How do you remove the engine cover on a 2002 dodge ram 1500 van?

Answer 1

It's been awile but I've owned half a dozen ram vans over the years and here's how I remember the procedure: Removing the engine cover (doghouse) on the full size ram Vans from 1972-2003 is just like in the G-series Chevy and GMC full-size vans from 1973-96. Pull back the floormat or carpet around the rear of the doghouse (the part that faces you if you're in the driver or passenger seat that has the cuphoplders and the storage bin and) and peek under where the DH meets the van floor. Youll see four bolts that attach four tabs welded to the bottom of doghouse cover (2 on each side left and right) where it meets the floor at the 4, 5 7 & 8 o'clock positions. Unscrew these with the appropriate socket wrench (I think it was a 1/2 inch). Then, locate the two firewall straps mounted to the cover on each side (one to the right of driver's knee and one to left of passenger's knee just under the main dashboard cover). They're kind of like old-time suitcase latches. Unlatch them and gently rock the cover back and forth until the seal breaks in the weatherstripping on the floor and the cover itself (it can get stuck together due to engine heat). Gently pull the cover straight back best as you can and voila, the engine is right there in all it's dirty glory. Installation is the reverse, but first be sure you have the cover and four weatherstrip gaskets lined up properly, and that you have no wires (spark, harness or otherwise) pinched in the weather strip meetings. Then latch the two latches and reinstall the (4) bolts holding the cover doen to the floor. SNUG UP AND THEN TIGHTEN 2-3 TURNS. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN (the DH is thin metal and the brackets sometimes pull out if you do, so dont). Hope this helps. Good luck, Mark