining wiring harness connectors. With the
aid of an assistant, remove temporary hook and lift instrument panel
from vehicle.
11) To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure all wiring
and hoses are clear and not pinched. Tighten bolts and nuts to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Enable air bag system. See
AIR BAG SYSTEM SAFETY article.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL CABLE R & I
Removal (Dakota & Durango)
Disconnect negative battery cable. Disconnect but DO NOT
remove instrument panel. See INSTRUMENT PANEL. Disconnect temperature

control cable from heater control panel. Disconnect temperature
control cable from flag retainer located at top of heater assembly
housing. See Fig. 9. Remove temperature control cable self-adjuster
clip and temperature control cable.
Installation
1) Before installing temperature control cable, ensure that
self-adjuster clip is positioned as indicated. See Fig. 10.
Measurements must be made with cable end bottomed against flag
retainer on heater control panel end of cable housing.
2) Measure distance between center of self-adjusting clip and
end of cable flag retainer. If distance is not as specified, adjust
self-adjuster clip. To complete installation, reverse removal
procedure.
Fig. 9: Removing Control Cable Flag From Receiver (Typical)
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
Fig. 10: Adjusting Temperature Control Cable (Dakota & Durango)
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
VACUUM RESERVOIR

Removal (Dakota, Durango & Ram Pickup)
1) Vacuum reservoir is located in engine compartment, under
cowl plenum cover. Disconnect negative battery cable. With hood open,
unsnap and remove wiper arm pivot cover. Remove wiper arm nut. Mark
wiper arm and pivot for installation reference. Using battery terminal
puller, remove wiper arms.
2) Remove weatherstrip along front edge of cowl plenum cover
and cowl plenum panel. Remove plastic nuts, plastic rivets, and
plastic push-in retainers from cowl plenum cover. Unsnap slotted
center hole from adhesive backed snap fastener. Ensure not to remove
fastener from cowl side panel.
3) Lift cowl plenum cover enough to access windshield washer
nozzle and vacuum plumbing. Disconnect vacuum supply hose from vacuum
reservoir. Remove cowl plenum cover. Remove bolts and vacuum
reservoir.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure all hoses are
clear and not pinched. Tighten wiper arm nuts to specification. See
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS








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Application Ft. Lbs. (N.m)\
Wiper Arm Nuts (Dakota & Pickup) ........................... 18 (24\
)
Steering Column Toe Plate Nuts (Pickup) .................... 17 (23\
)
INCH Lbs. (N.m)
ACM Mounting Bolts ......................................... 97 (11)\
Instrument Panel
Pivot Bolts ............................................. 106 (12)\
Upper Mounting Screws ................................... 28 (3.2)\
Steering Column
Bracket Nuts ............................................ 106 (12)\
Multifunction Switch Connector Screw ...................... 18 (2)\
Shroud Screws ............................................. 18 (2)\









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VACUUM DIAGRAMS

Fig. 11: Heater System Vacuum Circuits (Dakota)
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.

Fig. 12: Heater System Vacuum Circuits (Durango)
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.