Help with Starter Wires

[SRD]

Hello. Thanks for reading my post.

*I removed a starter from my 1999 Ford Ranger. I could not see, so I felt the nuts and removed them. I installed a new starter and am ready to put back the wires. Now I am confused about which is which; so I am hoping someone can help me before I install them. They fell out after I put in the starter, so I could not see them until I jacked up the truck more....

*The one that's round..is that the power? Even though it is the pigtail off the main line? and the other one that's beat up and broken; is that's the "signal" wire"? Looks like it might not work...should I address this before reinstall?

Thanks for any help. I am a DIY but learn a lot from this website.

SRD

 

[Uncle Gump]

You sure the beat up one isn't the ground cable?

A continuity test will tell you.

 

[SRD]

I went ahead and cut back some of the wire covering and found the yellow/green wire, figured it was ground...started right up. I assume it is correct or it would not have started......

Thanks for the response, Uncle Gump.....your time is appreciated.

SRD

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yellow/green wire, usually like a 12 gauge, is the signal wire. 4 gauge red (that mangled rectangle tab one) would be power and there should have been a 4 gauge black hanging out around there that goes on one of the starter mounting bolts

Also, you find two different starters on these. The old style has a 1/4” spade connection and the newer style uses a ring terminal for the signal wire.

 

[SenorNoob]

I must have gotten some kind of conversion starter then. Mine has a spade connector that's on a ring terminal.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I must have gotten some kind of conversion starter then. Mine has a spade connector that's on a ring terminal.

Yeah, I’ve seen that a lot lately to cover both possibilities