Hi guys! I have a 2001 Dakota 4x4 4.7 with automatic transmission and I'm in the process of trying to remove my starter. I have had symptoms of it going bad over the last year and I did
a battery and alternator check and load test and found both to be working beautifully so I suspect the starter itself is going bad.
I have always done my own wrench work in the past so I'm tackling this job myself.
While under the truck and trying to get the two 5/8 mounting bolts lose I notice there appears to be little room in the area of the starter. I'm wondering how in the world I can get the
starter out from under the truck once I remove the two mounting bolts. I disconnected the two electrical connectors by going above the tire and through the wheel well with little effort,
I have a shop manual for my truck on CD but I'm not sure if it its 4x4 specific. The shop manual does not mention removing anything else other than the mounting bolts and wires in order
to maneuver the starter out from under the truck.
I'm just wondering if others have had experience with this same situation. I thought it would be a real bummer if I remove these mounting bolts and then find I cannot even remove the starter
from under the truck. Since it is a 4x4 there seems to be a lot of stuff in the way of the starter except for possibly one little spot that the starter might be able to be maneuvered through.
I appreciate and look forward to your responses.
Harkdodge

 

It will be a tight fit, but yes it should drop straight out.

 

Good news! I didn't have to remove the starter after all.
Before removing it I decided to do one last preliminary check on the battery, alternator and wiring to the starter.
Alternator and battery checked out fine. And I did do an continuity check on the positive wire from the battery
to the starter and found the continuity to be fine. But then I read an article that said I also needed to consider
not only continuity but also "Voltage drop" on the positive wire while under load.
When I disconnected the positive wire from the starter I noticed the brass bolt and nut and cable end were
highly rusted and corroded. I cleaned all of these items up to bright and shiny added a thin coat of dielectric
grease to the parts and reassembled. I hit the key and the starter spun over like a new one. So I determined
my problem was voltage drop due to corrosion at the starter connection and didn't have to pull the starter
after all.
Thanks for your help!

 

If I were you I'd plaster on the grease. Once you torque down the connection, it will conduct just fine. Put more grease all over it after that. You don't want a repeat. Check your grounds + battery terminals and do the same. I apply dielectric grease with a toothbrush on every plug I pull on the truck. It helps keep the connection clean, keeps water out and make it easier to pull next time.

 

Thanks for the tips. Yes, I too am a fan of dialectric grease. Plus I plastered on top of the connection a good thick coat of High temp bearing grease because of where the starter is located. This should keep it good to go for several years. I will still periodically (once a year or so) reach through the wheel well with another glob and top off the grease just to keep it well sealed from the elements.