Removing your Dodge Dakota exhaust manifold could be an easy or involved process, depending on the particular engine size you own. However, you may speed up the manifold removal and reinstallation process, regardless of your Dakota model, by carefully planning your project and working in an organized fashion. And you might want to have your vehicle service manual on hand to make sure you replace components with their proper torque--especially the exhaust manifold.
On the 2.5L engine model, drain some of the fluid in the cooling system if you need to disconnect the upper radiator hose for removal of your Dakota exhaust manifold. Once you disconnect the exhaust pipe from the exhaust manifold from underneath your vehicle, you will need to remove the intake manifold first to gain access and remove the exhaust manifold.
The 3.7L and 3.9L engine models follow the same procedure as the 2.5L engine, except that you need to remove a heat shield form the exhaust manifold. However, you do not have to drain the coolant or remove the intake manifold to gain access to the exhaust manifold.
You will follow the same procedure for the 5.2L and 5.9L engine models. You do not need to drain the coolant. However, you wilil need to raise the front of the vehicle to gain access to and detach the exhaust manifold from the exhaust pipe before you can remove the manifold and gasket form the engine compartment.
Keep in mind that, if you own a 3.7L or 3.9L engine model, Chrysler recommends installing new exhaust manifold mounting studs if they come out with the nuts during the removal process.
The 4.7L model comes equipped with right-hand and left-hand side Dodge exhaust manifolds. If you need to remove the right side manifold or both, take your Dakota pickup to an approved facility first and have them discharge the air conditioning system, since you will need to remove the air conditioning compressor.
Back in your garage, drain the cooling system and remove all of the accessories necessary to gain complete access to the right-hand manifold, including the air cleaner assembly, the accessory drive belt, the air conditioning compressor and the accumulator support bracket fastener. Then disconnect the heater hoses from the engine.
Working from underneath the engine, you can detach the exhaust pipe from the manifold, remove the starter motor and remove the lower manifold and heat shield mounting bolts. You can remove the rest of the manifold and heat shield mounting hardware from over the engine compartment.
To remove the left exhaust manifold, you do not need to remove any components or accessories, but you will need to raise your pickup to detach the manifold from the exhaust pipe and access the manifold and heat shield lower mounting bolts. Then you can remove the manifold and gasket from the engine compartment.
