2001 ford f150 xlt supercrew 2wd 4.6v8. So me not using my head didnt disconnect the battery before replacing my starter solenoid that is on the firewall. when i was removing the bottom mounting bolt my ratchet extension made contact with the bottom pole on the solenoid and i lost power to the truck. so i didnt think much of it maybe a fuse blew so i went ahead and installed the new solenoid and checked all the fuses and found 1 10amp blown under the hood i think it was for the radio and something else.. i also checked all relays and fuses under the hood and under the dash.. i can jump the starter solenoid and the truck spins over.. if i put my key in the ignition and put it to the on position (nothing powers up) but while it is in the on position i can jump the solenoid and the truck spins over and starts as long as i hold it jumped, all power is restored but the starter stays engaged. the moment i remove the jump the truck dies and now power... i really need help its my daily driver and im just lost..

 

positive battery cable goes to a couple power fuse blocks on the firewall. You should have power on one side from the battery all the time. You should have power on the other side when you turn the key on... I would check those master fuses first with volt / ohm meter... they give power to EVERYTHING.

 

There may be fuses blown ....and....... leads on the start relay may be reversed.
Check the 100 series fuses in the box near the power brakes, with a meter.
Pages 211/212 in your owner manual.
Good luck.

 

There are 2 fusible links that likely burned when you shorted the solenoid wire.

 

He has wires connected to the wrong terminals of the starter relay. The feed that goes to the fuse box is on the terminal for the starter. This is the dead giveaway: "if i put my key in the ignition and put it to the on position (nothing powers up) but while it is in the on position i can jump the solenoid and the truck spins over and starts as long as i hold it jumped, all power is restored but the starter stays engaged."

 

Then he can use the diagram I posted to verify his connections and correct as necessary.

 

Ill check when i get home iv been working 7 12s so it's hard to find time. I dont think the master fuses or fuseable links are fried. Im getting 12 volts at the top pole to the solenoid. Im im almost positive its hooked up properly. And i appreciate all the input guys

 

Take a photo of the starter relay as wired and post it. That will make it easy to see if it's right or wrong.

If those fuse links were burned open, then NOTHING would happen when he crossed the two large studs on the relay. That diagram doesn't show either HOW the cables are supposed to be connected physically to the relay's terminals nor does it even show the feed to the rest of the truck. You'd have to go back into cell 13-1 of the EVTM for that latter detail.

 

I assumed he was jumping the studs AT THE STARTER and not at the RELAY ? If that is the case, then the motor will spin, but he has no power thru the master fuses ( if they are burnt) to the INGITION or remainder of the truck, unless he is back feeding from the starter motor ?? So it trys to run while he is cranking, and stops when he pulls the jumper ?? No ?

 

 

i literally get no power anywhere else unless i jump that solenoid and hold it. But the starter stays engauged. Remove the jump and no power...

 

It's wired wrong, just as I suspected.

See that big red wire on the top terminal that goes off toward the driver's side? It belongs on the LOWER stud so it's ALWAYS HOT. It goes to the underhood fuse box and feeds most of the rest of the truck.


This time, disconnect the battery's negative cable before going anywhere near the starter relay with your tools.

 

i literally just tried that b4 i read this message. It worked but 45 seconds later something smelled like it was burning and i could hear the starter drag the flywheel every now and then strong electric burn smell. Could it be the starter making that smell from not disengaging properly because i shorted the top solenoid. Maybe it is stuck engauged now

 

Okay, time to back up.

Why were you messing with the starter relay in the first place?

 

I was replacing the relay because i couldnt start the truck with my key one day and i had to jump the relay to start it.