This is the greatest video ever. I was looking at the repair manual and hoping that there was an easier way to take it out and you made a 2 and a half hour job a 30 minute. The repair manual says that you have to remove the catalytic converter and you just saved me all of that hassle. Thank you!
WTG, Well done! You are the first and only one who showed that, you don't have to remove the crossmember to get to the starter. Wish I had come across this video years ago! you sir are awesome! Thanks a bunch and I hope people see that your wisdom can save time and aggravation! I have been removing the crossmember for years! Not anymore!!!!! God bless Brother!
You don't have to depending on what year Dodge Caravan you're working on. I have the 2011 one and it has a strange circle thing connected to the crossmember support that happens to block the space where the engine mount would slide out. I had to remove the crossmember support just to get the engine mount to drop out. You say you're now going to not remove the crossmember support from now on. I say good luck with that, because you're going to realize in the long run not every model Caravan will be like the one shown in this video. You may come across one like mine and get your butt kicked by it like I did before realizing the crossmember support must come out first.
If anyone is watching. This is best way. No need to pull cross member. I can't believe all the extra work others went through in their videos. Great job sir!
OMG, THANK YOU! Had to replace starter for 2nd time in a year after the reman starter I used died. This was amazingly faster than the last time when I removed the brace, catalytic heat shield, etc. This was PERFECT and to the point! I wish you had more vids for cars I own. You'd be my first go-to!
Great Video ! I watched another video first that said you had to remove the crossmember under the engine. I did it the way you said, and it worked just fine. The hardest part was getting the power cable off of the starter and getting it back on. Thank you sir.
Great vid the only thing I can add is to make sure you disconnect the battery negative cable first. You don't want a direct short to ground if your positive cable from the starter grounds on the engine.
Although this video was helpful for me, there are major things not shown or talked about in this that would've helped tremendously had I known them before starting the project. I spent nearly 6 hours yesterday replacing my starter after watching this video. This video made it look so easy compared to what it actually was..... The error in this video is him saying this job "looks tough but it's not once you get the motor mount out of your way...." when in reality that is not true at all because the motor mount was NOT the toughest part of the replacement. The toughest part was getting the nut securing the wires to the starter off. The even tougher part was trying to get the nut back on and tightened properly to the new starter, due to the extreme lack of space to work in. Even the 1/2 inch ratchet wrench was almost impossible to fit up there properly, making it incredibly frustrating, time consuming and exhausting. The amount of cuts I got from just trying to tighten it on was bad enough. The overall install is a 100 times harder than this video makes it appear. As for the motor mount, you may have to remove the crossmember support bracket that runs halfway down the middle of the vehicle just to get the motor mount completely out, depending on the year of your Dodge Caravan. I have the 2011 model and mine has this weird black circle thing connected to the crossmember support bracket that blocks the gap where the motor mount would slide out. Even if it were not for that, you still want to remove that crossmember support bracket to have proper room for removing/installing the new starter. Heed this warning and trust me when I tell you it's bad enough removing/installing the starter without that crossmember support bracket in the way, so it's definitely best you take the additional few minutes removing it to save yourself from the massive headache I had to go through, and to save yourself a LOT of time. I did this replacement while laying on the ground beneath my van I had jacked up with a 2 ton jack. I had no fancy lifts or tools, so if you have high end tools or lifts, this job will be much easier for you, but will still be somewhat of a pain in the butt. With the tools I had, which where decent borrowed tools from a friend, it was difficult. With Walmart grade tools (Which is what I first tried using), you are going to get slaughtered trying to attempt this, so really think this over before starting this job to be sure this is something you really want to do over having someone else do it for you. If you want to do this, do NOT use cheap tools! I would've had a mechanic do this for me in a heartbeat if it were not for them trying to charge me over $720 to do it, so I found this nightmare of a task to be worth it after going through 6 hours of frustration, cuts and bruises, because it saved me a serious amount of money in the end.
I attempted this repair in a grocery store parking lot while it was raining. I failed at the project so far and had it towed home. Now that I am seeing in the comments of how much labor will cost, I will continue my project another day. Within the 1st hour. I had the mount taken out and the 2 bolts holding the starter. And there was no way to get that starter out. I tried to get my socket wrench on that cable nut, but I didn't know what size at the time and still wasn't working. I continue for another 10 minutes. My flash light died. I called it done. I am soaking wet. I walked around to some nearby mechanic shops and they were closing. I used my insurance app for roadside assistance, waited an hour.... so I called them and they said "you don't have roadside assistance membership. So you will have to pay cash". I said "that is fine. I can pay cash". They said "ok". and there was an awkward pause... So I ask "Is there a tow truck company assigned to me?". They said "No because you don't have roadside assistance membership". Could have told me that an hour ago!!! I call a tow truck company and waited another 1 and 30 minutes for a tow.
