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starter solenoid question

ClintEastwood

Full Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2014
Messages
343
Loc.
London, Ontario Can
Please bear with me, learning everything on the fly
I am using a 98 explorer engine with a carb setup
using the explorer starter, do I still require the bronco starter solenoid?
I am trying to understand it's purpose and if I am looking at the correct diagrams because most still have it present but the starter itself seems to serve the same purpose if I understand correct
 

EricLar80

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 14, 2001
Messages
2,170
The starter can have a hard time disengaging its solenoid if you do not use the remote one. Sometimes it will work for a while, but it will eventually keep the starter teeth engaged after you let go of the key and damage the teeth. This is because the starter can act like a generator and power its solenoid.
 
Last edited:

garberz

Bronco Influencer
Joined
Jun 24, 2007
Messages
6,856
Loc.
Conejo Valley, Ca.
I use both solenoids, but the stock Bronco solenoid only switches the signal wire for the Explorer soleniod. Makes it simple, not to move a lot of the factory harness.

Mark
 

bmc69

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 11, 2004
Messages
11,852
I’ve always done the same as Mark. No issues.
 

sykanr0ng

Bronco Guru
Joined
Aug 11, 2014
Messages
5,363
If you look at an 96-01 Explorer wiring harness they still use a solenoid (relay).
So Ford thought it was still a good idea.
 
OP
OP
ClintEastwood

ClintEastwood

Full Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2014
Messages
343
Loc.
London, Ontario Can
alright thank you very much.
as im doing this build it's interesting working with non ford/bronco people. I always try to say "the forum says" and whenever I have a question usually I can find it super quick on here. But sometimes it seems like I need to have more confidenc in myself in what I read here instead of listening to others even if they are mechanics.
 

DirtDonk

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
47,355
As the others have said, even Ford continued to use their fender mounted relay (it's a relay, never was a solenoid and Ford always called it a "starter motor relay" in the diagrams) even after changing to the new PMGR (permanent magnet, gear reduction) starters with the piggybacked solenoid (which actually IS a solenoid). Primarily for two reasons that I can see.

Isolation of electrical signals and wiring convenience.
Most older GM vehicles that used the starter solenoid's large battery post as their common termination point also had heat and contamination issues after a few years of use. And to access any of those wires you had to get underneath or reach way down into the engine compartment.
Ford changed the relay's basic layout, but left it on the fender where it stayed away from most heat, and remained a very easy to use "power point" to connect a lot of wiring.
Oh, and it uses less current to energize than a solenoid does too, so continues to take some of the load off of the dash mounted ignition switch. Almost forgot about that part.

The "isolation" aspect is that the starter motor turns into a generator as it's spinning down, and can energize the piggyback solenoid momentarily. This causes the starter motor to run-on for a few seconds after starting.
Probably not good, but at the very least it freaks everybody out when they've just done all this re-wiring work only to have the starter stick on!

I'm not really sure what was different about all the years of GM starters that did not run-on after the key was released, but it happened way too often after swapping in the new starters on our Fords, so it was deemed best to leave the relay in place.
Just like Ford did.

Paul
 

tatersalad

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jan 17, 2009
Messages
1,067
I know that there used to be a wiring kit to put a ford relay on gm products with the solenoid at the starter. I put one on a buddy's 77 chevy pu for him.
 
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