Fried Starter Solenoid???

[Izzy]

I finally got my engine and everything put back together (for the 3rd time) and went to crank it for the first time and it won't crank.

I think I fried my solenoid. When I connected the positive cable to the battery, there was a spark at my starter. After futher inspection, the positive cable was turned enough to touch that braided wire on the starter. I corrected it but now the starter or engine will not crank at all.

Did I fry my starter solenoid or should I be looking else where? Do I just replace the entire starter?

I know I have power as when I turn the key, my fuel pump kicks on and all my lights etc work.

The engine is a 5.0 with EFI and a Mini Starter.

 

[blubuckaroo]

I finally got my engine and everything put back together (for the 3rd time) and went to crank it for the first time and it won't crank.

I think I fried my solenoid. When I connected the positive cable to the battery, there was a spark at my starter. After futher inspection, the positive cable was turned enough to touch that braided wire on the starter. I corrected it but now the starter or engine will not crank at all.

Did I fry my starter solenoid or should I be looking else where? Do I just replace the entire starter?

I know I have power as when I turn the key, my fuel pump kicks on and all my lights etc work.

The engine is a 5.0 with EFI and a Mini Starter.

Does the solenoid click? If not check to see that you have 12V to the control terminal on the solenoid when you turn the ignition switch. Mini starters have the solenoid mounted on the starter so it's easy to use a small jumper or even a screwdriver to jump from the positive terminal to the control terminal for a test. PLEASE TAKE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT THIS TEST!

 

[Izzy]

Starter works fine. I'm not getting 12v to the starter though. I gotta go through my wiring now. Racking my brain trying to remember which wire should be feeding the starter.

 

[dave67fd]

This may help.

 

[blubuckaroo]

Starter works fine. I'm not getting 12v to the starter though. I gotta go through my wiring now. Racking my brain trying to remember which wire should be feeding the starter.

http://cdn.wildhorses4x4.com/downloads/6038 10-20-08.pdf
With the mini starter, the power cable to the starter is moved from the load side of the solenoid to the battery side. This is because the mini starter has its own solenoid. The old solenoid is still used as a relay for control power to the new solenoid.