I believe my regulator is taking a **** on me, so I am going to replace it tonight. The truck will only start if one person works the key and the other wiggles the regulator. Removed it last night, cleaned connections (weren't really dirty), and re-installed and made sure connections were tight. Still won't start reliably. What are the wires that connect to it? I have the connections that come from the battery (+ and -) Large forked connection with a ring terminal for + and -, a red wire with ring terminal on it (goes to starter motor?), small gauge pinkish wire with red stripe on it attached to that thicker red cable with ring terminal), and another black thicker wire with ring terminal that runs to the front of the motor under the air intake. What is the black wire that runs to the front of the engine (and is it a hot or a ground) and what is that little pink wire with red stripe that is a hot that is attached to the red wire that I would think goes to the starter motor? The little pink wire ends in a boot that presses onto a third small post on the regulator. I believe that is where my problem lies. If I push on that wire and wiggle it, or try to wiggle the entire regulator, it feels like something is vibrating inside and my truck will crank. Other times when you turn the key to crank, nothing at all happens. When I finished tinkering with it last night, no amount of wiggling would get it to start, even though all connnections were tight and clean. Thanks for your help!

 

Just wondering if you really talking about your starter relay and not your regulator?

 

The part that I am talking about is mounted on the firewall and is directly in line after the battery. Little cylinder, about two inches in diameter, two inches tall, and has two larger threaded studs and one small threaded stud sticking out of it. Hope this helps.

 

Yep - that sounds like your starter motor relay.

If you include which make vehicle your looking at, which year, and which engine, someone with a wiring diagram might be able to decipher the wire colors for you.

If your sure that the relay is the problem, might as well replace it. (Be sure all your connections, including where the battery cable connections contact the battery posts are clean and bright.)

 

Vehicle, 2001 Lincoln Navigator. All connections were pretty tight and clean to begin with as I said.

 

Does this have anything to do with it?

https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...p?tsb=06-19-14

This publication contains material that is reproduced and distributed under a license from Ford Motor Company. No further reproduction or distribution of the Ford Motor Company material is allowed without the express written permission of Ford Motor Company.

TSB Main Page

TSB
06-19-14 NO CRANK / STARTER TERMINAL FATIGUE

Publication Date: September 18, 2006

FORD: 1997-2007 Crown Victoria
1997-2004 F-150 Heritage
1997-2006 Expedition
1998-2006 E-Series
1999-2006 F-Super Duty
2002-2007 Explorer
2004-2006 F-150
2007 Explorer Sport Trac
LINCOLN: 1998-2006 Navigator
2003-2005 Aviator
MERCURY: 1997-2007 Grand Marquis
2002-2007 Mountaineer



ISSUE:
Some vehicles may exhibit a no crank condition due to an open circuit in the starter relay to starter motor circuit at the starter motor connection.

ACTION:
Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

A new starter terminal wiring pigtail kit is released eliminating the need to replace the entire harness for the terminal connection.

NOTE: TERMINAL KIT ONLY SERVICES THE STARTER RELAY TO STARTER MOTOR CIRCUIT. THE KIT DOES NOT SERVICE STARTER MOTOR BATTERY POWER CIRCUIT.



Refer to instruction sheet contained in Wiring Pigtail Kit for wiring harness service procedure.

NOTE: REFERENCE THE APPROPRIATE WORKSHOP MANUAL SERVICE SECTION 303-06 FOR REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF THE STARTER MOTOR WIRING TERMINAL CONNECTION PROCEDURES.



PART NUMBER PART NAME
6U2Z-14S411-NA Wiring Pigtail Kit



WARRANTY STATUS:
Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage

OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
061914A Install Wiring Pigtail kit (Do Not Use With 14200A) 0.4 Hr.
MT061914 Claim Additional Labor Required As Actual Time Or Use SLTS Operation If Available Actual Time

DEALER CODING
BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE
14A280 01

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

If your circuit is open, I'd say it has to do with it. Is the circuit open when it won't crank?

 

Don't have multi-meter at my apartment. It is at my parent's place. I just have some rather basic tools available. I printed out some testing suggestions, but it costs me over $20 in gas to drive to their place...plus time. I can buy the starter relay motor for $23.75 after work. Truck is now stuck in underground parking at apartment....in girlfriend's spot, so she is getting pissy.