How to Replace the Starter in a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan with a 3.3 Liter Engine
Posted: Wednesday, January 06, 2010
by Bruce Horst
WryteStuff
Now that I have some light in my garage, my next project is to replace the starter in our old mini-van. I understand that the classic symptoms of a bad starter in this van is that the starter solenoid will click, but it will only randomly turn over. It’s been getting worse and worse over the past few months but since we don’t drive this vehicle often I’ve been putting off the repairs.
Materials: You’ll need 13mm and 15mm sockets and ratchet and a mediums size flat-edge screwdriver to replace the starter. A 15mm ratcheting wrench will also make your job easier as there is hardly enough room for a ratchet and socket for the mounting bolts. Also you'll need some sort of light to see what you are doing under your van.
1. Elevate the van safely, there’s not quite enough room to get under it without elevating it.
Because I couldn’t get the van to start, I had to roll it manually to get it lifted. It was impossible for me to get the van up on regular ramps, so I got some bricks from Jean's garden. The 3 inches of lift was all I needed to get under the van.
2. Disconnect the main power to the starter.
The starter is to the front of the engine, in the center, right above the engine mount. The wires are connected to the starter of the left side of the engine mount. First I would advise you to disconnect the battery to make sure there’s no power to the starter, then remove the main power source from the starter with a 13mm socket.
3. Remove the solenoid wire by unplugging it.
There is a red sliding lock which needs to be slid out before the connector can be unplugged. This is where the flat edge screwdriver comes in.
4. Remove the two mounting bolts.
These are accessed on the right side of the engine mount, and require a 15mm socket wrench. The top bolt is particularly hard to get to. Even though I also have a 15mm ratchet wrench, it wouldn’t slip over the head of the bolt for the first quarter inch, so I used a socket and ratchet to get it started. With such limited space, I could only turn the bolt one ratchet click at a time (30 times per revolution, I counted!) This took quite a while to do, and I had to repeat this when putting the bolt back in.
5. Exchange the old starer for the new one.
There might be an easier trick to this as there’s a metal gasket that goes between the starter and the starter mount, but using only sheer will-power I got it lined up with only 3 attempts, taking about 10 minutes total.
Can you tell which starter is the old one and which one is the new one?
6. Replace the mounting bolts, power connector and solenoid wire.
Make sure everything is tight, though I don’t know exactly how much torque, there’s no way a torque wrench would fit any of these anyway. If you disconnected the battery, then reconnect it.
That’s it! The van started on the first try and though I ruined an old shirt in the process, I am happy about saving $300. Now that I have my van back, I can drive to Home Depot. I wonder what project I should get into next?
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More commentsThank you very much for this article! It gave me the confidence to diagnosis the problem as the starter.
The steps and photos for replacing the starter were very helpful. I might add that removing the air filter allowed access to the top starter bolt from above.
i want to thank you for your help. your step by step instruction were great. my son and i replaced the starter in my van. i would like to add a suggestion to step 4. it is very tight. i could not use a regular ratchet in to use but i did use a stubby ratchet. i put the bolt in by hand, put on the socket, then put on the stubby ratchet. it was still a little tight but it made it easier than a regular wrench.
My husband is turning into quite the mechanic with all the help in the internet.. we both thankyou for posting.. now he can get to fixing my van lol!
The bolts on my starter fell off somehow and I need to replace them. Do you know what size they are for a 98 Dodge Caravan, 6 cylinder? This article is very helpful.
Thanks!Hmmm, no, I don't know. Maybe you can look at the manual at a parts store.
Excellant article by Bruce Horst. The comment by Jim to remove the air intake duct [2 hose clamps] was also helpful. I was able to go straight in on the top bolt head with a 15 mm socket and a 9 or 10 inch extension. The lack of vision is a problem,though. Overall it took about an hour to remove the old starter and about 45 minutes to install the rebuilt one.Thanks, Bill
Great help. Thanks for the pictures.Glad they helped!
Very clear and easy to do. Changed the starter myself today and saved about $300. Thanks for the info and pics.
Looking to get started on my wife's van. It a 97... Is there much off a different's? I can't find my chiliton. Any hue ill give it a try.I don't know, but if it has the 3.0 6 cylinder, it's probably close.It was for the most part the same. Thanks for your help.
Great article and pictures, I have the same van with a 3.8L engine, I was able to get the old starter off in about 45 minutes, start to finish. Now off to auto part store with the old starter (to avoid the core charge). Taking off the air intakes makes accessing the top bolt a lot easier, I couldn't hardly reach it coming from below. My air intake had two screws in front, I removed those and the 2 hose clamps, pulling the holes assembly off, plenty of room after that. Thank!\ you!
Execellent article!! Thank's Bruce, and also, to the other poster's, for all of the advice. The air cleaner removal tip to get to the top bolt was most helpful! Another tip is to use a 3/8 universal joint between the 15mm socket and your extension, this works very well. Bruce, a trick I have used in the past to hold items in place,(and on this job) is to coat the metal gasket/shim with wheel bearing grease, this will help keep it in place while reinstalling the starter.
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