starter issue 1989 2.9

[Ranger-Justice]

I posted about 3 weeks ago about a transmission I was installing and got a lot of help so now I'm back hoping to get answers again! ok I got the truck 1989 ford ranger 2.9 auto, with no trans or starter replaced the trans and trying to hook the starter up. all I can find is one wire to the starter the power cable. I hooked it up and when I turn the key over you can here the starter pop out but it is not spinning. There is another wire hanging down that looks like some sort of plug not sure if it goes to the starter or not. Any ideas of why it wouldn't spin or if I need more wires, I only see one spot for a wire on the starter?
Justice

Also I have replaced the power cable from the solenoid to the starter but when I turn the key over the wire gets hot like it is grounding out on something

 

[RonD]

If you have a Starter Relay on the fender then yes there is only the one larger(battery cable size) wire going to the starter and its solenoid.

The Starter relay should have battery's positive cable on one larger post and with it several other smaller wires, these are alternator and power distribution wires.
On the other larger post there will be 1 cable, going to start motor, and nothing else on that post.

The Starter relay will have 1 or 2 smaller posts, 1 will be labelled "S" that will/should have red/blue stripe wire connected.
This "S" wire comes from Key switch and will only have 12volts when key is turned to START, it closes the Starter Relay to send full battery amps to starter motor/solenoid.

The "S" wire circuit goes thru a safety cut off switch, NSS on an automatic trans or Clutch pedal switch on manual trans.
The 12volts won't get to Starter Relay's "S" connection unless trans is in Park/Neutral or clutch pedal is down all the way.

You can unhook the starter motor wire from Starter relay.
Make SURE trans is in Park or neutral!!!!!!!
And use a Jumper cable to connected it to Battery +
If starter works then Relay is most likely bad
If start still doesn't work then starter motor or that cable is bad.

 

[Ranger-Justice]

I took the power wire strait from the starter and touched it to the positive terminal and it makes big spark and melted part of the terminal. there is no short in the wire its new.

 

[Spott]

I took the power wire strait from the starter and touched it to the positive terminal and it makes big spark and melted part of the terminal. there is no short in the wire its new.

When you did so, did the starter turn? If not, it sounds like you have a short to ground either at the cable connection to the starter, or within the starter itself.

Also, make sure the engine is actually able to turn, and is not locked up solid. Try and turn the crank with a wrench (in the proper running direction) and make sure it will turn at least a little.

Inspect the cable connection to the starter. Make sure there's no bent parts or anything hanging off the side and touching the body of the starter. If that all looks good I would have the starter tested to see if it is defective and shorting internally.

 

[RonD]

Yes, ^^^ reads like starter motor is bad, pull it and test it out of the truck or just replace it

 

[Ranger-Justice]

Took the starter out and tested it with jumper cables and it worked fine spins like its supposed to. So I only have one wire going to it and its new so that cant be the problem.

I put it in and it will turn the engine over like one time and then it stops. The belts move maybe a foot then it stops. Could it have anything to do with the transmission I put in??

 

[trail B2]

You said you put in a transmission was it an A4LD?When I had a A4LD and only got the torque converter in two stages not three the motor locked up but it still bolts in.I've also put in all three stages and one slip out during install and had to pull it out again.What about putting a socket wrench on the front of the motor and see how it spins.

 

[RonD]

Yes, ^^^ if you have never tested the engine, i.e. no trans when you got it, I would remove all the spark plugs and turn the engine manually using socket on Crank pulley bolt.

With no spark plugs, so no compression, the engine should spin very easily.

 

[Ranger-Justice]

I just tried to turn the engine with a socket and cant get it to move at all so I'm guessing its locked up. Nice waste of time

 

[Ranger-Justice]

thanks for the helping figuring it out though!

 

[ssny1088]

Ranger-Justice

Saw your post and it occurred to me that you said auto trans. Did you not have to spin motor to do converter bolts?