Dodge Ram 1500 ASD Relay Location by Year (1994-2026)
On a Ram 1500, the ASD (Automatic Shutdown) relay sits in the engine-compartment fuse box near the battery on most trucks, but where it sits and whether you can unplug it depends on the year. Ram’s own owner’s manuals show Automatic Shutdown fuses in the 2012 chart and no ASD relay or fuse at all in the 2013 to 2026 charts, so for those years you read the label on the underside of the fuse box cover.
Older trucks (1994 to 2005) have a plug-in relay that third-party diagrams number R8, R3, R9 and R4. This page separates what Ram’s manuals show from what only third-party diagrams show, and it was last checked on October 13, 2026.
Ram 1500 ASD Relay Location at a Glance
| Years | Where to look | What Ram’s manual shows | Source type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 to 2026 | Power Distribution Center (PDC) in the engine compartment, near the battery | Fuses for injectors/ignition coil and fuel pump. No ASD relay named | Ram 2020 and 2026 manuals |
| 2013 to 2018 | PDC in the engine compartment, near the battery | Fuses for ignition coils, fuel injectors and fuel pump. No ASD relay named | Ram 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018 manuals |
| 2009 to 2012 | Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM), engine compartment, near the battery | 2012 chart lists “Automatic Shutdown 1 and 2” (M19, 25 A) and “Automatic Shutdown 3” (M21, 20 A) | Ram 2012 manual |
| 2006 to 2008 | Integrated Power Module (IPM), engine compartment, near the battery | Fuse chart only, no ASD entry. Relay label not confirmed | Ram 2008 manual |
| 2002 to 2005 | IPM, engine compartment | Not in a Ram document we could open. Relay R4 “Auto Shut Down (Gasoline)” | Third-party diagrams |
| 1994 to 2001 | Engine-compartment fuse and relay box | Not in a Ram document we could open. R8 (1994-95), R3 (1996-97), R9 (1998-2001) | Third-party diagrams |
ASD Relay Finder, 1994 to 2026
What Ram’s owner’s manuals show and what only third-party diagrams show. Checked October 13, 2026.
Where to look by year
Ram manual
Ram manual
Ram manual
Ram manual
Third-party
Third-party
Which circuit to suspect
What Ram’s Manuals Show for Each Generation
2019 to 2026 Ram 1500 (DT)
Ram’s 2020 and 2026 owner’s manuals place the Power Distribution Center in the engine compartment near the battery. Both fuse charts list the pieces the ASD circuit feeds, not an ASD relay.
The 2020 chart shows a 25 A “Injectors / IGN Coil / Glow Plug Module” fuse (F59) and a 25 A fuel pump motor fuse (F01). The 2026 chart shows a 25 A “Fuel Pmp Mtr / Assy Fuel Tank” fuse (F09) plus ECM fuses (F17 and F38).
One third-party diagram site lists a relay R15 labeled “Automatic Shutdown (ASD)” for a 2022 truck, but we could not match that to a Ram document, so treat it as a lead and confirm it on the cover of your own box. We found no support for the “K16” label that an earlier version of this page gave.
2013 to 2018 Ram 1500 (DS)
From 2013 the manuals call the box the Power Distribution Center. The 2014, 2016 and 2018 charts list a 20 A “Ignition Coils (Gas)” fuse (F63), a 25 A “Fuel Injectors / Powertrain” fuse (F64 in the 2016 chart) and a 30 A fuel pump motor fuse (F70). None of these charts names an ASD relay or an ASD fuse.
2009 to 2012 Ram 1500
Ram’s 2012 manual calls the box the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) and is the only Ram chart we found with ASD entries: M19 (25 A) “Automatic Shutdown 1 and 2” and M21 (20 A) “Automatic Shutdown 3”, next to a 20 A fuel pump motor fuse (M25).
