On the 5.7L Hemi and 3.6L Pentastar this is a straightforward under-truck job. The starter lives on the lower passenger side of the block at the bellhousing, and with the truck safely on stands you need little more than a 3/8 in ratchet, long extensions, a swivel and 13/15 mm sockets plus a 10 mm for the battery and an 8-10 mm for the solenoid signal wire. Budget an extra 15 minutes on off-road and 4x4 trims for the skid plate.
The 3.0L EcoDiesel is a different animal: the starter is up in the engine valley under the intake plumbing, so it becomes a top-side teardown and easily triples the time. On any eTorque truck, remember there are two 12 V batteries plus a 48 V pack under the rear seat - the mistake people make is disconnecting only the main battery negative, leaving the solenoid B+ stud live through the auxiliary battery, and then shorting a wrench against the block. Disconnect both 12 V negatives and leave the 48 V system untouched.
| Item | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Floor jack 2 ton minimum, low profile Lifts the truck to reach the starter from below on gas engines. | Required | shop |
| Jack stands 3 ton pair Supports the truck on the frame rails while you work underneath. | Safety | shop |
| Wheel chocks Keeps the truck from rolling with the driveline unloaded. | Safety | shop |
| Socket set 8, 10, 13, 15, 18 mm, 3/8 in drive, 6-point Battery terminals, skid plate, starter bolts and solenoid nuts. | Required | shop |
| Ratchet 3/8 in drive, plus stubby ratchet Main driver; the stubby helps at the upper starter bolt. | Required | shop |
| Extension set 3 in, 6 in, 10 in, 3/8 in drive Reaches the starter bolts past the bellhousing and exhaust. | Required | shop |
| Swivel/wobble adapter 3/8 in drive, or universal joint Gets a straight pull on the angled rear starter bolt. | Required | shop |
| Combination wrench set 8, 10, 13, 15 mm Holds the solenoid stud while loosening its nut and backs up tight fasteners. | Required | shop |
| Torque wrench 3/8 in drive, 10-80 ft-lb Sets starter mounting bolts and solenoid nuts correctly in aluminum-adjacent threads. | Required | shop |
| Trim tool / panel pry set Plastic Pops the engine cover clips and wiring retainers without breaking them. | Recommended | shop |
| Flat and Phillips screwdrivers Medium Releases the solenoid signal wire connector and cable retainers. | Required | shop |
| Wire brush Small brass/steel Cleans corrosion off the battery cable eyelet and solenoid stud. | Recommended | shop |
| Hose clamp pliers or flat screwdriver For spring/worm clamps EcoDiesel only: releases charge air and crankcase hoses to reach the starter from above. | Required | shop |
| Torx bit set T25-T40, 3/8 in drive EcoDiesel intake and shield fasteners and some underbody panels use Torx heads. | Recommended | shop |
| Inspection light LED, magnetic or headlamp The starter pocket is dark and the rear bolt is blind. | Recommended | shop |
| Magnet pickup tool / telescoping grabber Retrieves a dropped starter bolt from the crossmember or bellhousing. | Recommended | shop |
| Memory saver (optional) OBD-II port type Keeps radio, seat and window settings alive while the 12 V batteries are disconnected. | Recommended | shop |
| Digital multimeter Confirms battery voltage, B+ feed at the solenoid and a bad starter before you buy one. | Recommended | shop |
| Starter motor Engine-specific: 5.7L Hemi, 3.6L Pentastar, or 3.0L EcoDiesel (heavy-duty diesel unit) The replacement unit; diesel and gas starters are not interchangeable. | Parts | shop |
| Dielectric grease Small tube Protects the solenoid stud and signal connector from corrosion. | Consumables | shop |
| Brake/electrical parts cleaner Aerosol Cleans oil film off the block face and cable ends. | Consumables | shop |
| Safety glasses Protects from grit falling out of the bellhousing area. | Safety | shop |
| Mechanic's gloves Hot exhaust and sharp bellhousing edges. | Safety | shop |
5.7L Hemi and 3.6L Pentastar: starter on the lower passenger side of the block, accessed from below; two M10 mounting bolts, typically 13 mm or 15 mm heads, with a 13 mm nut on the solenoid B+ stud. 3.0L EcoDiesel: starter sits high in the engine valley and is accessed from above after removing the engine cover and charge air/intake plumbing, so you also need hose clamp pliers and a Torx bit set. eTorque variants add a second 12 V auxiliary battery whose negative must also be disconnected, plus a 48 V belt starter-generator that is a separate component from this starter.
| Starter mounting bolts to block (all engines) | approx. 40 ft-lb (54 Nm) - verify in the service manual |
| Solenoid B+ battery cable nut | approx. 10 ft-lb (13 Nm) - verify in the service manual |
| Solenoid signal terminal nut (if nut type) | verify in the service manual |
| Battery negative terminal clamp nut | approx. 7 ft-lb (9 Nm) - verify in the service manual |
| Underbody skid plate / splash shield bolts | verify in the service manual (hand tight, typically 15-20 ft-lb) |
Starter location by engine and the general 13/15/10/8 mm fastener set are reliable for the DT generation, but head sizes on the mounting bolts and the exact torque figures vary by production date and supplier - measure your bolt head and confirm torque and the EcoDiesel intake disassembly sequence in the FCA/Stellantis service information for your VIN.
On the 5.7L Hemi and 3.6L Pentastar it is bolted to the lower passenger side of the engine block where it meets the transmission bellhousing, reached from underneath. On the 3.0L EcoDiesel it is mounted high in the engine valley and must be reached from the top after removing intake plumbing.
Plan on 13 mm and 15 mm 6-point sockets on 3/8 in drive for the two M10 mounting bolts, 13 mm for the solenoid B+ nut, 8-10 mm for the small signal wire, and 10 mm for the battery terminals. Check your own bolt heads, as head size varies with production date.
No. The starter replacement only involves 12 V circuits, so you disconnect both 12 V battery negatives and leave the 48 V pack under the rear seat and all its high-voltage cabling alone.
No. eTorque trucks still have a conventional gear-reduction starter for cold cranking; the 48 V BSG handles auto start-stop restarts and torque assist. A no-crank complaint can come from either, so test before you buy parts.