Stater Relay PICTURE NEEDED!

MikeR351w

Founding Member
Oct 8, 2001
207
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16
Wisconsin
Anyone with a 89 5.0 that has a pic of their starter relay SEND IT TO ME!!!!!
With a graphic description of where the wires plug in. Also, where does the MAP sensor vaccum hose plug into the TEE?? (the triple way connector on the far passenger side of the engine compartment). Where does the lower plug, plug into on the TEE?? Also, Are starter relays different from the 87 2.3 mustangs to the 89 5.0 mustangs??? I just swapped the motors and left the starter relay in but I am not sure I connected them in the right order. Are ignition switches different?? Is my fuel pump relay under the seat or under the hood??? Will the engine start without the crash sensors plugged in??? I want to leave them out when I put the front end back in. Does the wire that goes to the A/C compressor have a white connector??? My motor did no come with the compessor so I have an "extra" white plug that I assume went to the A/C compressor. I have connected everything else except the trasmission wiring, MAP sensor vaccum line, fuel lines, and the radiator (I know it wont start but I wanted to see if the motor would turn over) but when I turn the key, all I hear is a distinct "click". Is it because the starter relay is incorrect??? PLEASE HELP IF YOU HAVE THE ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE MUSTANGS AND NEEDS SOME HELP!!!!!!
 
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MikeR351w said:
Anyone with a 89 5.0 that has a pic of their starter relay SEND IT TO ME!!!!!
With a graphic description of where the wires plug in. Also, where does the MAP sensor vaccum hose plug into the TEE?? (the triple way connector on the far passenger side of the engine compartment). Where does the lower plug, plug into on the TEE?? Also, Are starter relays different from the 87 2.3 mustangs to the 89 5.0 mustangs??? I just swapped the motors and left the starter relay in but I am not sure I connected them in the right order. Are ignition switches different?? Is my fuel pump relay under the seat or under the hood??? Will the engine start without the crash sensors plugged in??? I want to leave them out when I put the front end back in. Does the wire that goes to the A/C compressor have a white connector??? My motor did no come with the compessor so I have an "extra" white plug that I assume went to the A/C compressor. I have connected everything else except the trasmission wiring, MAP sensor vaccum line, fuel lines, and the radiator (I know it wont start but I wanted to see if the motor would turn over) but when I turn the key, all I hear is a distinct "click". Is it because the starter relay is incorrect??? PLEASE HELP IF YOU HAVE THE ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE MUSTANGS AND NEEDS SOME HELP!!!!!!


Dude, decaf!

I dont have a pic, but let me see if I can help. You starter solenoid (relay) does 2 things. It switches the high current for the starter through that small wire which is activated by the key.
It also provides a pickup point for your fuseable links.

You almost cant hook it up wrong. All of the fuseable links go on the battery side. The starter should be on one side by its self. It really doesnt make a difference which way it goes (left and right are interchangeable) as long as you follow what I have said. Small wire goes on the small threaded post.

IF you are hearing the solenoid click, you have another issue. possibly a loose connection or a bad ground for the motor. What is your battery voltage?

There is also a possiblity that the solenoid is bad, but check the other things before you worry about that.
 
my battery voltage is high enough. It reads in the middle of the gauge. I did not have a ground attached to the firewall but when I hooked it up I hear the same noise. What could it be??? I know the car wont start without the fuel system hooked up but I just want to hear her turn over for one second. What could it be?
 
turn your key to on, check the small post on the relay for 12 volts.

get a buddy, turn your key to start, check the side of the relay that the starter is connected to (the side the battery isn't connected to) for 12 volts.

if you get dont' get 12 volts in either of these places, fix it.

if you do, check your battery to block ground and test it.

if all else fails get a BFH and smack the starter a bit.
 
Map sensor... there are 3 tubes from the TEE in the back of the upper intake, one big one, 2 small ones, the big one is for the MAP sensor, the other 2 are for the fuel pressure regulator, and emissions control crap respectivly.

the engine will not start with the inertia switch not plugged in.. but it will turn over... crash sensors meaning airbags... it will start with those not plugged in.

the wire for the AC is a long 2 wire thingie, i think it is white... it'll be about the only wire that could possibly reach forward far enough to comfortably plug into the AC :p
 
hllon4whls said:
Dude, decaf!

I dont have a pic, but let me see if I can help. You starter solenoid (relay) does 2 things. It switches the high current for the starter through that small wire which is activated by the key.
It also provides a pickup point for your fuseable links.

You almost cant hook it up wrong. All of the fuseable links go on the battery side. The starter should be on one side by its self. It really doesnt make a difference which way it goes (left and right are interchangeable) as long as you follow what I have said. Small wire goes on the small threaded post.

IF you are hearing the solenoid click, you have another issue. possibly a loose connection or a bad ground for the motor. What is your battery voltage?