The manual does not say where the ASD relay itself is. Aftermarket TIPM rebuilders and owner reports say the relays are soldered inside the module and cannot be unplugged, but we could not confirm that from a Ram document, and we checked the 2012 chart only, not 2009 to 2011.
2006 to 2008 Ram 1500
Ram’s 2008 manual places an Integrated Power Module near the battery and lists fuses only, with no ASD entry. One third-party diagram set we checked lists no ASD relay for 2006 to 2009 either. Open the cover, read the relay map on the underside, and look for “ASD” or “Auto Shut Down”.
2002 to 2005 Ram 1500
Two third-party fuse diagram sites list relay R4, “Auto Shut Down (Gasoline)”, in the engine-compartment IPM, with a 30 A fuse in cavity 2 for the same circuit. Ram’s own manuals for these years did not turn up in our search.
1994 to 2001 Ram 1500
One third-party site lists the ASD relay as R8 for 1994 to 1995, R3 for 1996 to 1997 and R9 for 1998 to 2001, and a second site also shows R9 for 1998 to 2001. An earlier version of this page said “Relay 1”, and we could not support that.
What the ASD Relay Does
The ASD relay is a switch the engine computer (PCM) controls. When it closes, it feeds battery voltage to the ignition coils and fuel injectors, and on many Chrysler gas engines to other engine-run loads.
When the PCM opens it, the engine loses spark and injector power and shuts off. This is general Chrysler design knowledge, not something Ram’s manuals spell out, and the exact loads change by engine and year.
On key-on the PCM typically closes the relay for a second or two to prime the system. If it sees no crank signal, it opens the relay again. Once the engine is turning, it closes the relay and holds it closed. A sensor such as the crankshaft position sensor matters here, because the PCM waits for that crank signal before it keeps the relay on.
Symptoms of a Bad ASD Relay or ASD Circuit
These symptoms match what Bing searchers describe, but they overlap with a failed fuel pump, crank sensor or coil, so confirm before you buy parts:
- Cranks but will not start. No spark and no injector power because the relay never closes.
- Starts, then dies. The prime works, then the relay drops out when the PCM tries to hold it.
- Cuts out while driving, restarts after it cools. A relay or its socket that fails when hot can do this. Several searchers describe exactly this.
- Relay buzzing or chattering. Often a weak connection or a failing relay.
- Check engine light. The PCM sets a code when the relay circuit does not behave as commanded.
A failed ASD relay normally does not keep the starter from turning. If the engine will not crank at all, look at the starter relay first. Our 2008 Ram starter relay guide shows where it sits on that generation.
ASD Relay Trouble Codes
| Code | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| P0688 | ECM/PCM power relay sense circuit, open | Generic OBD-II code, used on later trucks |
| P1388 | Auto shutdown relay control circuit | Chrysler-specific, found on older Dodge Ram engines |
| P1389 | No ASD relay output voltage at PCM | Chrysler-specific, found on older Dodge Ram engines |
A code points at the circuit, not always the relay. A shorted ignition coil or injector can overload the circuit and blow its fuse, and a new relay then fails again. Fix the cause before you replace the relay more than once. If the light is on and the scan shows nothing, see our Ram check engine light with no code guide.
How to Test an ASD Relay on a Plug-In Truck
This applies to the 1994 to 2008 trucks where the relay plugs in. On 2009 and later trucks, start with the fuses and the fuel pump check below.
- Swap it. Find a relay with the same part number in the same box, such as the horn relay, and swap it with the ASD relay. If the truck now starts, the old relay was bad. Put the horn relay’s original back if the horn stops working.
- Bench test the coil. With the relay out, measure resistance across the two small coil pins (85 and 86). Most automotive relays read roughly 50 to 120 ohms, and “OL” or near zero means a failed coil. Compare against the known-good donor relay.
- Listen for the click. Apply 12 V across 85 and 86 and listen for the relay to click. No click means it is dead or stuck.
- Check the socket. With the relay out, key on, you should find battery voltage on the control feed (86) and constant battery power on pin 30. If those are missing, the problem is the wiring or fuse, not the relay.
