Hi everyone. Just got my first ever dodge, always been a gm guy. (3.9, stick, 4x4) The 3rd time starting it after I bought it, the starter died. Would only click once, then nothing. Tried hitting it with a hammer, still nothing. I searched around on these forums for a WHILE (read almost every thread in the 1st gen section about starters). I figured before anything I'd check the relay. I read the FAQs, and the info about how you can jump the relay, however, I can;t find the relays! I know they shouldbe in a black box on the driver side fender, but they're not there. I did read one person say in one thread that an 87 doesn't have relays, just fusable links, but this was never confirmed by anyone, and further google searching turned up nothing.
Here is a picture of my truck in the fender area:
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(Click on the thumbnail for full size, sorry I didn't want to flood the forum with huge pictures and couldnt get a smaller one then gigantic)

I figured I'd just get on with the starter swap. I read that you have to drop the steering shaft out of the way, and there should be a 13 or 15 mm bolt near the fire wall holding the shaft in. couldn't find this either. I felt what felt like 2 threaded studs coming out of the firewall below the shaft, but the nuts on them seemed to just be squares, so I figured maybe they're just something else. (Sure wish this was a gm and I could just drop the 2 bolts and the starter would fall right out... Oh well, atleast its not a ford!)

I planned on grabbing a haynes manual, but I'm having a hard time getting it pop started with no hill or help to push. I would greatly appreciate any help, especially pictures. Thanks in advance everyone!

 

You dont have to drop the steering shaft. It takes some careful manuvering but the starter can be changed without doing that. Ive done it on my friend Aaron's 89 Dakota in the middle of a parking lot at night with only the factory scissor jack supporting the front end lol.

 

after some more examining, I paid a little more attention to the silver "box" mounted to the inner fender. I'm starting to think this is the relay, and my truck only has 1? (I guess I wouldn't need one for the fuel pump or anything anyway since its carbed). I read most trucks have 2 or 3 depending on options though.

Either way, I tried jumping the starter with a screwdriver with no results. I guess its the motor then and not the electrical.

And everything I've read so far said that for 4x4 you have to remove the shaft and pull if from the top. Did you yank yours from the top or bottom? Your sure it was a 4x4?

 

I brought it out the bottom. Trust me it was quite a bitch. If you have the tools at your disposal, i am sure its easier if you do drop the steering shaft. I was working with limited resources, at night, laying on my back in a wet parking lot. Working on a truck my friend paid $200 for. I didn't have the patience and tools to do it properly.

 

Okay well I do have some tools at my disposal, just can't figure out how to get the shaft out of the way... Any ideas?