There is also a possiblity that the solenoid is bad, but check the other things before you worry about that.

im having issues with this, i replaced the solenoid and i put the wires back on, and when i go to start it the starter keeps spinning.are u saying all connections should be on the postive? and nothing but my negative battery cable hook up on the other?
 
I believe the only wire that should be on the negative side is the small wire running from the starter. All other wires connect to the positive side. I just recenty relocated mine, so it is still fresh. If you have any ?'s, don't hesitate to ask. Hope this helps,

Tim

Take at look at ALMOST STOCK's picture gallery. I believe he has a few pics in there for reference.

http://www.netsnapshot.com/pcw/b?KEY=7&ACCOUNT=1924
 
stang22 said:
I believe the only wire that should be on the negative side is the small wire running from the starter. All other wires connect to the positive side. I just recenty relocated mine, so it is still fresh. If you have any ?'s, don't hesitate to ask. Hope this helps,

Tim

Take at look at ALMOST STOCK's picture gallery. I believe he has a few pics in there for reference.

http://www.netsnapshot.com/pcw/b?KEY=7&ACCOUNT=1924


ok thanks for the help, im just confused now.



so all wires are on the positive side, except the one wire from the starter and the negative battery cable. right?
 
mstang93lx said:
ok thanks for the help, im just confused now.



so all wires are on the positive side, except the one wire from the starter and the negative battery cable. right?

The negative battery cable runs from the block by the water pump/timing chain cover. There are 2 cables that run from the starter. The bigger one is the positive and the smaller one is the negative. That small wire that runs from the battery connects to the solenoid and is the ONLY wire that is on the negative side of the solenoid.

Tim
 
stang22 said:
The negative battery cable runs from the block by the water pump/timing chain cover. There are 2 cables that run from the starter. The bigger one is the positive and the smaller one is the negative. That small wire that runs from the battery connects to the solenoid and is the ONLY wire that is on the negative side of the solenoid.

Tim


that could be my problem, i had the battery cable and the small wire together on my negative side. il try your way when i get home.

thanks for the help.
 
i wired the car up last night, it started fine, i turned it off and on like 5 times and no problems. this morning i went to start it and it started up but the starter wouldnt disengage. after it was started the starter kept trying to start, so i jumped out and unplugged the battery to make it stop. is this a starter problem?
 
mstang93lx - Your Starter relay is sticking.Once I Had replaced my starter relay on my previous '89 GT and about a week after getting it in,the same thing happened.Had to hurry up and pop the hood and whip the battery cable off before it roasted my brand new starter.If it sticks even once...replace it.

Another note,Stang22,The wiring for the starter relay is different on your '93 GT Vs the wiring on an '89.I have a '92 5.0 and as a former '89 owner I know for a fact the wiring changed.After '90 or '91 Ford changed the type of starter that was used.It used to be a big bulky ass starter.But after those dates mentioned,Ford used a smaller High Torque mini starter.These starters are more reliable ane much more quiet than those whiney pre-date starters.The thing with the wiring,on older models such as the '89 the relay is wired just a tad different.The far back side (Firewall side) terminal of the relay has the positive battery cable on it + All main wiring with their respected fuse links tied to that very same terminal.On the opposite side (Front) one large black cable coming from your starter is bolted (This is your starter positive cable).And the small top terminal is your igntion switch.

Heres the difference on the newer '91 models and up.All main power fuse links still connect to the same rear terminal along with the battery cable.Note,the newer starter has 2 wires coming from it this time instead of just 1 (I dont know if this is due to having a factory alarm as the smaller wire may be for this issue).On these models the large black posiitive cable coming from the starter is now connected to the back terminal with the other wires mentioned instead of the front.And the smaller wire from the starter is connected to the front.This smaller wire couldn't be the ground because the starter is grounded by bolting it to the motor.The case is ground.

This should help a little.
 
MustangLX-5.0 said:
Another note,Stang22,The wiring for the starter relay is different on your '93 GT Vs the wiring on an '89.

The picture below is off of ALMOST STOCK's 1989 GT and his wiring is exactly the same as it is on mine. Only one wire goes to the supposed negative side of the solenoid and that is the wire coming from the starter. Ford may have changed the wiring through the years, but mine (93) and his (89) are wired exactly the same to the solenoid.

1989solenoid.jpg


Tim
 
I know there is only 1 wire on the front terminal.You said there are "2" wires that run from the starter.Correct,there are 2 wires than runs from the starter,on the later models.All pre- 91 models that i've seen had only 1 wire coming from the starter.And in either case,only 1 of them goes to the front relay terminal.The older models dont have that smaller wire coming from the starter.Least not the ones i've seen.Maybe it's a difference on automatic transmissions.Because the '89 I owned was a 5 spd and the '92 is an Auto.Or maybe like I said it is because I have a factory alarm wired.Maybe the second wire is a starter kill relay or something.I am not certain.