Always disconnect the negative battery cable before pulling a relay. Do not wire around the ASD relay to keep the truck running. It is how the PCM cuts fuel and spark, so a bypass is a short diagnostic step at most, not a repair.
Diagnosing 2009 and Later Trucks
On trucks without an unpluggable ASD relay, test what the relay should be powering. Start by checking the fuses your manual lists for the ignition coils, injectors and fuel pump (see the table above).
Then turn the key to ON without cranking and listen for the fuel pump to run for about two seconds. No pump noise and no spark together points toward the power-feed circuit rather than the pump alone. Our 2011 Ram 1500 fuel pump relay and TIPM repair and 2012 fuel pump relay location pages cover those years in detail.
ASD Relay vs. Fuel Pump Relay vs. Starter Relay
They are three different relays that often sit in the same box and can look alike.
- ASD relay: powers the engine-run loads such as coils and injectors.
- Fuel pump relay: powers only the fuel pump. If you have spark but no fuel, start here. Our 2007 fuel pump relay and 2006 fuel pump relay guides show those two years.
- Starter relay: sends power to the starter. If the engine will not crank, start here.
If you have no fuel and no spark, look upstream at the ASD circuit. If you have spark but no fuel, look at the fuel pump circuit.
Find Your Fuse Box and Relay Map
Because relay labels change by year, the fastest way to confirm yours is the diagram printed on the cover. For layouts we cover by year, see the 2002 fuse box location, 2006 relay location, 2007 relay location, 2008 fuse box diagram, 2011 fuse box diagram, 2014 fuse box diagram, 2015 fuse box diagram and 2019 fuse box diagram.
Ram 1500 ASD Relay FAQ
Where is the ASD relay on a Dodge Ram 1500?
On most years it is in the engine-compartment fuse box near the battery. Ram’s 2012 manual shows Automatic Shutdown fuses in the TIPM, and its 2013 to 2026 manuals list no ASD relay, so read the cover label on those trucks. Third-party diagrams show R4 for 2002 to 2005 and R3, R8 or R9 for 1994 to 2001.
Where is the ASD relay on a 2011 or 2012 Ram 1500?
Ram’s 2012 manual lists Automatic Shutdown fuses (M19 and M21) in the TIPM, but it does not show a plug-in ASD relay. Aftermarket TIPM rebuilders say the relays are inside the module. Check your own fuse map and see our 2012 fuse box guide.
What does an ASD relay do?
It is a PCM-controlled switch that powers the ignition coils, fuel injectors and other engine-run loads, and it lets the PCM shut the engine off.
What are the symptoms of a bad ASD relay?
Crank-no-start, starting then stalling, cutting out when hot and restarting after cooling, a buzzing relay, and a check engine light. These overlap with other faults, so test before replacing parts.
Can a bad ASD relay stop the truck from cranking?
Normally not. The starter circuit is separate. If it will not crank at all, check the starter relay, battery and ignition switch first.
Can you bypass an ASD relay?
You can jumper it briefly as a diagnostic step, but it is not a fix. A permanent bypass removes the PCM’s ability to cut fuel and spark.
What does code P0688 mean on a Ram?
It is the generic code for an ECM/PCM power relay sense circuit problem. On a Ram it is often tied to the ASD power circuit. Check fuses, the relay socket and the coils and injectors on that circuit.
Is the ASD relay the same as the fuel pump relay?
No. The ASD relay feeds engine-run loads including coils and injectors. The fuel pump relay feeds only the pump.
Related Ram Guides
- 2002 Ram 1500 fuse box location
- 2006 Ram relay location
- 2007 Ram relay location guide
- 2011 Ram 1500 fuel pump relay and TIPM repair
- 2012 Ram 1500 fuel pump relay location
- 2017 Ram 1500 fuse box location
- Ram 1500 crankshaft position sensor location
- Ram 1500 check engine light reset
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