[sniperd]

Hi All,
I have a 89 Mustang 5.0. I was installing a new positive battery terminal last night and broke a post on my old solenoid, I went out and got a new one (Luckily this one is metal so hopefully its not crap like the previous one). And im having nothing but problems re-assembling it.

Whenever I hookup the wires in the order as i previously (thought) that they were hooked up in, the car turns over and sparks bad, including melting the metal in which the positive terminal hooks up too.

Can someone point out what i have wrong here?

When i connect the wire from the starter the car will do the above...

Thanks in advance for any help with this.

[93hatch]

big wire coming from the starter on 1 side, EVERYTHING else on the other side

[88-gt-t-top]

Make sure that nothing on the battery side isn't grounding out... I.E. hitting something on the fender, anything to create a ground.

[sniperd]

Originally Posted by 93hatch big wire coming from the starter on 1 side, EVERYTHING else on the other side

Isnt that how i have it setup in the picture?

[sniperd]

Originally Posted by 88-gt-t-top Make sure that nothing on the battery side isn't grounding out... I.E. hitting something on the fender, anything to create a ground.

Will do

[93hatch]

dam i dont have my fox anymore to go look at it, does you starter have 2 wires coming from it or 1?

[sniperd]

Originally Posted by 93hatch dam i dont have my fox anymore to go look at it, does you starter have 2 wires coming from it or 1?

It appears to possibly have 2, but one goes into a black casing and runs towards the back of the engine, possibly looping back around through the harness and coming out as one of those other wires.

But only 1 obvious (big) wire... I should probably just pony up for a volt tester and try and figure it out off a wiring diagram but im hoping to not have to go their.

[superbean]

your diagram looks right.

sparks are caused by arcing..

so when you hit the starter solenoid to turn it on, something hot is touching ground!

Have you checked your starter cable to make sure it hasn't burned on the header? That could possibly be what destroyed your old solenoid to begin with

[baine21225]

Originally Posted by 93hatch dam i dont have my fox anymore to go look at it

your dead to me, over

[93hatch]

Originally Posted by baine21225 your dead to me, over

baby the machs just so much nicer.... 4v ftw right?....

[baine21225]

Originally Posted by 93hatch baby the machs just so much nicer.... 4v ftw right?....

...........maybe

[sniperd]

Originally Posted by superbean your diagram looks right. sparks are caused by arcing.. so when you hit the starter solenoid to turn it on, something hot is touching ground! Have you checked your starter cable to make sure it hasn't burned on the header? That could possibly be what destroyed your old solenoid to begin with

I'll check for grounding when I get home tonight, Thanks for all the help guys.

p.s. My old solenoid was destroyed by me overtightening the shit plastic stock one

[89LX347]

Originally Posted by 93hatch ... 4v ftw right?....

no, goin from a 5.0 (or any 2v motor for that matter) to a mod motor is like learnin to ride a bike again. i didnt wan to even touch my brothers cobra besides taking off the charger and pullin the tranny. havin to mess with all those timing chains and all that. stuffed in that little space. spark plug changes in the 2v mod motors i feel like i have to charge money when my friends want me to change them cause you have to take off the cold air and the fuel injector harnesses and the spark plug wire boots come off and you have to set them just right in there. mkaes me mad just talkin about it. put some turbos on the cobras and they will move out but that take alot more $$ than i wanna spend. sorry for the rant, i just dont agree

[Chris951]

Yeah dude, those mod motors are a mess. Nice, but a mess lol

[baine21225]

pretty much anything new is a PITA to work on

[Chris951]

which is why 5.0's are ftw

[88-gt-t-top]

Originally Posted by 89LX347 no, goin from a 5.0 (or any 2v motor for that matter) to a mod motor is like learnin to ride a bike again. i didnt wan to even touch my brothers cobra besides taking off the charger and pullin the tranny. havin to mess with all those timing chains and all that. stuffed in that little space. spark plug changes in the 2v mod motors i feel like i have to charge money when my friends want me to change them cause you have to take off the cold air and the fuel injector harnesses and the spark plug wire boots come off and you have to set them just right in there. mkaes me mad just talkin about it. put some turbos on the cobras and they will move out but that take alot more $$ than i wanna spend. sorry for the rant, i just dont agree

LMFAO.... My bro had a 04 conv. I will never own one of those cars, atleast until I'm older, more experienced, and more patient.

[1slo5.0]

Originally Posted by superbean your diagram looks right. sparks are caused by arcing.. so when you hit the starter solenoid to turn it on, something hot is touching ground! Have you checked your starter cable to make sure it hasn't burned on the header? That could possibly be what destroyed your old solenoid to begin with

What he is describing is not a grounding out issue. He has power at the wrong spot at the wrong time. It sparks and arcs because of the amperage the starter is drawing. He is hooking the starter up to a hot pole which is causing the starter to turn over. Its wired wrong but without knowing where all the wires are going from the picture, its going to be hard to fix over the internet.

[sniperd]

FYI for anyone that has this problem in the future. Im fairly certain the solenoid was bad, as i replaced it and it fixed the issue. Although it could be because i 'ungrounded' something while replacing the wires.