wires in a '98 dodge 4x4

I recently decided to get a remote starter for my pickup. (1998 Dodge 1500 4x4 5.9 liter) Unfortunately, not one place in town will install 3rd party starters and since I did not have $700+ dollars for their own brand to be installed, I opted for a cheap $49 prostart from canadian tire (no even CT will not install them). Anyway, I have done the preliminary work, removing the panel etc so I can find the wires and I think I have found all of them but I have a couple of questions that I hope you experienced people can answer. First, some of the wires that seem to be the correct ones have a diameter that is a lot smaller than the wires in the 6 pin harness for the RS. The +12 volt one is an example. The pink/black wire in the ignition harness that tests correctly is a lot smaller than the red +12 volt wire in the 6 pin wiring harness for the remote starter. Can you attach a larger wire to a smaller one with no ill-effects? Second, the 6 pin harness has 2 +12v wires but some of the wiring diagrams I have looked at (2 of the three I have downloaded) only list the one small pink/black wire. Do both of the large red wires connect to the one small wire or does one of them need to be attached somewhere else? The one diagram I have seen (I believe it's the one from this site) lists a pink/black as well as a red +12, there is a thick red wire in the ignition harness but I can't for the life of me get a darn needle in that one to test it, I would like to be sure before I try to remove some insulation to test it. Anyway, if they are both proper +12v then would I connect one of the +12v red wires from the 6 pin harness to each of the ignition +12 wires, one to the thick red and one to the thinner pink/black? I apologize if I am babbling, I am just trying to be clear as to which ones I am talking about lol Also, a couple of questions about the tach wire. I have found the spot on the coil, but the wiring diagram also lists the PCM on the firewall (passenger side). Is one place better than the other? Or is it just a matter of preference or whichever is easier to find? Is the tach wire even necessary? The starter harness does have a tach wire but the prostart box also says that it has a "virtual tach system" that "reduces install time with less wiring". Thanks in advance.

Using the Tach signal is the most reliable way to remote start the car.  Use whichever Tach signal is most convenient.  If the remote start has problems Learning the Tach signal then switch to the other one.

It is not a good idea to connect the two remote start power wires to a thin gauge wire.  Your truck has (+) parking lights and Type C door locks.  The thick Red wire sounds like the way to go.  If you have to, strip off some insulation at an accessable spot to test.  If it is the correct wire that stripped area can be where you solder the remote starts wires.  Use a quality electric tape to insulate ( Scotch Super 33+ ).  Worst case, run an appropriate gauge wire right to the battery for power.

Soldering is fun!

Thanks for the response kreg. Ok I will use the tach wire then. Actually mine doesn't have power locks at all so I am just doing the remote start install. So it is better to attach both remote starter wires to the thick red wire in the ignition harness instead of one to each? Is it better to attach them both to the same spot or should they be spaced apart? I actually didn't know there were good or bad quality of electrical tape I thought it was all pretty much the same. What is the difference? Adhesive quality? Some insulates better? I will see if I can find the type you recommended though just to be safe.

Both to thick red is OK.  Seperately soldered and can be adjacent.

Adhesive quality and the ability to remain in place thru many seasons and the temperature changes ( flexability).  There is a bit of a technique in wrapping the wire splice area.  Adding a tie wrap at the end of the wrap will keep the wire together and the end of the tape in place.  Try to use heat shrink tube where possible ( butt connections ).

Soldering is fun!

Well unfortunately they don't seem to sell that particular tape in town, I got some that is a bit more expensive than I normally buy and it is rated to -18 instead of -10 like the other stuff. But I will be using that tie wrap idea, thanks for sharing it. Ok here is the situation so far, I got it hooked up (not too many wires since I don't have power windows or a factory alarm or anything). When I first tried it, it would turn over for a couple seconds and then stop. I programmed the multi-speed tach and then it cranked for about 8 seconds and then stopped. I rechecked the diagram I got from this site and saw reference to a second ignition (I had just been using the dark blue one). I tried connecting the 2nd as well (setting the jumper to use the 5th relay for ignition 2) and then it would crank for about 8 seconds and the parking lights would flash 3 times. I re-tested the ignition wires after checking the manual which says it the source wire should have +12v with the ignition in the run and crank positions. Both of them test 12v in the run position but when cranking the voltage drops to 3 or 4 then go back to 12 when the truck is running. The BLACK/ white listed as ignition 2 in the wiring sheet is a very large one about the size of the this red +12v mentioned in my other post. Does it matter which is wired as the ignition and which is ignition 2? (I currently have the smaller dark blue set as ignition and the large BLACK/ white as ignition 2) I feel so close yet so far away... :)

Ok it seems that the "dark blue" wire was the wrong one. The larger but lighter shade was the correct one and it seems to work fine now. woohoo!

I almost forgot to say thank you for your help kreg. I greatly appreciate it. :) Thanks again. Eberron