Like most vehicles, the starter solenoid on the Dodge Caravan is located on the starter. Unfortunately, with the Dodge Caravan, the starter solenoid is located on the top of the starter where it is virtually impossible to replace without first removing the starter from the engine. Fortunately, for Caravan owners, the starter is out in the open and the bolts that secure it to the engine are easy to access and remove. This makes removing the starter to gain access to the starter solenoid a much easier task.
Drive the Caravan onto a set of ramps to gain ground clearance under the vehicle. Open the engine hood and disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery with an adjustable wrench.
Locate the starter under the vehicle. It connects to the bell housing and is cylindrical in shape. A large black wire extends from the back and the solenoid, which bolts to the starter, has a wiring harness connected to it.
Remove the nut that secures the large black ground wire to the starter and pull the wire off the stud.
Press down on the lock tab of the wiring harness and pull the harness off the solenoid.
Remove the two bolts that secure the starter to the bell housing and pull outward on the starter to separate the teeth on the starter gear and the teeth on the flywheel.
Remove the two bolts that secure the starter solenoid to the starter. Place the new solenoid on the starter and bolt it into place.
Place the starter gear back into the bell housing until the teeth of the starter gear and the flywheel mesh. Turn the starter until the bolt holes on the starter and the bell housing line up together. Bolt the starter into place.
Reconnect the wiring harness to the starter solenoid.
Place the large black ground wire on the wire stud located on the back of the starter and bolt it into place.
Reconnect the negative battery cable.
