Starter motor – removal and installation

1. Disconnect the cable (s) from the negative battery terminal(s).

2. Raise the vehicle and support it securely on jackstands.

3.6L V6, 3.7L V6 and 4.71_ V8 engines

3. On 4WD models with certain transmis­sions, there’s a support bracket between the front axle and the side of the transmission that blocks access to the lower starter mounting bolt. If your vehicle has this support bracket, remove the two support bracket bolts at the transmission, then pry the support bracket aside enough to gain access to the lower starter mounting bolt

4. Remove the heat shield, if equipped, from the starter motor (see illustration).

13.4 If the starter motor is equipped with a heat shield, remove these two bolts (A) to detach it from the starter. To remove the starter from an automatic transmission (shown), remove these two bolts (B) (starter motor on 3.7L V6 with automatic and 4WD shown, starters on other 3.7L V6 engines and 4.7L V8 engines similar)

RAM Trucks Engine electrical systems If the starter motor is equipped with a heat shield, remove these two bolts (A) to detach it from the starter. To remove the starter from an automatic transmission (shown), remove these two bolts (B) (starter motor on 3.7L V6 with automatic and 4WD shown, starters on other 3.7L V6 engines and 4.7L V8 engines similar)

5. Remove the nut that secures the battery cable to the terminal stud on the starter sole­noid, disconnect the cable from the terminal stud and disconnect the electrical connector from the spade terminal on the solenoid (see illustration).
Note: If you have difficulty dis­connecting the battery cable or the electri­cal connector from the solenoid, leave them connected until you detach the starter from the transmission bellhousing and move it to a position where you can access the wiring con­nectors more easily.

13.5 Disconnect the electrical connector (A) from the spade terminal on the solenoid, then remove the nut and disconnect the battery cable (B) from the terminal stud on the solenoid (starter motor on 3.7L V6 shown, starters on 4.7L V8 similar)

RAM Trucks Engine electrical systems Disconnect the electrical connector (A) from the spade terminal on the solenoid, then remove the nut and disconnect the battery cable (B) from the terminal stud on the solenoid (starter motor on 3.7L V6 shown, starters on 4.7L V8 similar)

6. On models with a manual transmission, remove the starter mounting bolt and nut. On models with an automatic transmission, remove the two starter mounting bolts (see illustration).

13.6 Lower starter mounting bolt on a 4.7L V8 engine

RAM Trucks Engine electrical systems Lower starter mounting bolt on a 4.7L V8 engine

7. Move the starter motor toward the front of the vehicle until the nose of the starter pin­ion housing clears the transmission bellhous­ing, then tilt the nose down and, if you haven’t already done so, lower the starter until you can disconnect the electrical connector and remove the nut that secures the battery cable to the terminal stud on the starter solenoid. Once everything is disconnected, remove the starter. Caution: The starter motor is fairly heavy, so be sure to support it while removing it. Do NOT allow it to hang by the wiring har­ness.

8. Installation is the reverse of removal.

Hemi engines

9. On some 4WD models with certain transmissions, there’s a support bracket between the front axle and the side of the transmis­sion that blocks access to the lower starter mounting bolt. If your vehicle has this sup­port bracket, remove the two support bracket bolts at the transmission, then pry the support bracket aside enough to gain access to the lower starter mounting bolt.

10. Remove the two starter motor mounting bolts (see illustration).

13.10 To detach the starter motor from the transmission on a Hemi engine, remove these two bolts

RAM Trucks Engine electrical systems To detach the starter motor from the transmission on a Hemi engine, remove these two bolts

11. Move the starter toward the front of the vehicle until the starter pinion housing clears the transmission bellhousing. Caution: The starter motor is fairly heavy, so be sure to sup­port it while removing it. Do NOT allow it to hang by the wiring harness.

12. Disconnect the battery cable and electri­cal connector from the terminals on the starter motor solenoid (see illustration).

13.12 After unbolting the starter motor and moving it forward, remove the nut that secures the battery positive cable to the stud terminal on the solenoid, disconnect the positive cable from the stud, then disconnect the electrical connector from the spade terminal on the solenoid

RAM Trucks Engine electrical systems After unbolting the starter motor and moving it forward, remove the nut that secures the battery positive cable to the stud terminal on the solenoid, disconnect the positive cable from the stud, then disconnect the electrical connector from the spade terminal on the solenoid

13. Installation is the reverse of removal.

Diesel engine

14. Disconnect the wiring harness and the battery cable from the starter.

15. Remove the three starter mounting bolts.

16. Remove the starter. Caution: This starter is very heavy. Take care to avoid dropping it.

17. Installation is the reverse of removal.