1999 DODGE RAM engine

STE ER IN G C O LU M N S W IT C HES
1999 D odge P ic ku p R 1500
1999 ACCESSORIES & EQUIPMENT
CHRY - Steering Column Switches
Dakota, Durango & Ram Pickup
WARNING: Deactivate air bag system before performing any service
operation involving steering column components. See
appropriate AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEMS article. DO NOT apply
electrical power to any component on steering column without
first disconnecting air bag module. Air bag may deploy. Wait
at least 2 minutes after disconnecting negative battery cable
before servicing air bag system. System reserve capacitor,
integral to ACM, maintains air bag system voltage for about 2
minutes after battery is disconnected. Servicing air bag
system before 2-minute period may cause accidental air bag
deployment and possible personal injury.
DESCRIPTION
Turn signal, hazard flasher, headlight beam selector,
headlight flash-to-pass, windshield wipe, pulse wipe and windshield
wash systems use a common switch assembly (multifunction switch)
mounted within upper steering column housing.
Ignition switch and lock cylinder are incorporated into an
assembly attached to side of steering column. Ignition switch assembly
can be serviced as a separate unit, but requires removal of lock
cylinder.
COMPONENT LOCATIONS
COMPONENT LOCATIONS








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Component Location
Combination Flasher Relay ........................... Junction Block
Horn ............................... In Right Front Corner Of Engine
Compartment
Horn Relay ............................ In Power Distribution Center
Junction Block ................. Under Left Side Of Instrument Panel
Power Distribution Center ...... In Left Side Of Engine Compartment,
On Left Inner Panel
Relay/Flasher Module ........ Under Right Side Of Instrument Panel,
Behind Glove Box









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TROUBLE SHOOTING
TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER SYSTEM
Bulbs Burn Out Rapidly
Check charging system. See appropriate GENERATORS &
REGULATORS article in STARTING & CHARGING SYSTEMS.
Hazard Flashers Inoperative
Blown fuse. Faulty hazard flasher. Open circuit in feed wire
to hazard switch. Faulty turn signal/hazard switch. Open or grounded
circuit in wiring to external lights.

NOTE: Before testing, check fluid level, belt tension, pump pulley,
tire pressure and engine idle speed.
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM PRESSURE TEST
NOTE: Replacement fittings are required on Pressure Test Gauge(C
-3309E) for adapting to "O" ring type hose tube ends.
Idle Pressure Test
1) Remove high pressure hose at steering pump and connect a
spare hose to pump fitting. Connect opposite end of spare hose to
Pressure Test Gauge (C-3309E). Connect pressure hose from valve side
of steering gear to valve side of gauge. Valve must be installed on
outlet side of gauge. See Fig. 2.
2) Fully open shutoff valve on test gauge. With a thermometer
in fluid reservoir, start engine and warm fluid to 150-170
F (66-
77C). Turning wheels from stop-to-stop will aid in warming fluid. DO
NOT hold wheels against stop.
3) With engine at idle and gauge valve open, check initial
pressure. See POWER STEERING PUMP PRESSURE TEST SPECIFICATIONS table.
If pressure is greater than 125 psi (8.8 kg/cm

), check for restricted
hoses or crimped lines.
Fig. 2: Installing Pressure Gauge
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
POWER STEERING PUMP PRESSURE TEST SPECIFICATIONS
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Application psi (kg/cm
FD)
Idle Pressure ...................................... 50-80 (3.5-5.6)\
Relief Pressure
Dakota (4WD) ........................................ 1450 (101.9\
)
Ram Pickup .......................................... 1450 (101.9)\
Ram Van/Wagon ........................................ 1400 (98.4)\
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CAUTION: DO NOT leave shutoff valve closed more than 5 seconds, or
pump damage could result.

Relief Pressure Test
1) Close gauge shutoff valve completely 3 times. Record
highest pressure attained each time. All 3 readings must be greater
than specifications and within 50 psi (3.5 kg/cm

