having stater difficulties...could use some help

[zm830101]

just finishing up my t-5 swap. have everything together, put the starter in the car and go to sart it. as soon as the key is turned to the acc position the starter begins to turn but does not engage the flywheel. when the key is turned to the start position everything stops. i have narrowed it down to some sort of wiring issue by swapping out for another starter but that is far as i know to get. auto electrical is not my strong suit, so i could use a little help diagnosing here.

it stands to reason that the simplest part of the project would be the part that f's up 2 bolts and 1 wire =

by the way both starters are sock peices. and i know the one that was in the car worked fine because i drove the car into the garage before the swap.

put an aluminum block plate from a fox body in place of the steel one from the c-4. does the starter some how ground to the blockplate and the aluminum be causing a faulty ground?

 

[LMan]

is the starter grounded with the heavy cable from the solenoid?

 

[Tim65GT]

Sounds like something with the wiring at the solonoid or ignition switch. Are you SURE these weren't messed with?

 

[Tim65GT]

Ford starters do not have a separate wire to engage the solonoid. If the starter is turning and not engaging, maybe too small diameter flywheel?

Still doesn't explain the starter motor running in the ACC position.

 

[iskwezm]

solenoid is either bad or the wires are switched.My solenoid used to do that when it would fry.

 

[zm830101]

tried using two screw drivers to by-pass the solenoid. starter engaged as it should and the motor turned over. does that confirm that it is in fact the solenoid or is it a wiring issue with the ignition switch?

 

[10secgoal]

hmm, sounds like the wires on the soleniod are crossed. But really strange if you didn't touch them. I can't recall exactly what a 66 solenoid looks like compared to my 67, or if they are the same for that matter. I would disconnect the start cable at the soleniod. Take a test light or voltmeter, and pull the wires that lead to the soleniod. Not the positive side that connects basically to the battery. there is usually to lone wires going to the soleniod. Only one should be hot when you go to start the car. I think what you will find is the one on the left is hot when you turn to acc., but should only be hot when cranking. Look a wiring diagram to make sure that it is in fact the correct wire going to that post.

 

[MitchGT]

what kind of ignition system do you have? If you have an aftermarket ignition, then you don't neet the small wire on the right of the starter solinoid hooked up, as it supplies full battery voltage to the ignition while the engine is cranking( bypassing the resistor that protects the points in the distributer). If your ignition system did away with points, it usually does away with the resistor too. in any case, try just disconnecting the small wire on the right of the starter solinoid and see if that cures the problem.

 

[zm830101]

electrical system is totally stock...

i think that i have narrowed it down. apparently while installing the mustang steve clutch pedal assembly i must have jostled some wires under the dash. i used the old two screw driver trick to by-pass the solenoid and the starter engaged just fine and the engine turned over. also with a little help from the girlfriend i was able to discover that the noise i was hearing was not actually the starter but the WINDSHIELD WASHER pump!! so i unplugged that and the noise stopped with the key on but now the windshield wipers are constantly on!! it is freakin nuts.... i guess i just have some strange wiring issue to track down under the dash.