Starter Wiring Question (for a 98 Ford Ranger)

[krs]

I give up!

What is the proper wiring for a 98 Ford Ranger starter. I have 3 wires.

1. I know the small wire goes on the small nut (the "s" cable), which gets the signal when you turn the key.

2. I know the positive battery wire goes on the large nut furthest away from the starter itself.

3. The battery ground wire goes where? I am doing an engine swap, and I don't remember!

• I have seen posts about putting it on one of the starter mounting bolts, but the cable is not long enough to allow for that...
• The Ford Service Manual makes it look like it goes on third bolt (one closest to the actual starter) but I have been told that nothing goes on that bolt.

Insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[JP02XLT]

Ground wire can go to the block or the back of one of the heads, you should find a spot it will reach

JP02XLT

 

[krs]

Thanks again JP02XLT - I did manage to put the ground wire on a near-by bolt (about the only thing available!!).

Got the truck running today - the transmission is not engaging, but I will post an issue about it on a separate thread.

 

[JP02XLT]

KRS, I looked for your transmission thread but could not find it, when you say the trans wont engage, I am going to assume that when you put it in gear nothing happens. Well there are a couple of things to check, Not dogging on you but first I want to make sure that you bolted the torque converter to the flex plate on the engine, Trust me I have seen guys forget this. Second make sure the trans is full of fluid, if both of these are done here is where it gets bad. IF you did not fully seat the torque converter in the front pump, and have ran the engine the pump most likely has been damaged, that converter has to slide and lock into 2 sets of tabs. When you first put the converter on it slides onto the shaft, into the seal, you spin it slowly and it slides into the trans a little further, continue spinning it and it falls in again and this time it slides back all the way into the trans. When you bolt the motor & trans together you should have to pull the converter towards the engine to meet the flex plate maybe 3/8" to 1/2". I Hope this is not the case for you, and like I said I don't mean to offend you by asking these questions, just wanting to check all the basics. Also I always jack up the rear end and cycle the trans through drive, reverse and back to park several times with no load on a newly installed trans or engine swap like this.

Give me some more info on the trans engaging, I may be missing something easy.

JP02XLT