should i just shoot it?

[jonmark1985]

The wires running from the starter to the solenoid do go bad. They're should be 2 of em. A larger (~4 gauge) one and a smaller (10 gauge) one. The larger wire provides the amperage to the starter. The smaller wire energizes the solenoid mounted on the starter.

You may have a single battery cable system, but I doubt that.

All these wires are only hot when the key is in the crank mode (or when the solenoid is jumped).

[frustrated96tbird]

or could it be something as simple and cheap as bad or corroded cables? i should probably replace all of them seeing as how they are original. but as you can tell im trying to avoid it. the engine bays nowadays are so cluttered with all of that smog and computer crap it makes it hard to get anything done in there. and what about a v-8 swap on the thunder chicken? thats another thing ive been considering for a while. the 3.8 has got to be the worst engine ford has ever produced.

[frustrated96tbird]

ok... let me try to paint the visual of the engine compartment. 4 guage red to under hood fuseblock. im assuming the solenoid is attached there. 4 guage from block routed under engine to starter. now i was under the impresson the only solenoid was the one already mounted on the starter, which does have the 10gu. wire running to it, which is also running from the same fuse block. btw no fuses are blown.

[jonmark1985]

no.. the solenoid is not in the fuse block!

You've been living in the chevy world too long, Fords use a solenoid on the firewall and later models also use on the starter.

[frustrated96tbird]

ok...that being the case, the solenoid is on the starter.

[frustrated96tbird]

the only thing i can narrow it down to is the cables. but ive never seen them cause such and abrupt death in a car. is there an aesy way to rout the cables from the main fuse block to the starter? like i said before i have been trying to avoid it because the routing looks like a nightmare. the reason i think it may be the cables is because i have tested the battery, the alternater and the starter. the only other option that i can figure out is the ecu. or am i putting the cart before the horse.

[jonmark1985]

Do you have a solenoid like that mounted on the fender of your car?

[frustrated96tbird]

i just went out and looked again as sort of a refresher course. battery wire goes directly to the starter.

[jonmark1985]

Ick... Okay how many wires are on the starter then?

[frustrated96tbird]

2- one from the battery and a small one that has a pain in the as@ clip