2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 lists a 5.7L V8 of 345 cubic inches among four gasoline engines. It and the 5.9L (360 cu in) use overhead valves, while the 3.7L V6 (226 cu in) and 4.7L V8 (287 cu in) have a single overhead camshaft; all breathe naturally. The pickup comes as a four-door crew cab or two-door standard cab in Laramie, SLT and ST trim. Specifications and torque values address each engine, and procedures extend to the transmission, drivetrain, brakes and steering.

Engines covered

• 3.7L V6 (226 cu in) — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 4.7L V8 (287 cu in) — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 5.7L V8 (345 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 5.9L V8 (360 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door crew cab pickup
• 2-door standard cab pickup

Trims covered

• Laramie
• SLT
• ST

Known issues on the 2003 Ram 1500. The federal record holds 1 recall for the 2003 Ram 1500. On certain 2003 Ram 1500 trucks built within a set production window, the passenger frontal air bag inflator could build up too much internal pressure and burst when the bag deployed, throwing metal fragments toward occupants. Owners were told not to drive the vehicle until the passenger air bag had been replaced. Air bags also lead the 1,169 owner complaints, cited in 457, followed by structure (236) and the power train (125). Of those complaints, 76 reported a crash, 57 an injury and 5 a death. Wiring diagrams and electrical diagnostics are in the manual.