I was trying to replace the starter in my 99 ranger with the 3.0L Auto 4x4. I got the three bolts out but could not get the starter to drop through past the differential/oilpan/front driveshaft. So I hastly pulled the two wires loose and it came out.

Went to put the new one in and attached the wires.. Starter would not go into place. Took wires loose tried to reposition them.. Again.. would not go into place. Put starter in without wires and it fits fine. On my last attempt I managed to break off the ground (at least I think) wire connector. It was just a ring terminal with a tab on it. Problem is if I replace it with any ring terminal it will not be as weather resistant as the OEM design.

I still have no idea how the friggin wires need to be as I have nothing to compare them too, and I can't reach the starter from below or above to attach them once it is installed, so they have to be connected before it is bolted into place.

Can I just run a jumper from the ground terminal on the starter to say a ground on the block? Or should I go to ford and buy a replacement harness?

Anyone with a 3.0 4x4 want to comment on how they changed their starters?

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I don't believe this to be a ground terminal.. I think it's the main power supply to the starter motor itself. How thick is the wire that it is attached to?

 

The main cable is still fine. It is like 6-8 guage.

This is a smaller cable I would say 12-14 guage wire.

 

If the starting solenoid is part of the starter and not on the firewall/wheelwell, then that's the line for the starter switch in your ignition switch. Without it, you get nothing, not even a click when to turn the ignition switch to start the truck. If you hear a click when you turn the key, the solenoid is usually ok but your starter's bad or disconnect in some way from that 6-8 guage wire.

As for the 6-8 guage main power line, you might try disconnecting from wherever its connected(battery?) in the engine compartment to give yourself a little slack. Trace the smaller wires back to the wiring harness. There may be a connector at the wiring harness that you can disconnect for some slack. Connect the wires to the proper terminals on the battery, re-install starter, and reconnect wires inside engine compartment.

good luck

 

Sounds good. Just wish I now had a warm place to work on it. Yeah the wires definatly do not have much slack in them.

What happened to begin with and the reason I am replacing the starter is one morning we went to start it and it just clicked. One HARD click and nothing. Each time the key was turned it did the same thing. Had a strong battery feed, lights and stuff worked. Jumped it with my F-250 and still nothing. Finally after repeated tries it finally turned over and started. It has worked fine ever since. It has been started about 20 times since then with no problem. But it is my Fiancee's truck and I don't want it wacking out on her when she is somewhere.

I think the starter just has a bad spot on it, but I have one I got from a 2003 ranger I am going to put in. Now if I had just been a little more careful with that wire.. lol

Anyone know if I can just put a new end on it myself? Like one of the crimp on ends?

 

It sounds like the wire is for your starter solenoid that is mounted on your starter, and yes, its possible that you have the fender solenoid in addition to the one mounted on the starter. So yes, simply get some heat shrink tubing and another ring terminal. Then put the heatshrink tubing around the wire, crimp on the terminal, and shrink the tubing around it. The wire will look as good as new. All the wires is is a trigger wire for the solenoid.

 

I was thinking that. I called Ford and they said I would have to replace the whole cable assembly from the battery, to the alternator, to the relay, and then finally to the starter... at a tune of $218!!!!!

I told him I would make wire before I paid that much.

I was told then by the service dept it was a ground wire and I should ground it to the block.. They dont know anything..


I can get heat shrink at work.. Just hope I can get at it pretty easy to fix it all up!

Thanks!

 

Yeah i seriously doubt that that is a ground wire. What color is it? If it is red with a blue stripe i'm pretty confident that it is the signal wire. The body of the starter is metal, the transmission and the engine are both metal. There's no need for a ground wire.

 

I don't know. It is covered in shrink tubing and after an hour of laying in a puddle with snow falling.. I didn't care enough to try and find out. I was cold, wet, and knew I wouldn't be able to do anything else with it, so I quit.

It is not a ground. And even so if I just put a new terminal on it and wrap it up nice, it really doesn't matter because it will be like stock anyhow.

Just think it is funny what you hear when you call a dealer.

 

Yeah, actually for the first time i had a good experience at a dealer. I was putting an ABS sensor in my brothers dodge yesterday, and being sunday no dealerships were open, and none of the parts stores could find the right sensor. Finally i found one who could find it, and they wanted 60$ for it, and it wouldnt be shipped until the 6th, and then it would be sent UPS ground and would take another 3 or 4 days to arrive. So i just said i'll wait. I went to the dodge dealer today and they had 2 of the sensors in stock for 35 bucks a piece!!!! I was stoked, i never have seen a part cheaper at a dealer.