Tools you need for starter on a 2009-2018 Ram 1500

On the gas DS Ram 1500 this is one of the friendlier starter jobs out there. The unit bolts to the passenger side of the bellhousing, and with the truck on stands you can usually get both bolts, the B+ cable nut and the signal plug from underneath in about an hour. The only real fight is the upper mounting bolt, which sits behind the exhaust and almost always needs a swivel socket on a long extension.

What varies is the engine. The 4.7, 5.7 and 3.6 are all bottom-side jobs; the 3.0 EcoDiesel is not — its starter lives at the rear top of the engine and intake plumbing has to come off, which turns a one-hour job into most of an afternoon. The thing people get wrong is diagnosis: a click or slow crank on these trucks is very often a corroded battery terminal, a bad main ground or a worn ignition/relay circuit, not the starter itself. Load test the battery and check voltage at the starter B+ stud while cranking before you buy anything.

Complete tool and parts list

Differences within the 2009-2018 generation

5.7 Hemi, 4.7 V8 and 3.6 Pentastar all place the starter low on the passenger side of the bellhousing with two mounting bolts, generally 15 mm heads (a few use 13 mm or 18 mm — check yours) and a 13 mm B+ cable nut. The 3.0 EcoDiesel starter is mounted high at the rear of the engine and requires removing intake ducting and related components from above, plus Torx bits for some of that hardware. Starter part numbers are not interchangeable between these engines — order by VIN.

Torque specs

How the job goes

1. Park on level ground, set the parking brake, chock the rear wheels and confirm the transmission is in Park.
2. Open the hood and disconnect the negative battery cable (usually 10 mm or 13 mm clamp nut); tuck it aside so it cannot spring back onto the post.
3. Raise the front of the truck with a floor jack at the front crossmember and set jack stands under the frame rails. Never work under a jack alone.
4. Remove the front skid plate or engine splash shield if fitted (13 mm or 15 mm bolts, some Torx) for access.
5. Locate the starter: on 5.7 Hemi, 4.7 V8 and 3.6 Pentastar it is low on the passenger side where the engine meets the transmission bellhousing. On the 3.0 EcoDiesel it is high at the rear of the engine and requires removing intake ducting/components from above — follow the factory procedure.
6. Photograph the wiring. Remove the nut on the solenoid B+ stud (usually 13 mm) and slide the heavy battery cable off, then unplug the small solenoid signal connector by pressing its lock tab.
7. Spray penetrating oil on both starter mounting bolts and let it soak a few minutes if they look rusty.
8. Remove the lower mounting bolt, then the upper bolt (typically 15 mm; some applications 13 mm or 18 mm). Use a swivel socket with a long extension for the upper bolt — support the starter so it does not drop when the last bolt comes out.
9. Work the starter out past the exhaust pipe and crossmember; it may need to be rotated nose-down or turned to clear. Compare old and new units for matching nose depth, bolt spacing and terminal layout.
10. Clean the mounting pad on the bellhousing and clean the B+ cable eyelet with a wire brush. Check that any alignment shims or dowel sleeves are transferred.
11. Install the new starter, start both bolts by hand so the nose seats squarely in the bellhousing, then torque to spec. Do not cross-thread into the aluminum bellhousing or block.
12. Reconnect the solenoid signal plug until it clicks, then fit the B+ cable and torque the nut. Add a light film of dielectric grease.
13. Refit the splash shield, lower the truck, reconnect the negative battery terminal and torque the clamp nut.
14. Start the engine. Listen for a clean engage with no grinding or extended crank; a grind usually means an incorrect starter or missing shim.
15. Idle a minute, then recheck for a warning lamp; some trucks relearn idle after a battery disconnect. Verify no oil or coolant leaks were disturbed near the work area.

Watch out

The 15 mm/13 mm socket sizes and passenger-side gas-engine location are typical for this generation, but bolt heads and torque values vary by engine and production year, so verify the exact size and torque spec against a FSM or Alldata entry for your VIN.

Other jobs on the 2009-2018 Ram 1500

Starter Replacement on other vehicles