Starting System: Removal & Installation Dodge Ram Wagon B1500

Removal (2.0L Neon)

1. Disconnect negative battery cable.
2. Raise vehicle.
3. On vehicles with A/C: Using a floor jack or jack stand, support the engine and transmission assembly so they will not rotate. Remove the front engine mount bolt from the insulator and front crossmember mounting bracket. Lower the front of the engine, rotate the engine forward, allowing easier removal of starter motor.
4. For easier servicing, do not remove the wiring from the starter at this time.
5. Remove 2 bolts attaching starter to transmission housing.
6. Remove starter/starter solenoid assembly from transmission housing. Position the starter to gain access to the wiring connectors.
7. Remove the battery positive cable nut and remove the battery positive and generator output wire from the starter.
8. Disconnect push-on solenoid connector. Pull back on slide and push down on rear tab to release lock.
9. Position the starter vertically such that the pinion end faces downward.
10. Remove the starter through the bottom of the vehicle. Move aside A/C plumbing as necessary.

Removal (2.0L Cirrus, Sebring & Stratus With A/T & 2.4L)

1. Disconnect battery negative cable from remote negative terminal on shock tower.
2. Remove air cleaner resonator.
3. Remove three Transmission Control Module (TCM) mounting screws. Move TCM to provide access to top starter mounting bolt. DO NOT disconnect TCM wiring.
4. Remove top bolt attaching starter to transmission housing.
5. Raise vehicle.
6. Remove battery positive cable nut from starter and remove cable.
7. Disconnect push on solenoid connector. Unlock the red locking tab and compress lock to release the connector (2.0L only).
8. Remove the bottom bolt attaching starter to transmission housing.
9. Remove starter from vehicle.

Removal & Installation (2.0L Cirrus, Sebring & Stratus With M/T)

1. Disconnect the remote battery negative cable from the terminal on shock tower.
2. Remove air cleaner resonator.
3. Remove the battery positive cable nut from starter. Remove battery positive cable and generator output wire from starter.
4. Disconnect push on solenoid connector. Unlock the red locking tab and compress lock to release the connector.
5. Remove two bolts attaching starter to transmission housing and remove starter from vehicle.

For installation, reverse the removal procedures. Clean corrosion/dirt from wire terminals before installing wiring to the solenoid.

Removal (2.4L Except Stratus & 3.0L)

1. Release hood latch and open hood.
2. Disconnect battery negative cable.
3. Hoist and support vehicle on safety stands.
4. Remove nut holding solenoid wire to terminal.
5. Remove nut holding B+ wire to terminal.
6. Disconnect solenoid and B+ wires from starter terminals.
7. Remove bolts holding starter to transaxle bellhousing.
8. Remove starter.

Scheme 3

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
2. Raise and support the vehicle.
3. Remove the nut and lock washer securing the starter motor to the mounting stud on the transmission torque converter housing. (Scheme 3)
4. While supporting the starter motor with one hand, use the other hand to remove the upper mounting screw from the starter motor.
5. Slide the automatic transmission cooler tube bracket forward on the tubes far enough for the starter motor mounting flange to be removed from the lower mounting stud.
6. Move the starter motor towards the front of the vehicle far enough for the nose of the starter pinion housing to clear the transmission torque converter housing. Always support the starter motor during this process, do not let the starter motor hang from the wire harness.
7. Tilt the nose downwards and lower the starter motor far enough to access and remove the nut that secures the battery positive cable connector eyelet to the solenoid battery terminal stud. (Scheme 3) Always support the starter motor during this process, do not let the starter motor hang from the wire harness.
8. Remove the battery positive cable connector eyelet from the solenoid battery terminal stud. Always support the starter motor during this process, do not let the starter motor hang from the wire harness.
9. Disconnect the battery positive cable wire harness connector from the solenoid terminal connector receptacle. Always support the starter motor during this process, do not let the starter motor hang from the wire harness.
10. Remove the starter motor from the engine compartment.

Removal & Installation (2.5L Except Dakota)

1. Disconnect battery negative cable from remote negative terminal on shock tower.
2. Raise vehicle.
3. Remove oil filter.
4. Remove battery positive cable nut from starter and remove cable.
5. Disconnect push on solenoid connector.
6. Remove three bolts attaching starter to transmission housing and remove starter from vehicle.

