This may have already been asked somewhere else... I have a 2000 Expedition XLT, and have replaced battery, battery cables and solenoid (or relay, not sure which, its on the firewall to the right of the battery) but when I connect the positive cable to the terminal the starter just continually spins without the key in the ignition. Has anyone else had this issue? And if so, please tell me how you've fixed this... I'm running out of options because I really don't want to replace the starter if I don't have to.

 

Something is probably wired wrong. What happened or was being done prior to this condition?


BTW, the NEGATIVE cable should be the first one off and the last one connected., not the positive cable....

 

The original issue was a clicking sound every few times I started the truck, and I had to move one of the cables to get a connection. So I started by replacing the battery, followed by the battery cables. When I ordered the cables, I used a part number provided to me by Ford, and they sent me the wrong cables. I received them, and called a ford dealership near me to verify that they would work for my truck. When I was assured they would, I installed them and the battery arced. So I ordered a different set from a different distributor who ensured that I would get the right part. I got the right part, and installed them, following every step to a "T". When I got everything connected and hooked up my cables, positive first, the started started turning without even the key in the ignition. So now I have replaced what I'm assuming is the relay, and everything else I can prior to replacing the starter.

 

Did you also work on the cabling at the starter motor? Check to make sure the small diameter wire isn't shorted to the big one.

If that isn't it, take and post a photo of your starter relay on the firewall making sure it shows the connections.

 

I will do that, but I'm pretty sure all of this stuff that I've been working on is all original from the manufacturer. So the wires were all pretty much "molded" to where they needed to be. But with the new cables, there was only one way I could get the larger cables onto the starter that they would line up. So if I replace the starter, or even pull it out, I would be able to hook everything up before I put the starter back in the truck, right?

 

If the starter was working normally before you started with the cables, why would you now suspect it's bad? Get out of the "guess and replace" mode, time to use some logic in your troubleshooting.

Just because parts are new does not mean you can assume they are both correct and "good". They're only GOOD when you've verified that they are good.

Do you have a multi meter and know how to use it?

 

I can't say for certain that the starter was good before this all started. I just know that I started with an easier problem than replacing the starter. I'm eliminating what I can before I even remove that. I'm trying to tackle this on my few and far between days off. When I replaced the cables there was corrosion on the terminals which even after cleaned, the "click and refuse to start until I wiggled a cable into the right position" continued. Then it refused to start, and upon closer investigation, I started tracing the cables. Found that there was corrosion further down and figured replacing them would be the next logical step. When I finished with that, I attempted to connect my cables, and after getting the right ones, and the starter started spinning without the key in the ignition. So now I'm looking into everything I can find that is connected tot he starter in one way or another, before I work my way back to the underside of the truck.

And no I don't have a multi-meter right now. Again, funds are a little tight.

All I can really think of to do next, until Friday, is try to follow the advice I receive here. And if none of that works, I am left with removing the starter and having it tested. I don't have the money to just guess at the problem and hope I get lucky. That's just too expensive, and I don't have that kind of money, and would rather do this the right way.

 

Disconnect the small red wire from the starter, does the problem still exist after?