what have I done?

[Buggyman]

I just dropped a 2000 3.0 into my 1998 Ranger that just blew its motor that was also a 3.0. I attached all the electrical connections back the same way they went with one exception... The wiring harness that leads to the starter and alternator was in rough shape on my donor motor and I jacked the harness off my old motor that was in good shape and attached it. I also put a new starter on the motor and had a hard time getting the wires attached without crossing. I finally got everything wired up and have no shorts on the starter, when I turn the key, the fuel pump comes on, dash lights up and then I go to turn the motor over and then there is a loud snap under the hood and everything goes dead. Sometimes the radio will stay on AFTER I have removed the key, which it used to never do before. Any ideas? I have spent the entire day reattaching the wires on the starter in every possible way to make sure they are tight and not touching. The alternator looks fine.
Thanks for any pointers....

Philip

 

[Earl43P]

Can you crank the motor over using a socket on the crank?

 

[Buggyman]

Have not tried it at the crank, but the engine cranked over when I went to mount the fly wheel back on and was tightening the bolts down. I recall having the same problem with my old starter when I tried to get the engine to crank over before dropping it into my truck, the starter just popped. I took the starter out and assumed it was bad since it did the same thing when it was removed from the engine. Is it possible that the current could some how be reversed some place? I have the negative lead attached to where the braided wire runs from the solenoid to the starter.

 

[locovaca]

Well, to rule out the wiring, I would disconnect the starter from the wiring and then trying to "start" the truck and seeing if you get the pop/everything dying symptoms still. If you do, then that pretty much narrows it down right there.