corrosion keeps Dakota from starting

[indy2588]

Hello everyone,
I have a 93 Dodge Dakota 5.2L V8 ext cab. A couple days ago my wife couldn't get the truck to start. It would crank but not start. Checked for spark first and no spark at plugs. Checked for power at coil and no power. Checked trouble codes (flashing of check engine light after turning ignition on 3 times in five seconds). Code 42 present (short or break in auto shutdown relay circuit). After further troubleshooting I found no continuity between the shutdown relay and power. I disconnected the firewall disconnect and found lots of corrosion on the contacts of the connector. Cleaned it out and reconnected, still no start. Opened up the engine harness between the firewall and the relay box near the battery and found a 3 wire to 1 wire splice that had corroded to nothing but powder!. See picture. Cut the corroded wires off and reconnected the four wires and the engine started. I opened the harness up further forward and found another splice that was severely corroded and replaced it.
The electrical harness and the splices are wrapped in non water proof vinyl tape. Apparently water comes through the grill while driving in rain absorbs in it like a sponge and stays there until it evaporates.
So if anyone out there is having trouble starting or any other electrical problems don't overlook these poorly insulated splices in the harness under the hood.

This is the first problem I've had with my Dakota.

Also my 1993 Dakota is for sale:
108K miles
4x4 automatic
V8 5.2L engine
CD stereo
bed liner
Alarm/remote start/keyless entry
$4900

Rick Stanton
Lincoln, NE

[KAB]

Welcome to the club, those wonderful people at dodge don,t even tell you about the fine factory wiring job. They just charge you as usual. Lucky I found my corosion just befor I was about to unwrap the new computer. I haven't looked, but I'm sure there is other corrosion problems hidden in there some where.

[lteb52h]

indy2588:
Sir;
How far down the harness did you find the second splice. My son has a 93 Dakota that started acting up several weeks ago. He is away at college & can only work on it on the weekends. Yesterday it quit while pulling into the parking lot. Today he found the three wire splice you referred to & repaired it. Now it cranks fine but will not start. He can not get any trouble codes out. Chiltons says ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON, however this does not elicit code. Any Ideas?
Note:
From the wiring Diag. I assume that you are referring to the splice that connects the automatic shut down relay out to the generator & the control module.

Regards
Len

[justdan72]

can someone repost the pic , im having the same problem but cant find this wire ? thanks Tim

[KAB]

Look in the wire bundle under the battery, you'll see the blue corrosion on the friction tape it's wound up with. 3 wires to 1 wire. Just strip them all back a little and wire nut them together. Good luck. Sold my Dakota 3mo. ago. I miss it. 224,000. mi.