For installation, reverse the removal procedures. Clean corrosion/dirt from wire terminals before installing wiring to the solenoid

Removal & Installation (2.7L)

1. Disconnect battery negative remote cable from remote ground.
2. Raise vehicle.
3. Remove 2 wiring harness connectors. One for battery feed, and one posi-lock connector.
4. Remove 2 bolts and one nut to starter heat shield.
5. Remove 3 starter attaching bolts from engine/transaxle.
6. Remove starter assembly from transmission housing.
7. Rotate starter solenoid toward engine block and slide rear of starter motor out between catalyst and engine mount.
8. Remove the starter from vehicle.
9. To install, reverse the removal procedures. Clean corrosion/dirt from the cable and wire terminals before installing wiring to the solenoid.

Removal & Installation (3.2L & 3.5L)

1. Disconnect battery negative remote cable from remote ground post.
2. Raise vehicle.
3. Remove 3 bolts attaching starter to engine.
4. Remove battery positive feed wire from starter.
5. Remove starter solenoid assembly from transmission housing. Position the starter to gain access to the posi-lock wiring connector.
6. Position jack stand beneath engine and slightly lift to relieve pressure from left engine mount.
7. Remove 3 left engine mount mounting bolts from engine block.
8. Jack engine up slightly to give more room to maneuver starter assembly.
9. Slide rear of starter motor out between catalyst and engine mount.
10. Disconnect posi-lock starter solenoid connector.
11. Remove the starter from vehicle.
12. To install, reverse the removal procedures. Clean corrosion/dirt from the cable and wire terminals before installing wiring to the solenoid. Reconnect posi-lock connector right after starter is placed into position.

Removal (3.3L & 3.8L)

1. Release hood latch and open hood.
2. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
3. Hoist and support vehicle on safety stands.
4. Remove nut holding B+ terminal to starter solenoid.
5. Disconnect solenoid connector from starter.
6. Remove bolts holding starter to transaxle bellhousing.
7. Remove starter from bellhousing.
8. Separate starter spacer from transaxle bellhousing.

Removal (5.9L Diesel)

1. Disconnect and isolate the negative cables of both batteries.
2. Raise and support the vehicle.
3. Pull back the protective rubber boot from the solenoid battery terminal far enough to access and remove the nut that secures the battery positive cable wire harness connector eyelet to the solenoid battery terminal stud.
4. Remove the nut that secures the battery positive cable wire harness solenoid connector eyelet to the solenoid terminal st.
5. Remove the battery positive cable wire harness connector eyelets from the solenoid terminal studs.
6. While supporting the starter motor with one hand, use the other hand to remove the three screws that secure the starter motor to the flywheel housing.
7. Remove the starter motor from the engine compartment.

Removal (8.0L)

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
2. Raise and support the vehicle.
3. Remove the nut that secures the battery positive cable wire harness connector eyelet to the solenoid battery terminal stud.
4. Remove the battery positive cable connector eyelet from the solenoid battery terminal stud.
5. Disconnect the battery positive cable wire harness connector from the solenoid terminal connector receptacle.
6. While supporting the starter motor with one hand, use the other hand to remove the two screws that secure the starter motor to the engine.
7. Remove the starter motor from the engine compartment.

Installation (2.0L Neon)

1. Clean corrosion/dirt from the cable and wire terminals before installing wiring to the solenoid.
2. Connect the battery positive and generator output wire to the starter solenoid post.
3. Connect the push-on until fully engaged.
4. Position the starter face into transmission housing. Support starter in pilot and start the top bolt.
5. Attach ground cable to lower mounting bolt and start bolt.
6. Ensure the proper starter alignment before tightening the starter mounting bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-618-S31348877992000030800000) .
7. On vehicles with A/C: Using a floor jack or jack stand, raise the engine and transmission assembly to original position. Install the front engine mount bolt through the insulator and front crossmember mounting bracket. Tighten bolt to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-618-S31348877992000030800000) .
8. Lower vehicle and connect negative battery cable.

Installation (2.0L Cirrus, Sebring & Stratus With A/T & 2.4L)

1. With vehicle is raised, set starter face into transmission housing.
2. Lower vehicle.
3. Install top starter mounting bolt but do not tighten.
4. Raise vehicle.
5. Install bottom starter mounting bolt and tighten to 54 N.m (40 ft. lbs.) torque.
6. Clean corrosion/dirt from wire terminals before installing wiring to the solenoid.
7. Connect battery positive cable to solenoid post.
8. Connect the push-on solenoid connector.
9. Lower vehicle.
10. Tighten top starter bolt to 54 N.m (40 ft. lbs.) torque.
11. Install TCM and the mounting screws.
12. Install air cleaner resonator.
13. Connect battery remote cable to the remote terminal.

