Help with starter wiring
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Cedar Rapids, IA
Help with starter wiring
Need some help with wiring up my new starter. I have a 74 F250 with a 460 and have re-installed my engine after having it out for some other work. I know where the battery cable connects to on the back of the starter, but I can't remember where the small wire from the starter selenoid connects to on the starter.
There seems to be 4 connection points on the back of the starter (OEM style), one is the larger bolt for the battery cable. Can anyone help me with getting the right connection? Seems like it would be simple, but the engines been out so long I that can't remember the starter connections.
There seems to be 4 connection points on the back of the starter (OEM style), one is the larger bolt for the battery cable. Can anyone help me with getting the right connection? Seems like it would be simple, but the engines been out so long I that can't remember the starter connections.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Louisville
While I have never worked on a '74 truck I wouldn't think that there were any wires on the starter except for the battery cable. The starter soliniod would have all of the wires on it. An aftermarket starter with a solinoid mounted on it would have a 12VDC line going to it (hot only when key is in the cranking position)
Old School Hot Rodder
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Exmore, VA
I assume they must have used the Delco style starter in 74, if so the little wire goes to the terminal on the solenoid labled "S", the other one will be labeled "I" and was for ignition resistor bypass on GM products. If in doubt, only the "S" terminal will show continuity when tested without the drive engaged. They probably used the same setup my 1990 Town Car has where the realy on the fender only powers the starter solenoid, and the battery is connected to the starter +
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Senior User
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From: Cedar Rapids, IA
The small wire is still connected to the solenoid, just can't remember what terminal it connects to on the back of the starter. I haven't changed any wires on the solenoid, so I'm not worried about the connections there.
Anyone have a pic of their wires connecting to the starter? That would also help me.
Anyone have a pic of their wires connecting to the starter? That would also help me.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: iowa
on a 74 you should only have one wire going to the starter, there should be a starter soleniod on the fenderwell that has the other wires going to it, if your starter has more than one place for wires it's some type of either aftermarket or late model starter which is a different issue all together.
If you have the late model starter but still want to use the fender mounted soleniod then you run the wire from that down to the big lug on the starter and a small jumper wire from the big terminal to the small terminal marked S like mentioned above.
If you have the late model starter but still want to use the fender mounted soleniod then you run the wire from that down to the big lug on the starter and a small jumper wire from the big terminal to the small terminal marked S like mentioned above.
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From: okc
yeah the normal 460 (and most other Ford engines) starter only has the big main positive lead going to it....all the other wires go to the solenoid on the fenderwell like mentioned above...tell us, is this a stock starter or aftermarket?? it will only be different if your using a high dollar aftermarket starter....some stock starters will have the little bolts too that make it seem like it should have other wires going to it, but those bolts are only there to hold it together...
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: iowa
some of the later model engines used the GM style starters like the aftermarkets, I believe it was 92 and later on 460s and they are a gear drive reduction starter so some guys have made that swap.
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From: Cedar Rapids, IA
I had to replace the stock starter because of the teeth wearing down, and I bought a stock replacement from Advance. It looked just like the old one I took off. I have the positive battery cable running to the large connector on the starter, but I could have sworn a smaller wire I have connected to the solenoid also connected to the back of the starter. The small wire was taped to the battery cable and is the same length.
If your saying the stock starter only had the positive battery cabel running to it, should I go ahead and try it without connecting the small wire?
If your saying the stock starter only had the positive battery cabel running to it, should I go ahead and try it without connecting the small wire?
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From: okc
there should only be one wire, this is a bit fuzzy but u can see the main lead in the lower right corner....
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72...Picture020.jpg
that wire of course comes from here....
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72...Picture021.jpg
the only way another wire might be at the starter is if someone hooked up an extra ground from the starter housing to the frame...
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72...Picture020.jpg
that wire of course comes from here....
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72...Picture021.jpg
the only way another wire might be at the starter is if someone hooked up an extra ground from the starter housing to the frame...
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From: Cedar Rapids, IA
SwOkcOffRoader, thanks for the pics. This, however, brings up more questions for me. In your pic of the starter, it looks like there is a metal cap on the top side of the starter. My starter has a round cylinder in it's place, and little jump wires connecting it to terminals on the main starter. Would this be a late model starter with a soleniod build in?
Also in your pic of the soleniod, my setup differs a little. The positive terminal on my battery has the cable running to the back of the starter and a slightly smaller cable running to the side post of the solenoid. I'm not sure where the other side terminal of the soleniod goes to, I'll need to check that when I get home.
I bought the stock replacement starter, but mine looks a little different than yours. Do I have a starter that has a soleniod mounted to it? If so, how should I wire it?
Also in your pic of the soleniod, my setup differs a little. The positive terminal on my battery has the cable running to the back of the starter and a slightly smaller cable running to the side post of the solenoid. I'm not sure where the other side terminal of the soleniod goes to, I'll need to check that when I get home.
I bought the stock replacement starter, but mine looks a little different than yours. Do I have a starter that has a soleniod mounted to it? If so, how should I wire it?
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From: okc
i think they gave you the wrong starter....did your old starter look the same as the one you have now?? the cylinder sounds like it would be a solenoid...if the starter fits then you can run the wire that is hot with the switch in the start position to the S terminal....personally i prefer the old way, having the solenoid on the fenderwell....
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From: Cedar Rapids, IA
The starter I got looks exactly like the one I took off the truck...no difference. I'll try to take a pic tonight of how everything is hooked up right now to see if that helps. I know I'm not explaining things well enough to picture it.
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From: Cedar Rapids, IA
I have uploaded some pics of my starter, as well as connections to and from the solenoid. If you take a look at my gallery, please let me know if you think I have the wrong starter for the way it is currently wired.
The starter looks just like my old one, but I don't remember if the connections were the same from the old to new. I have not changed any wired on the soleniod when I took the engine out, only disconnected two wires from the starter (cable from + battery terminal and smaller wire from one side of solenoid). Seems like the battery cable should bolt back on to the large terminal on the starter, and the smaller wire to somewhere else on the starter, just don't know where.
If I try to connect the negative battery terminal, I get a big spark and a click from the starter, so something is realy wrong! I getting worried I'll never get this truck started again.
The starter looks just like my old one, but I don't remember if the connections were the same from the old to new. I have not changed any wired on the soleniod when I took the engine out, only disconnected two wires from the starter (cable from + battery terminal and smaller wire from one side of solenoid). Seems like the battery cable should bolt back on to the large terminal on the starter, and the smaller wire to somewhere else on the starter, just don't know where.
If I try to connect the negative battery terminal, I get a big spark and a click from the starter, so something is realy wrong! I getting worried I'll never get this truck started again.
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From: okc
Thats the strangest thing ive seen in awhile, i guess someone put a newer type starter on there at some point, maybe the fender solenoid was bad or something and they couldnt figure it out...well, if that starter bolts in then you will be ok....you will actually have to use the solenoid on the starter because it wont work otherwise...if the starter is still out you can find out which terminal to use with this little method......get a good battery close by, a pair of jumpercables, and a small piece of wire for a small jumper..... hook the ground to the starter housing and negative battery terminal, then hook the positive to the battery and the main connector of the starter....now, using the small wire touch one end to the main terminal, then touch the other end to the smaller terminals one at a time, the wrong one will spark and do nothing, the right terminal will cause the starter to spin, and whaLaa you've found the right terminal to hook to.....hope this wasnt too confusing for ya....