) of each other. See
POWER STEERING PUMP PRESSURE TEST SPECIFICATIONS table. If pressures
are not as specified, replace pump. See POWER STEERING PUMP (GASOLINE)\
or VACUUM/POWER STEERING PUMP (DIESEL) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
CAUTION: DO NOT hold steering wheel against stops more than 4 seconds,
or pump damage may result.
2) Open test valve and turn steering wheel to left and right
stops. Record highest pressure attained at each stop. If output
pressures are not equal against each stop, gear is leaking internally
and must be replaced. See STEERING GEAR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
Shut off engine, remove test gauge, and connect pressure hose.
LUBRICATION
CAPACITY
CAPACITY\
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Models Pts. (L)\
Dakota (4WD) ............................................. 2.5 (1.2\
)
Ram Pickup & Ram Van/Wagon ............................... 2.7 (1.3)\
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FLUID TYPE
CAUTION: DO NOT use Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).
Use Mopar Power Steering Fluid (4318055).
FLUID LEVEL CHECK
Check fluid level with engine cold and not running. Remove
fluid level dipstick on pump reservoir. Dipstick should indicate FULL
COLD with fluid temperature of 70-80
F (21-27C). If needed, add fluid
through dipstick opening, and recheck. DO NOT overfill.
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM BLEEDING
Fill power steering pump reservoir to specified level. Start
engine and slowly turn steering wheel to left and right, but DO NOT
contact steering stops in either direction. Stop engine. Inspect
reservoir fluid level and add fluid if necessary. Bleeding process may
have to be repeated several times to completely purge all air from
system.
ADJUSTMENTS
POWER STEERING PUMP BELT
Vehicles are equipped with dynamic tensioner. No adjustment
is required.
POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY

After pulley installation, run the engine until warm. See
PUMP PULLEY under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. If drive belt chirps, move
pulley outward approximately .020" (0.5 mm). If noise increases, press\
pulley inward .040" (1.0 mm). Ensure pulley does not contact mounting
bolts.
THRUST BEARING PRELOAD
NOTE: Manufacturer recommends removing steering gear from vehicle
before performing any adjustments.
1) Remove steering gear from vehicle. See STEERING GEAR under
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Ensure steering gear is empty of hydraulic
fluid. Rotate steering from stop-to-stop several times to drain fluid.
Loosen lock nut on adjuster plug. See Fig. 3. Using spanner wrench,
rotate adjuster plug clockwise until plug is seated in housing. Torque
will be approximately 20 ft. lbs. (27 N.m).
Fig. 3: Measuring Thrust Bearing Preload
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
2) Place reference mark on steering gear housing adjacent to
one hole in adjuster plug. Measure counterclockwise about 1/2" (13 mm)\

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
CAUTION: When battery is disconnected, vehicle computer and memory
systems may lose memory data. Driveability problems may exist
until computer systems have completed a relearn cycle. See
the COMPUTER RELEARN PROCEDURES article in GENERAL
INFORMATION before disconnecting battery.
POWER STEERING PUMP (GASOLINE)
WARNING: DO NOT attempt to remove power steering pump without removing
power steering pump belt. Personal injury or pulley damage
could result.
Removal
1) Disconnect and isolate negative battery cable. To remove
serpentine belt, rotate tensioner clockwise and hold in place, slide
belt from tensioner pulley. Place drain pan under pump. Disconnect and
cap hoses.
2) Remove bracket-to-engine block bolts. Remove pump, pulley
and mounting bracket as an assembly. To allow access to pump screws,
remove pump pulley. See PUMP PULLEY. Remove bracket-to-pump screws.
Installation
To install pump, reverse removal procedure. Fill and bleed
system. See HYDRAULIC SYSTEM BLEEDING under LUBRICATION.
VACUUM/POWER STEERING PUMP (DIESEL)
Removal
1) Disconnect negative battery cable. Place drip pan under
vacuum/power steering pump. Disconnect and cap power brake booster
hose at vacuum pump and hydraulic lines at power steering pump.
Disconnect oil pressure sending unit electrical connector. Remove
sending unit from engine block and plug hole in block. Disconnect and
cap oil feed line from bottom of vacuum pump.
2) Remove vacuum/power steering pump-to-engine block nuts and
bolts, and mounting bracket. Remove upper pump bolt and remove pump.
Drain fluid from steering pump reservoir. Remove gaskets from mounting
surfaces.
CAUTION: DO NOT damage internal vacuum pump oil seal when separating
steering pump from vacuum pump. See Fig. 5.
3) Remove steering pump-to-vacuum pump bracket bolts.
Carefully slide steering pump from bracket. Remove 2 pump body
spacers. See Fig. 5.
NOTE: Steering pump housing and spacers must mate completely with
vacuum pump bracket.
Installation
1) Install 2 pump body spacers and rotate drive gear until
steering pump and vacuum pump drive splines align. See Fig. 5.
Carefully install steering pump on vacuum pump bracket to prevent
damaging oil seal.