First of all I hope you are well and everything is good with you.Then I would like to thank you for this video is was sooooo helpful and worked awesome. Thanks again brother 👍👏
I just had to do this with my girls 2014 Caravan. It took 5 got damn hours. I want to personally say fork you Dodge! Everything about this repair was a PITA! It took forever to get the starter out and then install the new started, let alone the wires, the grease and oil, etc. got damn! Never gain! I will pay the $500 for a shop to do it. I spent $160 and did it myself. 5 hrs. Not worth it. Yours popped out so easy and went back in like cake. Mine was not even close to this. And I did all our did as well. I think not all 2014 models same in this area.
Our town and country has 190,000 on the original one. Driving habits play a lot on how long the starter lasts. It will last longer if you only start it 2-3 times a day vs going garage sale shopping all week.
I wish more people would make videos like this. Straight forward and to the point. Thank you very much sir!!!!
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
This is the greatest video ever. I was looking at the repair manual and hoping that there was an easier way to take it out and you made a 2 and a half hour job a 30 minute. The repair manual says that you have to remove the catalytic converter and you just saved me all of that hassle. Thank you!
WTG, Well done! You are the first and only one who showed that, you don't have to remove the crossmember to get to the starter. Wish I had come across this video years ago! you sir are awesome! Thanks a bunch and I hope people see that your wisdom can save time and aggravation! I have been removing the crossmember for years! Not anymore!!!!! God bless Brother!
You don't have to depending on what year Dodge Caravan you're working on. I have the 2011 one and it has a strange circle thing connected to the crossmember support that happens to block the space where the engine mount would slide out. I had to remove the crossmember support just to get the engine mount to drop out. You say you're now going to not remove the crossmember support from now on. I say good luck with that, because you're going to realize in the long run not every model Caravan will be like the one shown in this video. You may come across one like mine and get your butt kicked by it like I did before realizing the crossmember support must come out first.
If anyone is watching. This is best way. No need to pull cross member. I can't believe all the extra work others went through in their videos.
Great job sir!
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
Video is short and strait to the point, just what I needed. Literally just did what he said and now my cars is running again. Thank you.
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
OMG, THANK YOU! Had to replace starter for 2nd time in a year after the reman starter I used died. This was amazingly faster than the last time when I removed the brace, catalytic heat shield, etc.
This was PERFECT and to the point! I wish you had more vids for cars I own. You'd be my first go-to!
Great video, thank you! I’ve never removed a motor mount before. Van is starting and running great again.
Thank you, this made it easier than most of the videos I saw. 🙏🏻
Great Video ! I watched another video first that said you had to remove the crossmember under the engine. I did it the way you said, and it worked just fine. The hardest part was getting the power cable off of the starter and getting it back on. Thank you sir.
You just saved me 200 in labor my dude, liked and subscribed
Great vid the only thing I can add is to make sure you disconnect the battery negative cable first. You don't want a direct short to ground if your positive cable from the starter grounds on the engine.
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
Great video! Got the starter loose but could not get it out until I watched your video.
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
Bro you saved me around $600 dollars, which I didn’t have. Thank you so much.
Although this video was helpful for me, there are major things not shown or talked about in this that would've helped tremendously had I known them before starting the project. I spent nearly 6 hours yesterday replacing my starter after watching this video. This video made it look so easy compared to what it actually was..... The error in this video is him saying this job "looks tough but it's not once you get the motor mount out of your way...." when in reality that is not true at all because the motor mount was NOT the toughest part of the replacement. The toughest part was getting the nut securing the wires to the starter off. The even tougher part was trying to get the nut back on and tightened properly to the new starter, due to the extreme lack of space to work in. Even the 1/2 inch ratchet wrench was almost impossible to fit up there properly, making it incredibly frustrating, time consuming and exhausting. The amount of cuts I got from just trying to tighten it on was bad enough.
The overall install is a 100 times harder than this video makes it appear.
