Has anyone here ever attempted to gain this function? It's always bugged me that it had the ring but no illumination.
My '97 Ram has it and it illuminates, and quite honestly I think it's cool, even if it really isn't very useful. Probably the reason they stopped using them was because when I close the door on my Ram the interior dome lights shut off instantly. On the Durango the lights will stay on for at least a minute. Due to that, I don't think it was ever an option on a Durango or Dakota, however I have began my attempt to make mine work in my '99.
I pulled a few ignition switches out of a couple Rams at the local JY. To my findings after some disassembly, the Durango does have the light and a partial harness, however it's not pinned into the male end of the connector. :?
As you can see in this pic (This is the ignition switch I removed from a 94-97 Ram) that gray connector is what supplies the power to the ring light. The yellow wire with orange tracer and the black wire with orange tracer are what you need to install to get the ring light to work.
![Image]()
In this pic, this is what's there for a '98-00 Durango.
![Image]()
![Image]()
After some careful disassembly of the plug, I was able to remove the pins and insert them into the plug into my stock harness.
![Image]()
I routed the wires neatly and tied them to the existing harnesses that pass through the column to ensure they don't chafe on anything and short out. Tied them up as needed. I then looped the wires down and tied into the drivers side courtesy light by the parking brake for the power wires to the light, that way the ring light turns on and shuts off with the interior dome lights. I thought of buying a capacitor to keep the light on for a few minutes, but I didn't think it was really necessary and this is just as efficient.
![Image]()
After a quick test?
![Image]()
All back together:
![Image]()
I do have a few spare pins with some wire (Not the same color but it really doesn't matter? all you need is the pins? You don't see the wires anyway) if anyone wants them to do this upgrade into their truck. :cheesy: :cheesy:
My '97 Ram has it and it illuminates, and quite honestly I think it's cool, even if it really isn't very useful. Probably the reason they stopped using them was because when I close the door on my Ram the interior dome lights shut off instantly. On the Durango the lights will stay on for at least a minute. Due to that, I don't think it was ever an option on a Durango or Dakota, however I have began my attempt to make mine work in my '99.
I pulled a few ignition switches out of a couple Rams at the local JY. To my findings after some disassembly, the Durango does have the light and a partial harness, however it's not pinned into the male end of the connector. :?
As you can see in this pic (This is the ignition switch I removed from a 94-97 Ram) that gray connector is what supplies the power to the ring light. The yellow wire with orange tracer and the black wire with orange tracer are what you need to install to get the ring light to work.
In this pic, this is what's there for a '98-00 Durango.
After some careful disassembly of the plug, I was able to remove the pins and insert them into the plug into my stock harness.
I routed the wires neatly and tied them to the existing harnesses that pass through the column to ensure they don't chafe on anything and short out. Tied them up as needed. I then looped the wires down and tied into the drivers side courtesy light by the parking brake for the power wires to the light, that way the ring light turns on and shuts off with the interior dome lights. I thought of buying a capacitor to keep the light on for a few minutes, but I didn't think it was really necessary and this is just as efficient.
After a quick test?
All back together:
I do have a few spare pins with some wire (Not the same color but it really doesn't matter? all you need is the pins? You don't see the wires anyway) if anyone wants them to do this upgrade into their truck. :cheesy: :cheesy:
