Relay question
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 550
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From: Effingham,IL USA
Relay question
got a 94 f150 with a 300. what is the name of the relay on the pass side splash shield that looks like a starter relay but isnt? bat + cable goes to it. the truck has a seperate cable that runs from the battery to the starter. i know its not the starter relay, so whats it called in ford lingo?
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 550
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From: Effingham,IL USA
Relay question
but i know its not the starter relay because the bat cable from the relay doesnt go to the starter. it has a seperate bat positive cable going to the starter from the positive post. the relay i'm talkin about has a cable to the battery positive post then into the wire harness. the starter has it's own solenoid mounted on the starter itself.
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 550
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From: Effingham,IL USA
Relay question
ok this is not the starter relay. this is a completely seperate battery cable going from the positive post to the relay then into the main wiring harness. the starter cable is from the positive post of the battery directly to the starter. two seperate cables coming off the positive post. there is no starter relay on the starter cable. i went to the parts store to buy a "starter relay" and they didnt list one for a 94. this relay looks like a starter relay but the cables dont go to the starter they go into the main wiring harness.
New User
Joined: Mar 2003
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Relay question
Sounds like your starter relay. Easy way to figure out if it is... Engage parking brake, place truck in neutral, make sure it is in neutral, and jump between the two large posts coming out of the relay - see if it turns the starter over.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 470
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From: NE TX
Relay question
Or you can unplug the small wire and see if the key no longer works. The solenoid is on the starter but the switch is on right firewall. It could be possible someone added a relay for a winch or other electrical accesssory. But probably not. Ford doesn't run a positive wire from battery to starter because you have to go through the switch on the right firewall.
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Effingham,IL USA
Relay question
ok i just figured it out after lookin at it again. there is a positive cable running to the starter from the battery that is hot at all times. it also has a smaller red solenoid control wire off the starter. the battery has another cable to the relay. thats where the elecrtical harness gets its power. but instead of having a big battery cable goin out from the relay, it has a small red wire. the small red wire is the one that goes to the starter solenoid. the relay turns on and off not the battery cable like older trucks, but the much smaller solenoid control wire. what confused me was the heavy cable going directly to the starter and the lack of a cable going out of the relay. so in effect its a starter solenoid relay instead of a starter relay. this is kind of the way the general used to run their starters. i dont like it. you have a battery cable going to the starter that is hot at all times, not just when you crank the engine like the older design.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
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From: Memphis, TN
Relay question
That is the starter relay on the fender. It sends power to the starter, which has a solenoid with an integral relay on its back. The fender relay triggers the solenoid, which throws out the bendix and trips its own relay, which powers up the starter. Only late V-8s were wired like that.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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I have an '86 F250 with well over 200k miles, my starter siezed on me and i changed it out. i went to change out the solenoid but i forgot where all the wires go. i have 7 wires that connect to the relay but dont know where to attach the 3 auxilary ones to. need help
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...Welcome Irongod, to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!
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Stick around someone will be by shortly to answer your question.
We are happy you have chosen the best source for Fords!
Enjoy FTE....and
JOIN CLUB FTE -SUPPORT THE FORUMS!
…..See you on the boards.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Easton,Ks
Originally Posted by irongod
I have an '86 F250 with well over 200k miles, my starter siezed on me and i changed it out. i went to change out the solenoid but i forgot where all the wires go. i have 7 wires that connect to the relay but dont know where to attach the 3 auxilary ones to. need help
Note that there is also a small wire that plugs on right below where it say "STARTER RELAY" in the diagram and a vary large wire from the starter hooking on the bottom in the diagram (your cab side).
