How do i get a socket or wrench on the top starter bolt on my 87 dakota 3.9L v6

There are only 2 bolts that bolt the Starter to the transmission housing, first you want to brake lose the cable to the starter and the wire to the selonoid and remove, then losen the 2 bolt holding the Starter tranny housing and install is reverse removal.

use long 3/8 extension with a swivel socket if you cant find curve type off box end wrench.

All of the nuts and bolts are metric on it. It helps to use a 13mm swivel socket on the starter bolts but you can use a wrench if you need to. Also, a 7/8 open end wrench for the 02 sensor, or an 02 sensor socket.

Let me give you the steps for the starter and also the front engine mount bracket. You don't have to remove the entire mount, just the bracket

REMOVAL

1. Open Hood.
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
3. Raise vehicle and support.
4. Disconnect the electrical connector from the 02 sensor.

Remove the 02 sensor from the exhaust manifold .

Remove the front mount through bolt.

Remove the front mount bracket from engine block.

Remove the battery cable from starter.

1. Remove the lower starter bolt and remove starter.

INSTALLATION

1. Install starter to transmission.
2. Start the upper starter bolt.
3. Start the lower bolt and snug it so that the starter will not move.
4. Remove the upper bolt.
5. Connect the battery cable and torque nut to 8.5 Nm (75 in. lbs.).
6. Install the front mount bracket and check heat shield location.
7. Install bolt the upper bolt and torque bolt to 54 Nm (40 ft. lbs.)
8. Install the lower and torque bolt to 54 Nm (40 ft. lbs.)
9. Install the front mount through bolt and torque bolt to 61 Nm (45 ft.. lbs.)
10. Install the 02 sensor and torque to 27 Nm (20 ft. lbs.)
11. Lower vehicle.
12. Connect the negative battery cable.

FRONT MOUNT

REMOVAL

1. Raise vehicle.

1. Remove front mount to bracket horizontal through bolt (Fig. 87).
2. Loosen the rear mount through bolt.
3. Remove front mount vertical bolts (Fig. 87).
4. Remove front mount and separate the starter heat shield.

INSTALLATION

1. Position front mount on lower radiator crossmember.
2. Loose install front mount to bracket through bolt.
3. Install front mount vertical bolts. Tighten bolts to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.) . (Fig. 87).NOTE: Be sure the weight of the engine is static and in rest position. this for a 2.7 v6

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Heres's the procedure on how to remove and install starter for your 03 Expedition. First remove the battery cables from the battery. Remove the electrical connections to the starter and label for replacement. There are 3 bolts - 13mm. The bottom bolt is also the ground terminal, therefore you will need a deep socket for that bolt. The other two are accessable ideally with about a 7" extension to your socket wrench. The top bolt is on the top of the starter and you could fit your hand up there to feel it and place the socket. The 3rd bolt is between the bottom and top bolts. Remove the 3 bolts and the starter falls right out.

All the best!

YOU CAN GET A SWIVEL ADAPTOR THAT WILL PLUG INTO THE SOCKET THEN PLUG AN EXTENTION ON THAT THEN SOCKET WRENCH TO THAT THERE ABOUT 5 OR 6 BUCKS BUT REAL HANDY WHEN YOU NEED THEM ANY AUTO PARTS STORE WILL HAVE THEM

It's hard to get to, but a fairly easy replacement (2 bolts). Take off the air cleaner assembly, because it's on the TOP of the transmission under all that, slightly near the front. It slides in from the drivers side towards the passenger side. There are two bolts holding it on, one on each side, and the bolt farther towards the back of the car is a bear to see and get to, since there is a hard line (coolant?) running over top of it. I usually end up using a ratcheting end wrench and a socket wrench with several different extensions and swivels, since once you start to remove the bolt, you may end up jamming your socket wrench against the side of the car. Installing the starter is easy, but getting that back bolt started and not cross threaded, is really hard. Also, sometimes the remanufactured starters have a different shape - be sure to carefully compare the two at the store to make sure all of the angles are the same - otherwise that hard line will hit the top of the starter and make it impossible to install (unless you start bending things, which works some of the time!) :)

Either, from in the engine well using a 14mm wrench box end on the bolt, with another wrench on the 14mm wrench, to get more leverage to break it loose, or from underneath, using a very long extension and a 14mm swivel socket, I would wrap some electrical tape around the swivel socket to keep it from flopping around.

take the crossmember loose and let the motor trans tilt all the way till it stops. I use a 36" extension with a craftsman 14mm swivel socket (much better than a swivel and separate socket). the driver side, i believe 2nd bolt up is the worst. just use a regular wrench on it. A lot of people take a sledge hammer when its out and pound that area up a little to give it more clearance for that bolt.

First of all, number your wires before you pull them off. Pull the wires off, unplug the module. (You need a deep well swivel socket to get to the bolts). Also, make sure your battery cable is disconnected - being close to the starter wires. It's easier to get to from under the car. Make sure you use jack stands and be extra careful. Hope this helps. Phil

You need a 1/8 in. ratchet and extension with a 10 mm swivel socket or a 10 mm short wrench. Get the wrench on the bolt with the car jacked up, take a pry bar to the inside of the wrench, pry against the frame and it will break it loose. Once loose, you can get it out with a snap-on 10 mm short wrench.