As for the motor mount, you may have to remove the crossmember support bracket that runs halfway down the middle of the vehicle just to get the motor mount completely out, depending on the year of your Dodge Caravan. I have the 2011 model and mine has this weird black circle thing connected to the crossmember support bracket that blocks the gap where the motor mount would slide out. Even if it were not for that, you still want to remove that crossmember support bracket to have proper room for removing/installing the new starter. Heed this warning and trust me when I tell you it's bad enough removing/installing the starter without that crossmember support bracket in the way, so it's definitely best you take the additional few minutes removing it to save yourself from the massive headache I had to go through, and to save yourself a LOT of time. I did this replacement while laying on the ground beneath my van I had jacked up with a 2 ton jack.
I had no fancy lifts or tools, so if you have high end tools or lifts, this job will be much easier for you, but will still be somewhat of a pain in the butt. With the tools I had, which where decent borrowed tools from a friend, it was difficult. With Walmart grade tools (Which is what I first tried using), you are going to get slaughtered trying to attempt this, so really think this over before starting this job to be sure this is something you really want to do over having someone else do it for you. If you want to do this, do NOT use cheap tools! I would've had a mechanic do this for me in a heartbeat if it were not for them trying to charge me over $720 to do it, so I found this nightmare of a task to be worth it after going through 6 hours of frustration, cuts and bruises, because it saved me a serious amount of money in the end.
I attempted this repair in a grocery store parking lot while it was raining. I failed at the project so far and had it towed home. Now that I am seeing in the comments of how much labor will cost, I will continue my project another day.
Within the 1st hour. I had the mount taken out and the 2 bolts holding the starter. And there was no way to get that starter out. I tried to get my socket wrench on that cable nut, but I didn't know what size at the time and still wasn't working. I continue for another 10 minutes. My flash light died. I called it done. I am soaking wet. I walked around to some nearby mechanic shops and they were closing. I used my insurance app for roadside assistance, waited an hour....
so I called them and they said "you don't have roadside assistance membership. So you will have to pay cash". I said "that is fine. I can pay cash". They said "ok". and there was an awkward pause... So I ask "Is there a tow truck company assigned to me?". They said "No because you don't have roadside assistance membership". Could have told me that an hour ago!!! I call a tow truck company and waited another 1 and 30 minutes for a tow.
Nice approach. Thanks for a good video!
Thank you for this video it helped our family immensely. God bless you!
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
Great job explaining this process.
Thanks you saved me effort and time
Thank you a million times over for this video fam
Nicely done! Appreciate the highly detailed instructions.
Thank you for the simple easy to follow instructions. You should have more subscribers 👍
Great job bro. Very detailed and straight to the point! Thumbs up.
First of all I hope you are well and everything is good with you.Then I would like to thank you for this video is was sooooo helpful and worked awesome. Thanks again brother 👍👏
This is the best video and easiest way
Great video Sir, I will give it a try this weekend. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for the great Video 👍
Thank you! Let me know how it goes well And thanks for watching!
Great video! Hope I get that motor mount back on 😂 thanks for making video.
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
This was exactly the information I needed. Thank you very much for this video.
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
Thank you for this video. God bless you
Thank you SIR! Respect! God bless you!
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
Great job,and i will try now.
Have i to remove the catalistic cover???
Thanks you sir!
Thanks for the great video. Does this apply for 2011 grand caravan?
Thanks! And thanks for watching!
Good question, I can't say I know
Thank you!
I just had to do this with my girls 2014 Caravan. It took 5 got damn hours. I want to personally say fork you Dodge! Everything about this repair was a PITA! It took forever to get the starter out and then install the new started, let alone the wires, the grease and oil, etc. got damn! Never gain! I will pay the $500 for a shop to do it. I spent $160 and did it myself. 5 hrs. Not worth it. Yours popped out so easy and went back in like cake. Mine was not even close to this. And I did all our did as well. I think not all 2014 models same in this area.
I have 2016 town and country. do I have to lift engine at oil pan?. to pullout the starter.
well done. thank you.
Thanks! And thanks for watching!
Great job bro
Your da man!
How many Jack's did you use?
Only one, vehicle on Jack stand, thanks for watching!
What do you do if that little stuff gets stuck in the transmission
Why are these caravan starters seeming to go bad too soon...my 1988 Mazda 323 went 260,000 miles and still had original starter and alternator...
Our town and country has 190,000 on the original one. Driving habits play a lot on how long the starter lasts. It will last longer if you only start it 2-3 times a day vs going garage sale shopping all week.
❤
You didn’t show how to remove the bolts off the starter
This engine is the definition of a pain in the ass. Everything is poorly designed to work on. So frustrating.
This guy is good and an real mechanic
Thank you!