Fig. 5: Installing Power Steering Pump (Diesel)
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
2) Install 3 vacuum pump bracket-to-steering pump nuts and
tighten to 18 ft. lbs. (24 N.m). Using silicone sealer if needed,
position NEW gaskets on mounting surfaces.
3) Ensuring steering pump stud is inserted into block
bracket, align and install pump assembly. Tighten pump assembly-to-
engine block bolts to 57 ft. lbs. (77 N.m). Install steering pump-to-
bracket nut. Tighten nut to 18 ft. lbs. (24 N.m).
4) Remove plug from engine block and install oil sending
unit. Tighten sending unit to 60 INCH lbs. (7 N.m) and install
electrical connector. Install oil feed line to vacuum pump and tighten
to 60 INCH lbs. (7 N.m). To complete installation, reverse removal
procedure. Fill and bleed system. See HYDRAULIC SYSTEM BLEEDING under
LUBRICATION. Start engine. Ensure brakes are operating properly.
PUMP PULLEY
CAUTION: Examine exposed end of rotor drive shaft before removal. If
it is corroded, clean surface with crocus cloth to prevent
damage to shaft bushing during removal.
Removal & Installation (Gasoline)
Remove power steering pump from vehicle if necessary. See
POWER STEERING PUMP (GASOLINE). Using Puller (C-4333), remove pump
pulley. See Fig. 6. Replace pulley if bent, cracked or loose. Using
Installer (C-4063-B), press pulley until flush with end of shaft. If
drive belt chirps after engine starts, see POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY

Removal
1) Place wheels in straight-ahead position. Place drain pan
under steering gear assembly. Disconnect and cap pressure and return
hoses from steering gear. Disconnect steering column shaft coupling
from steering gear stub shaft.
2) Raise and support vehicle. Disconnect steering linkage
(center link) from pitman arm. See Fig. 9. Disconnect stabilizer bar
(if necessary). Place reference mark on pitman arm and sector shaft.
Remove nut and pitman arm from sector shaft. Remove steering gear-to-
frame bolts. Remove steering gear.
Installation
1) Install steering gear with bolts finger tight. Center
steering gear and align stub shaft with steering column. Install
steering column shaft coupling bolt and tighten to specification. See
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.
CAUTION: Stake pitman arm nut against pitman arm to ensure proper
retention.
2) Reposition steering gear to eliminate binding, and tighten
bolts to specification. Install pitman arm on sector shaft with
reference marks aligned. Install lock washer and nut. Tighten nut to
specification.
3) To install remaining components, reverse removal
procedure. Fill pump reservoir. Bleed air from hydraulic system. See
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM BLEEDING under LUBRICATION.
SECTOR SHAFT OIL SEAL
Removal
1) Raise and support vehicle. Place wheels in straight-ahead
position. Disconnect steering linkage (center link) from pitman arm.
Disconnect stabilizer bar (if necessary).
2) Place reference mark on pitman arm and sector shaft.
Remove nut and pitman arm from sector shaft. Place drain pan under
steering gear. Remove retaining ring and steel washer. See Fig. 1.
CAUTION: DO NOT hold steering wheel in left-turn position for more
than 2 seconds.
3) Start engine and momentarily hold steering wheel in
extreme left-turn position. When pressure develops, this should force
upper oil seal, steel washer and lower oil seal from steering gear
housing. Stop engine and remove seals.
Installation
1) Ensure seal bore of steering gear is free of burrs and
sector shaft is free of pitting or roughness. Lubricate replacement
seals and steel washers with power steering fluid.
2) Wrap sector shaft with plastic tape or .005" (.13 mm)
thick shim stock. Install upper oil seal (single lip seal) and steel
washer first. Oil seal must be installed only deep enough to allow for
remaining oil seal, steel washer and retaining ring.
CAUTION: DO NOT install upper oil seal against inner bore surface of
steering gear housing. Oil seals must be installed so each
oil seal is separately seated in shaft bore.
3) Install lower oil seal (double lip seal) and steel washer\
.
Oil seal must be installed only deep enough to allow for steel washer
and retaining ring. Remove tape or shim stock and install retaining
ring.

CAUTION: Stake pitman arm nut against pitman arm to ensure proper
retention.
4) Install pitman arm on sector shaft with reference marks
aligned. Install lock washer and nut. Tighten nut to specification.
See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.
5) To install remaining components, reverse removal
procedure. Fill pump reservoir. Allow engine to idle for at least 3
minutes. DO NOT turn wheels during this time. Rotate wheels both
directions and check for leaks. Refill pump reservoir.
CENTER LINK
Removal & Installation
Separate tie rods, idler arm, steering and drag link (if
equipped) from center link. Remove center link. To install, reverse
removal procedure. Tighten nuts to specification.
Fig. 9: Exploded View Of Steering Linkage
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
DRAG LINK
Removal & Installation
Remove cotter pins and drag link nuts. Using Separator (C-
4150), separate drag link from steering knuckle or center link and