Installation (2.4L Except Stratus & 3.0L)

1. Place starter in position on vehicle.
2. Install bolts to hold starter to transaxle bellhousing.
3. Place solenoid and B+ wires in position on starter terminals.
4. Install nut to hold B+ wire to terminal.
5. Install nut to hold solenoid wire to terminal.
6. Lower vehicle.
7. Connect battery negative cable.
8. Verify starter operation.

Installation (2.5L Dakota, 3.9L, 5.2L & 5.9L Gasoline)

1. Position the starter motor in the engine compartment.
2. Reconnect the battery positive cable wire harness connector to the solenoid terminal connector receptacle. Always support the starter motor during this process, do not let the starter motor hang from the wire harness.
3. Install the battery positive cable connector eyelet over the solenoid battery terminal stud. Always support the starter motor during this process, do not let the starter motor hang from the wire harness.
4. Install and tighten the nut that secures the battery positive cable connector eyelet to the solenoid battery terminal stud. Tighten the nut to 13.6 N.m (120 in. lbs.) Always support the starter motor during this process, do not let the starter motor hang from the wire harness.
5. Position the starter motor to the front of the manual transmission clutch housing or the automatic transmission torque converter housing.
6. If the vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, , slide the automatic transmission cooler tube bracket rearward on the tubes and into position over the upper mounting hole in the starter motor mounting flange.
7. Loosely install the screw that secures the upper starter motor mounting flange to the transmission torque converter housing.
8. Install the lock washer and loosely install the nut securing the starter motor to the lower mounting stud on the transmission torque converter housing.
9. Tighten the upper starter motor mounting screw. Tighten the screw to 67.8 N.m (50 ft. lbs.).
10. Tighten the lower starter motor mounting nut. Tighten the nut to 67.8 N.m (50 ft. lbs.).
11. Lower the vehicle.
12. Reconnect the battery negative cable.

Installation (3.3L & 3.8L)

1. Place starter spacer in position on transaxle bellhousing, flange toward flywheel.
2. Place starter in position on bellhousing.
3. Install bolts to hold starter to transaxle bellhousing.
4. Connect solenoid connector into starter.
5. Install nut to hold B+ terminal to starter solenoid.
6. Lower vehicle.
7. Connect battery negative cable.
8. Verify starter operation.

Installation (5.9L Diesel)

1. Position the starter motor in the engine compartment.
2. While supporting the starter motor with one hand, use the other hand to loosely install the three screws that secure the starter motor to the flywheel housing.
3. Tighten the three starter motor mounting screws. Tighten the screws to 43.4 N.m (32 ft. lbs.).
4. Install the battery positive cable wire harness connector eyelets over the solenoid terminal studs.
5. Install and tighten the nut that secures the battery positive cable wire harness connector eyelet to the solenoid terminal stud. Tighten the nut to 6.2 N.m (55 in. lbs.).
6. Install and tighten the nut that secures the battery positive cable wire harness connector eyelet to the solenoid battery terminal stud. Tighten the nut to 13.6 N.m (120 in. lbs.).
7. Install the protective rubber boot on the battery positive cable wire harness over the solenoid battery terminal stud and connector eyelet.
8. Lower the vehicle.
9. Reconnect the negative cables to both batteries.

Installation (8.0L)

1. Position the starter motor in the engine compartment.
2. While supporting the starter motor with one hand, use the other hand to loosely install the two screws that secure the starter motor to the engine.
3. Tighten the two starter motor mounting screws. Tighten the screws to 67.8 N.m (50 ft. lbs.).
4. Reconnect the battery positive cable wire harness connector to the solenoid terminal connector receptacle.
5. Install the battery positive cable wire harness connector eyelet over the solenoid battery terminal stud.
6. Install and tighten the nut that secures the battery positive cable wire harness connector eyelet to the solenoid battery terminal stud. Tighten the nut to 13.6 N.m (120 in. lbs.).
7. Lower the vehicle.
8. Reconnect the battery negative cable.