Power and Ground Distribution: Description and Operation

All of the electrical current distributed throughout this vehicle (except for police package wiring used with rear fuse block) is directed through the standard equipment Power Distribution Center (PDC). The molded plastic PDC housing is located in the left front corner of the engine compartment, just in front of the coolant reservoir bottle. The PDC housing has a molded plastic cover. The PDC cover is easily removed for service access and has a convenient fuse and relay layout label affixed to the inside surface of the cover to ensure proper component identification. The PDC housing is secured in the engine compartment by one screw to the rear of the PDC and two clips on the front side. A small molded plastic protective cover on the front right side of the engine compartment is unsnapped to access the battery/generator cable input connection studs.

Included in the police package is an additional rear fuse block and remote rear power post.

The rear fuse block is located in the right corner of the trunk behind the trunk trim panel. The rear fuse block houses 2 relays and three fuses. The wiring is routed to an area just below the instrument panel in a six cavity connector to provide three fused ignition feeds. Three fused battery feeds in the PDC also are provided to the center stack area of the instrument panel within the same six cavity connector.

Only the police package has both fused ignition and battery circuits below the instrument panel. Special service vehicles have only the three fused battery circuits in the six cavity connector.

The remote rear power post is located in the right corner of the trunk side panel.

CAUTION: DO NOT USE THE REMOTE REAR POWER POST AS A REMOTE JUMP POST. SERIOUS DAMAGE CAN OCCUR. REFER TO LUBRICATION AND MAINTENANCE, JUMP STARTING FOR PROPER JUMP STARTING PROCEDURES.

The rear fuse block and the remote power post are serviced as part of the body harness.

The power distribution system for this vehicle is designed to provide safe, reliable, centralized and convenient to access distribution of the electrical current required to operate all of the many standard and optional factory-installed electrical and electronic powertrain, chassis, safety comfort and convenience Systems. At the same time, these systems were designed to provide centralized locations for conducting diagnosis of faulty circuits, and for sourcing the additional current requirements of many aftermarket vehicle accessory and convenience items.

These power distribution systems also incorporate various types of circuit control and protection features, including:
- Fuses
- Fuse cartridges
- Fusible links
- Automatic resetting circuit breakers
- Relays
- Flashers
- Timers
- Circuit splice blocks.

The power distribution system for this vehicle consists of the following components:
- Power Distribution Center (PDC)
- Junction Block (JB)
- Accessory power outlet.

NOTE: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWAP POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTERS (PDC) FROM ONE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER. MOST OF THESE ASSEMBLIES ARE VEHICLE FEATURE SPECIFIC AND THEREFORE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. ALWAYS USE THE CORRECT PART NUMBERED ASSEMBLY WHEN DIAGNOSING OR REPLACING A PDC.