What did I do?! 1988 Ford ranger- no start(Weird one)

[NateWollzie]

Hello, Nathan here.
I have a 1988 ranger and I ended up acquiring another 88 that had the power locks and windows... So I unhooked the battery... Then popped out the lights, horn and plugs on driver fender... Out with the old in with the new.. and this is where I messed up...
So in the process of connecting the auto locks/windows wiring harness to the starter solenoid, somehow I managed to either ground the positive or vice versa on the solenoid... Sparks big enough to make me turn away.. leaving it longer than anyone would ever want too.. and add this, the truck no longer starts... Or will even crank over...
I have removed the harness, re installed the original.. I have an extra battery and tried switching batteries, no change, I replaced the solenoid, I'm getting power to the pumps.. still no change when I bypass the starter relay or ecm.. whatever it does lol.
I changed the cable from the battery to the solenoid..
Replaced the battery cable clamps and cleaned battery terminals.. checked engine, chassis and starter ground, and grounds under the hood.. fuses under the dash, on the driver's side) all look good..

I'm getting 12v off the battery and power off the solenoid and relays.. could I have fried my starter or something like that?? I know I'm missing something! PLEASE HELP!

 

[dvdswan]

Fusible links?

 

[Shran]

I would see if you have power to the starter first, hook up a test light at the starter itself and turn the key to start...does it light up?

If you do have power there it's almost certainly a bad starter. But I'm guessing that's not the case. Is the little red/blue wire hooked up to the starter solenoid? See if you have power there when you turn the key to start.

 

[RonD]

In 1988 the Starter Relay(solenoid) on the inner fender has the 12 volt power distribution point for the whole vehicle

The larger post on this relay, with Battery positive cable, IS that power distribution point, it will have several other wires connected on that same post
The other larger post should have ONLY ONE wire/cable attached, it goes to starter motor

There will be 1, and maybe 2, smaller posts on the relay, marked "S" and "I"
"S" post will have a red/blue wire attached, this comes from ignition switch and activates this relay
"I" post is no longer used

In 1988 the power distribution point will have several Fusible links attached, 4 to 5 of them, a fusible link is a short wire that "acts" as a fuse to a larger wire, a fusible link is designed to separate, to cut power, without melting or burning, that could start a fire
Once "blown" it must be replaced

You often have to unwrap the wire harness to gain access to these fusible links, they will ALL be attached to the power distribution point, not located mid-harness, so start at starter relay's power distribution point in the search for blown fusible links

Factory Fusible links will often be tagged like this: https://www.onallcylinders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/09/Pico-Fusable-Link.jpg

But they can look like this: https://ceautoelectricsupply.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Fusible_Link_Kits_All_Sizes.jpg

 

[NateWollzie]

Okay I will look up how to test fusible links and try it when I get home.no tested th starter and it's no good either.. thank you! I will let you know results

 

[RonD]

You just need to look at a fusible link, it's wire will be broken or look damaged if it was shorted out

 

[Jazzer]

Usually they form a blister in their insulation when they melt, pretty obvious.

-Jazzer

 

[NateWollzie]

Why would I have power to both relays if my fusible links are bad..? I have power to everything. I just noticed that I am able to move my flywheel by hand while truck is in gear... Is that something related to this? Zero crank when I turn the key

 

[dvdswan]

If you can turn the flywheel by hand something it wrong, one side is bolted to the engine and the other is to the torque converter(auto) or clutch on the other side. You're not turning it by hand unless something is broken... really bad juju. Absolutely nothing to do with electrical.

 

[NateWollzie]

If you can turn the flywheel by hand something it wrong, one side is bolted to the engine and the other is to the torque converter(auto) or clutch on the other side. You're not turning it by hand unless something is broken... really bad juju. Absolutely nothing to do with electrical.

Well I definitely can turn it by hand while it is in gear. What is my next step here? I have almost other 2.9 from a parts truck-I bought... Guide me please

 

[NateWollzie]

Where do I go from this point?

 

[RonD]

How are you able to access the Flywheel?
Its inside the bellhousing

Get a short jumper wire
Hold one end on battery positive and touch the other end to the "S" post on starter relay(has the red/blue wire on it, you can take this wire off for the test)
Relay should "click" closed, and Starter should activate
If relay doesn't "click" then its bad
If relay "clicks" but starter doesn't turn engine then starter is bad

 

[dvdswan]

So, I'm curious, how did we go from and electrical issue to a mechanical one.

How much do you understand about vehicles? Everyone has to start at the bottom. So if you're a beginner it would help to know.

 

[NateWollzie]

I know enough. Disregard the flywheel. I was misunderstanding something.
It absolutely has to be electrical.. perfect storm, battery unhooked but didn't remove like I should have.. and somehow the engine ground post on my starter solenoid touched the positive battery terminal and so I bought a new solenoid, still no start

 

[NateWollzie]

Let me clarify, I know enough to assume it's electrical I'm not completely dumb when it comes to engines but I'm also not a Ford master mechanic either lol. Everything was fine before this tho