Infamous steering wheel control issue has me stumped

[blhill7il8]

Truck

2015 Ram 1500 tradesman. Motor swap performed before I bought it donor motor was a 2017.

Ivr had the truck 2.5 years and steering wheel controls have never worked. Guy I bought it from said they worked before the swap, but I dont know if I trust him.

Cruise control and gear selection on the right side work

No lights on at all on steering wheel. Left side and horn is dead.

No airbag or check engine light.

Truck registers wheel is turning on backup camera

Ive checked swapped and rechecked every fuse I can find.

Today I pulled the clockspring. Good continuity on all 6 wires.

I swapped steering wheel put completely from a 70k mile donor truck and my original clockspring that tested good.

Still nothing.

I checked voltage at plug to clockspring. I was getting a constant 4.8volts to a purple wire with orange stripe and 4.9 volts to an orange wire with purple stripe.

Im lost. Any help would be appreciated

 

[tron67j]

Do you know of the PCM was programmed for the 2017? I believe you need the VIN from the donor truck. If not sure, that could be the issue since former owner said everything worked before swap. You can get a rebuilt one, check the forum for replaced units to see where people bought theirs. Of course clock spring could be bad as well.

 

[blhill7il8]

Do you know of the PCM was programmed for the 2017? I believe you need the VIN from the donor truck. If not sure, that could be the issue since former owner said everything worked before swap. You can get a rebuilt one, check the forum for replaced units to see where people bought theirs. Of course clock spring could be bad as well.

Knowing the outfit im assuming not. I've got a new clockspring on the way. If that doesn't work I'll look into this. Thank you

 

[Marshall]

Did you check the clock spring for shorts between wires?

Have a good look at the wire harness on firewall and around motor for wires that may have got messed up from slamming a motor into them or yanking plugs/ connectors.

 

[Wild one]

Do you know of the PCM was programmed for the 2017? I believe you need the VIN from the donor truck. If not sure, that could be the issue since former owner said everything worked before swap. You can get a rebuilt one, check the forum for replaced units to see where people bought theirs. Of course clock spring could be bad as well.

You don't have to reprogram the pcm to do a 2017 engine into a 2015 truck,they both use the same sensors.

 

[tron67j]

You don't have to reprogram the pcm to do a 2017 engine into a 2015 truck,they both use the same sensors.

Generally no, it isn't required. But without any knowledge of the original donor vehicle nor if the receiving vehicle had any modifications, I felt it was a possibility that something isn't communicating properly since the OP said the original owner indicated everything worked prior to the engine swap ( and I trust that at zero percent). Definitely think clock spring replacement is a great first step, then visually check all the wires as mentioned above.

 

[Wild one]

Generally no, it isn't required. But without any knowledge of the original donor vehicle nor if the receiving vehicle had any modifications, I felt it was a possibility that something isn't communicating properly since the OP said the original owner indicated everything worked prior to the engine swap ( and I trust that at zero percent). Definitely think clock spring replacement is a great first step, then visually check all the wires as mentioned above.

You still wouldn't need the donor vehicles VIN,as you're not changing the PCM on 17 to 15 swap,if anything you'd need a tune if the replacement engine was modified .

 

[blhill7il8]

Generally no, it isn't required. But without any knowledge of the original donor vehicle nor if the receiving vehicle had any modifications, I felt it was a possibility that something isn't communicating properly since the OP said the original owner indicated everything worked prior to the engine swap ( and I trust that at zero percent). Definitely think clock spring replacement is a great first step, then visually check all the wires as mentioned above.

Yeah im going to put that clockspring in as soon as it comes in. Ive been looking at the wiring and havent seen anything that sticks out as damaged. Honestly the engine swap looks to have been done right. I looked it over pretty close before purchasing. Ive had the truck 2.5 years now and have drove it halfway across the country twice now with no issue. That's why I'm so stumped

 

[blhill7il8]

Alright a little update. I put in my new clockspring. No lights came on etc. The left steering wheel controls work now, but the horn still doesnt work. It works when I lock the doors though.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Maybe the horn switch is bad???? Mine works, but you gotta search for the right spot or hit really hard

Just a thought

 

[blhill7il8]

Maybe the horn switch is bad???? Mine works, but you gotta search for the right spot or hit really hard

Just a thought

Well if it where just the horn I'd agree, but its also cruise, gear selection, and radio buttons

 

[HarryS]

everything goes thru the right switch assy on the steering wheel. It's LIN bus, it then goes to the clock spring as CAN bus and to the BCM. But, since you swapped steering wheels... Was the new one checked to make sure all that worked before swap?

 

[04fxdwgi]

In post 8, he said all works now, except horn. I suggested horn switch in post 9, then he said nothing works in post 10.

So confusing.

 

[blhill7il8]

In post 8, he said all works now, except horn. I suggested horn switch in post 9, then he said nothing works in post 10.

So confusing.

Trust me I'm confused.

Prior to anything being done these where symptoms:
Left side evic controls and phone buttons=dead.
Right side cruise and gear selection worked
Horn did not work, but honked when locking the truck.

Attempted repair number 1:
Pulled my steering wheel and clockspring. I had planned to used a clockspring out of a salvage truck until I found the airbag plugs melted due to deployment.
I pulled my clockspring and made the mistake of taking it apart. I also tested continuity and it had good continuity. When I put it back together with my original clockspring I had same outcome no evic and cruise/gear selection worked. Then I turned the wheel and the clockspring broke more. I lost all functionality on my steering wheel. Still didnt have airbag or check engine light though.
I did put the new steering wheel from salvage truck onto my truck. Truck had less than 80K. New to me steering wheel also has the rear radio controls.


Attempted repair 2(this last weekend):

Bought new clockspring off of ebay with good reviews.
Pulled my steering wheel and clockspring again. I pulled my angle sensor off the old clockspring and put it in my new clockspring.

Put everything back together ensuring all plugs securely fastened.

When I first hooked up the battery: my left side EVIC controls worked, but my horn, cruise, gear selection, and rear radio controls weren't working.

While I was putting my steering column cover back on I bumped the horn and it honked. Went on a test drive and back to just evic controls working.

After the truck has been off and I turn it on/put it in gear the first time I can turn on cruise and select the gear. If I shift from drive and try it again I lose the gear selection and cruise.

Evic controls have worked continually since this last repair/new clockspring. Everything else is intermittent

 

[04fxdwgi]

I would be looking at all connections under dash and wiggle all the wires. Check for pins pushed out in the connectors.. Intermittent, usually means something is loose / crap connection or corroded.

 

[blhill7il8]

Just a follow-up on this. I didnt have a chance to ever pull it back apart. Everything started working about a week later and has worked ever since‍ dodge electric gremlins where having fun I guess