Starter solenoid

[ksamson]

Hello all, i need some help with an electrical problem. When I crank my 351W and after I turn my ignition key off it continues to turn. Also, I noticed my battery cables are hot to the touch. HELP Please!

[Avalanche325]

That sounds like a sticky solenoid. Is it the Ford type relay, or a mini-starter? Either way, I would get right on that.

Check to make sure all of the connections from the battery to the starter are tight. A cable getting warm is OK. Hot is not good though.

[riptide motorsport]

Yup....the contacts are sticking. new one should do the trick. check all your grounds for the hot cable issue.

[seagull81]

Be sure you have a ground from the starter bolt to the frame or back to the battery.

[ksamson]

Thank you, I have a starter that just has the positive wire going to the starter. I have a starter solenoid on the firewall. Part of the problem was that I was cranking the motor over continuously and I believe that may have contributed to the wires getting hot. I will go back and check my grounds this weekend.

[CraigS]

Word is that the Ford factory firewall solenoid is the one to have and the aftermarket units don't last as long. Breeze has them
http://www.breezeautomotive.com/details.php?prod_id=490&cat_id=11
Forte and some of the other venders may have them also.
Another thought for you,not needed right now but a keep in mind for the future upgrade, is a mini-starter. They get rid of most all starting issues and that firewall solenoid becomes a giant relay so it will last a lot longer. Pretty easy to redo the wireing according to this diagram put out by Ford for upgrading mustangs
http://www.fordracingparts.com/download/instructionsheets.asp
Scroll a little was down to mini-starter.

[edwardb]

OK, so I don't think this is a hijack... It's never been clear to me why a separate firewall solenoid is required when using the mini-starter with the built-in solenoid. I've heard several say it's a throw-back to the days when there wasn't a solenoid integrated into the starter, and it was easier to leave the wiring as is even though a mini-starter was used. My Mk3 build doesn't have a firewall solenoid, and has never been an issue. Wasn't planning one for my Mk4 build. On the Ford Racing instructions linked above, was interested to see the following note:

! ! ! WARNING: DO NOT INSTALL A JUMPER WIRE BETWEEN THE BATTERY TERMINAL AND THE SOLENOID BLADE TERMINAL AT THE STARTER TO AVOID THE USE OF THE # 12 WIRE. IF DONE, VOLTAGE IS GENERATED TO THE SOLENOID BY THE STARTER SPINNING AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE START KEY OR BUTTON, CAUSING THE STARTER TO REMAIN ENGAGED, RESULTING IN SEVERE DAMAGE AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE STARTER ! ! !

BTW, that's Ford shouting not me...

So does this explain why a separate solenoid is recommended, to prevent the starter to remain engaged even after the engine starts?

[CraigS]

That warning I just don't understand. If you "INSTALL A JUMPER WIRE BETWEEN THE BATTERY TERMINAL AND THE SOLENOID BLADE TERMINAL AT THE STARTER" the starter operates right? Huh? Anyway, in my opinion all starters should be run w/ a solenoid/relay. Not necessarily the huge Ford firewall solenoid although it works. A regular relay specced to handle the amp drain of the mini-starter solenoid would be fine. The idea is that you don't want those amps run through the ignition switch.