Two starter relays?
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: MD
Two starter relays?
Just noticed this in my truck 97 F350 4x4 351W & E40D.
I thought I was seeing double. Two starter relays side by side.
I tried to trace the wires, but there are too many! I found one stray wire that was tapped into the negative post of the battery. I cut that off. The posts had 3 or 4 wires tapped onto it. The PO must have some helluva setup.
How many wires are there originally on both battery posts and are two starter relays necessary?
I thought I was seeing double. Two starter relays side by side.
I tried to trace the wires, but there are too many! I found one stray wire that was tapped into the negative post of the battery. I cut that off. The posts had 3 or 4 wires tapped onto it. The PO must have some helluva setup.
How many wires are there originally on both battery posts and are two starter relays necessary?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Easton,Ks
You should have one large and one smaller wire on both the POS & NEG post of the battery.
The second relay was for something like a snow plow or aux battery for starting.
It may have even been for jumper cables for jumping other trucks.
The second relay was for something like a snow plow or aux battery for starting.
It may have even been for jumper cables for jumping other trucks.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
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From: Sand Lake, MI
Might have had a plow on it at one time, not a plow relay though. Who knows what people do!
You don't need it, remove it or just leave it there either way. Might even work, when the front one dies then you could move the cables to it. Built in spare, of course you could test it easy enough first, dead throw it away.
You don't need it, remove it or just leave it there either way. Might even work, when the front one dies then you could move the cables to it. Built in spare, of course you could test it easy enough first, dead throw it away.
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Postmaster
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From: MD
No aux battery that I could see. Probably a plow setup.
Which one is factory? I'm guessing the brown one?
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Postmaster
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From: MD
Might have had a plow on it at one time, not a plow relay though. Who knows what people do!
You don't need it, remove it or just leave it there either way. Might even work, when the front one dies then you could move the cables to it. Built in spare, of course you could test it easy enough first, dead throw it away.
You don't need it, remove it or just leave it there either way. Might even work, when the front one dies then you could move the cables to it. Built in spare, of course you could test it easy enough first, dead throw it away.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Easton,Ks
The black one looks more factory and the brown looks aftermarket.
If I were guessing I would say someone replaced the factory one at sometime and then someone later got the black one from a salvage yard for something else that they wanted to run on the truck.
If I were guessing I would say someone replaced the factory one at sometime and then someone later got the black one from a salvage yard for something else that they wanted to run on the truck.
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Postmaster
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From: MD
The brown one has the blade-type battery cable on it, like other '90s Fords do. I don't know what exactly it is called. Maybe it is a replacement. The black one doesn't have the connector for the blade plug.
I guess I'll look at other trucks to see where exactly the original relay was fastened to, maybe that will help. There are a few hacks on this truck. I'm dreading the purchase of a wiring manual...
I guess I'll look at other trucks to see where exactly the original relay was fastened to, maybe that will help. There are a few hacks on this truck. I'm dreading the purchase of a wiring manual...
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Fleet Owner
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From: Easton,Ks
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