[Lynx]

Okay I have an 88 GT here, just picked it up. The motor apparently can be bumpstarted and it will run fine. With the key the motor will not even try to turn over. I tried hot wiring the starter relay, it clicks properly. I also put power directly to the 'out' side of the relay, and I can't hear it even attempt to do anything. I do see a bit bit of a spark when I am hotwiring the relay or starter cable, nothing big like it's try to pull a lot of current.

Their are a few wires, maybe one, that it melted on the harness by the starter relay and pretty much right back to the fuse box. That is obviously a problem, but I thought if I hotwired the relay it would bypass everything else and go striaght to the starter wouldn't it? Just weird how I get nothing, The vehicle also has a viper immobilizer in it, which I have no clue about, theirs just the brain for it under the fuse box, I don't have any remotes or anything.

So i guess the only thing left is the starter motor? Anyone know what to check out on it? It looks brand new. I tried rocking th car in first gear incase it was jammed up.


Thanks, Cory

PS whats the little square thing attached to the starter cable side of the relay, thats what the melted wire is connected to. Everything I tried on the car works fine except it won't crank.

[meangreen92]

The rectangular thing sounds like a circuit breaker. Or it might be part of the viper system. Can you post pics of it?
Does the new starter have the big cylinderical solenoid on it?
I'd remove the Viper box, and try to replace the fried wires. Then I'd test the battery. Then I'd replace the cable from the fender apron solenoid to the starter. Pull the starter, and have tested if it still won't work.
If it does have the newer style starter, it needs to be wired differently than they originally did it in '88.
And welcome to AFM.

[Lynx]

Ahhh ok now we're gettin somewhere, this is the first mustang forum that had a response to my question. Thanks for the welcoming.

I think it has the newer style starter installed, I can only see it through the exhaust manifold, it's stuck on my neighbour lawn while he's having his roof done, so i can't get it up on the hoist. It does look like it has a big cylindrical solenoid attached to the top of it.

The battery is definetly fine, I just charged and tested it.

The cable to the starter might need replacing...haven't had a good look at it yet.

The rectangular thing really looks like it's stock, the wire going to it comes out of the wiring harness. My 2.3 of the same year doesn't have it. I'll try to get a pic tommorow when it's light out.

How is the newer wiring for the starter different?

[meangreen92]

Originally Posted by Lynx

How is the newer wiring for the starter different?

I'm glad you asked. With the old style starter, you turned the key, which tripped the fender apron solenoid, which then energized the starter.
In '91 or so (my '92 has it) Ford went to the smaller high torque starter. With that setup, you turn the key, which trips the fender apron solenoid, which then trips the starter mounted solenoid, which finally energizes the starter.
You want the fat starter cable to run from the battery side of the fender solenoid to the threaded post on the starter.
There's a smaller wire which runs from the switched side of the fender solenoid to the spade terminal on the starter mounted solenoid.
Make sure someone didn't run a jumper circuit between the threaded post and the spade terminal.
Check out my "professional quality" schematic.

[Lynx]

Haha the drawing is awesome...So with the new system the starter gets constant 12v and it has its own relay to turn it on? Why would it be bad if someone ran a jumper between the constant and trigger wire on the new starter, wouldn't it work out the same?

Oh and this afternoon I cracked the housing on the fender solenoid trying to tighten the terminals down a bit more, the last guy just put a brand new one on too

Thanks for the help so far..

[meangreen92]

Originally Posted by Lynx

Haha the drawing is awesome...So with the new system the starter gets constant 12v and it has its own relay to turn it on? Why would it be bad if someone ran a jumper between the constant and trigger wire on the new starter, wouldn't it work out the same?

Oh and this afternoon I cracked the housing on the fender solenoid trying to tighten the terminals down a bit more, the last guy just put a brand new one on too

Thanks for the help so far..

It might work out the same, with the jumper wire, but I'd be inclined to do it the way Ford did, just to be sure. You can try the jumper wire, and see.
Yes, the starter motor gets constant voltage, like a g.m. product.
I just cracked mine a few weeks ago when I replaced the thick starter cable. Mine is 4 years newer, and that cable was toast. Luckily, I had an extra solenoid.
Oh, and I went out and checked my fender solenoid, and that rectangular thing sure looked like it was on the battery side of the 'noid. Still don't know what it is though.
It'd be cool if you got the car for $1000 under its value because of the starter problem, as it shouldn't take much more than $35 to fix it - new fender solenoid included.
And before driving on your driveway, be sure to police up all the nails which are sure to be all over the place. Roofers are careless slobs when it comes to nails...

[Lynx]

I'm sure it's on the starter side of the relay, might not be correct, but that's where it is, LOL.

I picked up the car for 1300 CAD which is way under half of what their going for around here. The car only had steelies on it which is fine for the price. The body and interior is in descent shape just needs some TLC to freshen it up.

Thanks for the tip on the nails.

I'll get pics asap.

[meangreen92]

Mine could be wrong, though, too.
Anyone?

[Lynx]

It was the starter, yay. I have the thing we couldn't figure out what it was disconnected, everything still works fine. The car sounds freaking amazing w/ magnaflow and no cats.

Thanks for all the help meangreen


-Cory

[scar]

Thanks meangreen,I have a similar problem with my '86,this might work....