Starter problem

[Richie0320]

Hey guys, so I have a 98 5.4L Expedition. I let it sit all summer and finally decided to put a new battery in it and start to drive it a little for some work. Went to start it, nothing but one click that sounds like its coming from the area of the relay (not 100% sure though). All dash lights come on and have checked the gear shifter to make sure it's in park. I started to go down some things starting from the top here they are.

Relay
-Checked the ignition wire to make sure I was getting voltage with a test light, had voltage.
-Checked battery and starter terminals on relay, both had voltage.
-Tried bridging the two terminals to see if I could get the starter to run, nothing.

Solenoid
-Cleaned up connections real good.
-**Noticed while cleaning connections I believe the M Terminal going from the solenoid to the starter was like that unprotected braided wire was 3/4 or more frayed when I removed it to clean it. Problem?

Starter
-Took jumper cables from the + battery to the +B Terminal on the solenoid and the starter turned.

Before I go through the pain in the ass of taking the starter off is there anything else I can try or do you think it is the frayed M terminal wire? Thank you!

 

[Bedrck47]

Being you took a cable from the + battery to the +B on the solenoid And the starter turned then the starter is good I would check all wiring and cables for clean tight connections. Have attached the wiring diagram for the starter circuit

 

[Bedrck47]

Check to see if you are getting 12 volts to the starter motor relay when the key is turned. Tan/Red wire to Ground

You should hear or see the relay pull in

 

[Richie0320]

So you don't think the frayed wire from the I think it's the M terminal to the starter that is frayed could be the problem?

 

[Bedrck47]

Try using a volt meter instead of a test light The test light will show voltage is present but it wont show what the voltage is

 

[Bedrck47]

So you don't think the frayed wire from the I think it's the M terminal to the starter that is frayed could be the problem?

Possible

 

[Richie0320]

Okay so in the process of putting the cables back on to the starter solenoid the braided I think M terminal wire broke off. Is it possible to just replace this cable at all with the starter still on the truck or do I need to just replace the whole thing?

 

[Bedrck47]

I would think that you should be able to just replace the bad cable

 

[Bedrck47]

Is that the cable that comes from the battery (Red) or the one that comes from the starter relay (Black)

 

[Richie0320]

Its from the solenoid attached to the starter to the starter itself. Its a bare braided wire probably 1.5"l ong

 

[Bedrck47]

Replace it

 

[stamp11127]

If you are talking about the braided cable in the link below, you are in need of another starter. That braided cable is the positive feed to the starter internals - armature, brushes and field coils. Not replaceable by the average joe.

https://www.google.com/search?q=for...WnbCl_fYM:&usg=__Zai1Cvhh3dljZlTZy_LY0Mr5iTo=